SHARMAINE ARNAIZ was inactive in showbiz for 8 years, busy attending to her husband, Che Ochoa (distant relative of Dominic Ochoa), and their three kids: Gabriel, 7; Miguel, 4; and Amisha Natalia, 3. “Akala ko, wala ng kukuha sa’kin, then by chance, nakita ko ni Direk Maryo de los Reyes who asked me if I want to act again,” she says. “Sabi ko, Direk, I gained weight, okay lang daw, so sinali niya ko sa ‘Munting Heredera’, then I played the mother of Marian Rivera in ‘My Beloved’. Tapos heto, I play a bigger role now in ‘Kasalanan Bang Ibigin Ka’ as the wife of Michael de Mesa na bigla niyang hiniwalayan. Our kids are Angelika de la Cruz and Geoff Eigenmann who took me abroad as I was devastated by the separation. When we returned sa Manila, Michael has a new girl, Jackie Rice, na dating girlfriend ni Geoff.”
How does her husband and kids react to her being active again? “Yung eldest namin, gusto na rin daw niya mag-artista. My husband is very supportive but when sunod-sunod ang taping ko for ‘My Beloved’ and ‘Kasalanan Bang Ibigin Ka’, nag-react din siya. Sabi ko, patapos na naman ang ‘My Beloved’.”
How’s her sister Bunny in the U.S.? “She’s happy with her husband, they have a baby boy. But her eldest, Moira, who’s 13, kawawa kasi may bagong sakit affecting her spine. Hirap lumakad at baka mabulag pa. It pains us pag may mga sumusulat sa internet for her dad, DJ Mo, na mabuti nga sa’yo, karma yan sa’yo. Bakit naman? Anong kasalanan nung bata? So unfair.”
