ANGELICA CERVANTES was introduced playing supporting roles in “Silab”, “Shoot Shoot Di Kita Titigilan” and “Eva”.
Now, she’s playing a lead role in Director Joel Lamangan’s newest Vivamax sex drama, “Biyak”, where she shares topbilling with another newbie, Quinn Carillo. How did she feel when she was told she’d play a lead role?
“Siempre, nagulat po ako when I was told magbibida raw ako,” she says. “Sabi ko, totoo ba ito? Then, noong nagmi-meeting na sila, our producer, Mommy Len Carillo and si Direk Joel, nakatingin lang ako, di pa rin makapaniwala.
"But when I learned that Ate Quinn will play my sister, I got excited kasi close na kami since we both come from the same singing girl group, Bella Donnas, so it’s nice to be working together in one movie.
"But kinakabahan talaga ako kasi di ko alam kung ano ang mga ipapagawa nila sa akin. I’m just thankful na nagawa ko naman ang mga akala kong hindi ko kayang gawin.”
What’s her role?
“I play Violet, a girl from a well to do family. Akala mo, masaya ang buhay niya kasi mayaman sila, but may lihim siyang itinatago. Ampon lang siya kasi pinamigay siya ng ina niya as a baby.
"Tapos, now, inaabuso siya ng kanyang foster dad, si Jim Pebanco. Para makatakas, nagpatulong ako sa boyfriend ko, si Vance Larena, to look for my biological mother at nakita naman namin, si Maureen Mauricio.”
She learns that she has a half sister, Samantha, played by Quinn Carillo.
“Sa pagtatagpo namin, we’ll get involved in each other’s lives. She’s a street smart girl na lumaki sa hirap at dating drug trafficker. But now, she works as a police asset working with the cops to help solve drug-related cases.”
So how is it working with Direk Joel? “I’ve worked with him before in ‘Silab’, pero one scene lang ako doon. Dati, intimidated ako sa kanya kasi respetado siya sa industry, but I’m now so thankful I got to work with him as I really learned so much from him, lalo na rito sa ‘Biyak’.”
How sexy did she go in ‘Biyak’?
“Na-shocked ako noong una kasi yung love scene namin ni Vance, kinunan sa labas. But maganda naman ang treatment ni direk. We trusted him fully at hindi naman bastos tingnan yung eksena. Maganda ang ilaw at movement ng camera.”
Does she have any restrictions about baring for the camera?
“No restrictions, kasi si Direk Joel, ingat na ingat siya and when you say hindi mo kaya, he respects it.
"But as of now, I can’t do full frontal nudity. Just my top lang, not full body. Parang respeto ko na rin lang sa sarili ko.
"At saka hindi kasi ako comfortable sa body ko, kasi diretso lang siya, e.”
What other challenges did she face in the movie?
“Yung first day ko, ina-abuse ako, I’m supposed to cry pero hindi ako makaiyak. Buti na lang very patient si Direk Joel.
"I just hope people will watch it not just for the sexy scenes but also for the story. Maganda kasi yung story about dysfunctional families.”
How does she react to bashers who say that Vivamax stars do nothing but go naked on cam?
“I don’t really care sa bashing as I don’t know the bashers personally and I don’t owe them an explanation.
"But sa messages nila, I appreciate it when they say maganda ang trabaho mo rito, kaya I really want to try more challenging dramatic roles sana.”