Anne was teary eyed when she was presented to the press. “I just came from Canada two days ago and it was only then they told me that I’d do Dyesebel,” she says. “This is really a dream come true for me kasi, noon pa man, tuwing tatanungin ako, what’s your dream role, ang lagi kong sagot is: Dyesebel. So heto ngayon, nangyari na. As we know, 2013 was a tough year for me, but I’d like to leave whatever happened (the bar incident where she allegedly slapped some people) behind. Lessons learned na lang. I’m glad this 2014, meron agad magandang nangyari. I will really train hard for this sa swimming to make sure I can be a credible sirena.”
So, how was Anne chosen as the iconic sirena? Biboy Arboleda answers this: “Management made a marketing research survey in various media platforms as to who’s best to do it and Anne topped all the list.”
What can Anne say to those who chose her? “Sa lahat nga mga naniwala na I can portray it well, thank you for having faith in me even after may hindi magandang bagay na nangyari. Sa mga hindi naniwala, God bless you na lang.”
Hasn’t she played a mermaid called Agua before in the telefantasya ‘Dyosa’ in 2008? “Yes, but siempre, iba yung all time classic written by Mars Ravelo na Dyesebel. I’ve seen the film versions of past Dyesebels like Vilma Santos, Alma Moreno, Alice Dixson, Charlene Gonzales and even the one with Marian Rivera, at maihanay lang ako sa kanila is already a big honor for me.”
What can she say that GMA-7 also has its own mermaid show, “Kambal Sirena”? “It’s okay. Lahat naman, may right gumawa, but siempre, iba yung original at all-time classic talaga.”
How is it being reunited with ex-BF Sam Milby in ‘Dyesebel’? “I’m excited to work with him again. Balik-tambalan kami rito and in a new movie we’re now shooting for Viva, ‘The Gifted’ for Director Chris Martinez. At siempre, there’s something new here also, yung kami ni Gerald Anderson being paired for the first time. Bagong combination naman.”
Sam says he feels pressured in playing the role of Lero. “Siempre, syokoy ako, wala naman sigurong syokoy na nagi-English. Kailangan puro diretsong Tagalog ang salita ko rito. Bawal ang may accent.”
Anne is turning 29 on February 17, this will make her the eldest actress to play ‘Dyesebel’. Edna Luna first played the role in the 1953 original directed by no less than National Artist Gerardo de Leon for Premiere Productions. She was 19. She later played the mother of Eva Montes in the sequel ‘Anak ni Dyesebel’ in 1964.
Then ‘Dyesebel’ was remade by Vilma Santos for Tagalog Ilang-Ilang 20 years later in 1973 when she was 19 as entry in the Manila Filmfest, where it became a blockbuster. Alma Moreno then did it in 1978 for Sampaguita Pictures when she was also 19. Next was Alice Dixson who did it for Regal in 1990 when she was 20. Charlene Gonzales did it for Viva in 1996, two years after she became Bb. Pilipinas, when she was 22. On TV, Marian Rivera did it in 2008 on GMA-7 when she was 23.
