She’s the first Starstruck discovery who has an international acting award. “Natalbugan mo na si Jennylyn Mercado kasi, siya, Metro filmfest best actress ang napanalunan niya,” some tells her. “Ay, may ganun?” she laughs. “Sana wala na lang comparison. Honestly, when the role was offered to me, I was so scared. Marami kaming nag-audition and I’m glad akong napili. But sabi ko talaga kay Direk Jun, ikaw na ang bahala sa akin, ha. Kasi nga may 10-minute love scene na very daring talaga.”
She won’t describe what she did but Direk Jun said she was seen taking a shower with her bare backside. “In the love scene with Luis Alandy, kumuha muna ako ng mga models na hubadero at pinagawa ko sa kanila ang eksenang nasa isip ko. Then I asked LJ, kaya mo ba yan? And she said, carry ko yan, Direk. Noong actual take na, hindi lang niya basta ginaya, dinagdagan pa niya. She didn’t just bare her breasts, pinalamas din niya.”
What was on her mind while doing that scene? “When I accepted to do the role, inilagay ko na sa isip ko na maganda talaga ang material and I should just trust direk. I was given the opportunity to play it, so I might as well take full advantage of it. The moment magte-take na, hindi ko na iniisip na si LJ ako but the character I play, si Emma. But I hope when people watch the movie, they would see beyond the sex scene. Sana ma-appreciate nila ang essence ng movie which is about militarization, na nangyayari ngayon against the Lumads in Mindanao.”She’s now doing a new movie with Direk Jun, the Metro Filmfest entry “Haunted Mansion”. “Ang ganda ng role ko, multo! I’m so happy to be acting with Iza Calzado and Janella. Meron din daw bagong soap sa GMA after ‘Yagit’, but my manager, Perry Lansigan, hasn’t told me about the details yet.”
