Glaiza De Castro As Contessa Faces Her Toughest Opponent In Duquessa, Also Stars In New Movie, 'Liway'

GLAIZA DE CASTRO’s performance in the title role of “Contessa” in the hit GMA-7 afternoon is getting very good feedback from its regular viewers. She starts as the oppressed doormat Bea Resureccion who’s imprisoned for a crime she didn’t commit, but she has since been transformed as the sophisticated and vengeful Contessa with the help of Tetchie Agbayani.

We visited the set of “Contessa” and some of their episodes are recorded in the morning and aired in the same afternoon. “Naubusan kasi kami ng stocked episodes,” says Glaiza. “Dalawang taping days namin, inabot ng maghapong ulan, lalo na yung set in Daranak Falls na puro exterior, kaya walang nakunang eksena at na-packed up na lang kami. So we have to work double time para hindi kami maubusan ng ipalalabas na episodes.”

She has visibly lost weight when we saw her on the set of “Contessa”. “Kasi physically and emotionally draining gawin ang role ni Contessa. Nahirapan din ako sa ‘Encantadia’ as Pirena, pero mas mahirap ito. Ang daming fight scenes. Daig ko pang nag-work out. May eksenang naka-gown ako at naka-heels, pero nakikipaglaban kay Gabby Eigenmann as Duquessa. Yung gown, inilusong ko pa sa ilog na puno ng water lily at napunit. Buti na lang, we have four copies of the same gown kaya kahit masira yung isa, may pamalit agad. Tapos, emotionally, very taxing din. May taping na six sequences ang kinunan, puro umiiyak ako. Nanghapdi ang mata ko sa kaiiyak.”

And the fact that she’s also shooting a movie makes her work overtime. She plays the title role of “Liway” in a film that’s an entry in the Cinemalaya Filmfest this August. Liway is an NPA amazon who got arrested by the military at the height of martial law with her very much pregnant. She gives birth to her child while she’s detained in a military camp. “Nakakapagod din ang mga eksena, just like 'Contessa', but it’s all worth it. This is one movie I can be proud of and sa 'Contessa' naman, pataas nang pataas ang rating ng show namin. Buti na lang at patapos na kami ng shooting nung movie, so less workload na ako.”

“Liway” is directed by Kip Oebanda, who did “Barboys” for which Odette Khan won several best supporting actress awards. Glaiza is paired with Dominic Roco. As usual, she’s asked about her love life.

“Naku, wala rin akong time sa sobrang busy ko,” she says. “My attitude is if it happens, di it happens. After ‘Contessa’, hihingi muna ako ng bakasyon sa GMA Management para magpahinga. Gusto kong dalhin ang family ko sa States kasi ipinangakong dadalhin ko sila roon since may visa na kaming lahat.”