“Kung before, kailangang mag-isip ako ng malungkot, now, it’s more important for me na ma-feel ko yung character ko at kung ano ang nagyayari sa kanya sa eksena,” she says. “No need maghanap ng ibang huhugutan. Just be consistent doon sa character mo para maging effective ka. Ang hirap lang doon, nadadala mo yung character mo hanggang sa bahay. I’m really serious with my craft. Kapag hindi ko na-feel na tama ang ginawa ko, I don’t hesitate to ask the director na ulitin ang eksena for a take two.”
Is she ready to do more daring or sexier roles now? “Mature naman doesn’t necessarily mean daring or sexy. Let’s just say I’m ready to do more challenging roles na mas fierce in terms of character and interpretation, not necessarily showing some skin.”
All her soaps are with Deo Endrinal’s Dreamscape unit. Would she be willing to work with other business units of ABS-CBN? “Dreamscape is my home, my family. Silang nagbigay ng break sa’kin in ‘Mara Clara’, then ‘Walang Hanggan’ at itong ‘Muling Buksan’. I’m thankful sa trust nila sa’kin and I’d like to stick with them kasi laging napakakagandang roles and projects ang ibinibigay nila sa’kin kaya I feel na maswerte ako sa kanila.”
Her colleague, Kathryn Bernardo, is still playing teenybopper roles after ‘Mara Clara’, but she has gone on to do roles older than her real age. Would she be willing to be paired with Kathryn’s partner, Daniel Padilla? “Naku, although pareho lang kaming 18, baka magmukhang Ate niya ako kasi nga mas mukhang mature daw akong tingnan. At saka hindi siguro papayag ang fans nila.”
Who’d she like to be paired with, given a choice? “John Lloyd Cruz. E, di ba lahat naman, siya ang gustong makapareha?”
What’s the status now of her relationship with Enrique and Enchong? “I definitely became closer to them during the show, lalo na sa Batangas taping namin na laging kami ang nagkukuwentuhan. We talk about our favourites, lalo na tungkol sa cars na ang dami kong natutuhan from Enrique. I will miss them and all my co-actors in the show, sina Tita Susan Roces, Tita Cherie Gil and everyone else kasi marami kaming pinagsamahang masasaya and I learned so much from all of them.”
So who does she end up with in the show? Is it true Enchong will die and will donate his heart to his brother Enrique who has a defective heart? “We’re not sure yet kung ano ang magiging ending at kung sino ang makakatuluyan ko. So abangan nyo na lang when the show airs its last episode this coming Friday.”
