 |
| ella cruz in a scene from EDWARD with louise abuel |
 |
| ella cruz at the EDWARD presscon with director Thop Nazaereno and leading man Louise Abuel |
 |
| ella cruz as agnes and louise abuel playing the title role of EDWARD |
ELLA CRUZ says she didn’t get to claim her first acting award as Cinemalaya best supporting actress in person as she didn’t know at all about the awards night. “Wala akong natanggap na invitation and I was not even informed about the said event,” she says. “Sa social media ko na lang nalamang nanalo pala ako. And I really can’t believe I won the award.
"Hindi ko talaga ine-expect. Totoo ba ito? Then andami ng nagko-congratulate. They say deserving akong manalo. Iyak ako nang iyak sa tuwa. Had I known that I’d win, di sana I’d gladly accept my very first acting award in person. Ten years na ako sa pag-arte at mahal ko talaga ang propesyong ito. Sayang nga na first award ako, wala ako roon para tanggapin yun nang personal.”
Did she have an inkling when she was shooting “Edward” that she might win an award for it?
“No. But my role as Agnes is something I’ve never done before. Noong una, hesitant pa ako to do it kasi malayo siya sa tunay na ako. Mysterious girl siya, e. Malayo siya sa pa-tweetums at pa-cute roles I’ve done before. Louise Abuel as Edward meets her while she is confined in a hospital. May bumugbog sa kanya, pero kung sino at kung ano, hindi na-explain sa movie. Pero naging close sa kanya si Edward at naging first love at first kiss siya nito.”
She’ll forever be thankful to her character, Agnes.
“Street smart si Agnes, pero kung ano talaga ang istorya ng buhay niya, it’s never fully told. Basta one day, nawala na lang siya sa ospital and na-miss siya ni Edward. Nang bumalik siya sa ospital, bangkay na siya. Sobrang nabugbog uli. One of the most touching scenes sa movie is when Edward steals her dead body and inilibing siya ng maayos bago siya maging biktima ng perverts sa ospital na nanggagahasa ng mga bangkay.”
And to think she had doubts about doing the movie.
“Kasi nga nasanay ako sa wholesome, e ito, kakaiba. Now, I’m thankful kay Direk Joyce Bernal na creative consultant sa movie and our director, Thop Nazareno, for entrusting the role to me. Also to Boss Vic and Boss Vincewnt del Rosario who helped convince me do the role. I’m really praying now na sana, ‘Edward’ will open doors para makagawa pa ako ng mas maraming kakaibang roles at pelikula na gaya nito in the future.”
“Edward” also won the Cinemalaya jury prize and it’s now being released nationwide on October 2 so don’t miss the chance to watch it as it’s certainly one of the best films made this year.
Ella is also busy now with the digital series, “Sisters Forever, 2Gether Poorever” now shown on Viva TV where she is paired with BF Julian Trono. She has also started her own business, a milk tea shop called Tea Tops in her hometown in Bustos, Bulacan.