"I never wished to become an actress or a star who performs on TV," explains Aya Ueto, the prominent model and actress. "I took this role because my management gave it to me."
The role in question is that of Alice Mitazono, a wealthy hotel heiress who meets a poor widowed father of three named Taro Sato, played by Yusuke Kamiji, in the new Fuji TV drama "Celeb to Binbo Taro" ("The Celebrity and Poor Taro").
As "CM Queen" for 2008, having raked in some $3.6 million in endorsements, one might think that Ueto, 23, is familiar with the celebrity lifestyle. But having come from humble beginnings to succeed in Japan's notoriously hardworking aidoru (acting and modeling talent) industry, the sad truth is far from it.