Those who’ve seen her daring performance as a prostitute who caters to fishermen say she has a good chance of winning another award. “Ay, ayokong mag-expect,” she says. “Even sa ‘The Leaving’, hindi ko inaasahan. I wasn’t even here to accept my award kasi nasa New York ako noon to give birth. Basta I did my best at bahala na kung magugustuhan ng judges.”
Last seen on TV playing kontrabida roles in “Time of My Life” and “The Good Daughter”, she also just completed a mainsteam movie with Lovi Poe, “Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles”, where she plays an aswang. But “Intoy Syokoy” is her most daring performance so far as she went topless in her role as a prostie.
“Yes, sa love scene with JM. When I read the script, I fell in love with my role kaya hindi na ako nag-inarte pa. I accepted it. Bukod kay JM, may scenes din ako with two other guys kasi pokpok nga ako.”
Did she really feel hurt when her partner, Paulo Avelino, didn’t acknowledge her and their son when he accepted his recent Urian best actor trophy? “No, nagtataka nga ako kung bakit pinalalaki kasi sa amin, it’s not an issue. Kahit siguro ako, manalo kong ganun, mara-rattle din ako. Dapat kasi, yung ganyang mga bagay, di na tinatanong. Basta what’s private is private. Nagkakaintindihan na kami.”
So it’s not true that they’ve split because Paulo doesn’t give any support to their son? “In cases like this, people would think what they want to think. So manahimik na lang. Basta all I can say is okay kami. Walang nabago sa relationship namin. Ganun pa rin. Masayang-masaya pati anak naming si Aki, who’s turning 2 on July 24. Bahala na ang tao mag-isip ng gusto nilang isipin.”
It’s obvious she’s very supportive of Paulo who’s now being packaged as a heartthrob, so LJ and their son’s presence might hurt his career. “Martir siya,” says one writer. “Talagang siya ang umuunawa ng husto.”
“Intoy Syokoy” will premiere at CCP tonight at 6:15 PM.
