RUFFA GUTIERREZ’ last movie was “The Mall, The Merrier” in 2019 where she played a mere guest role, so she is happy to star in a movie again, “Maid in Malacanang”, where she plays former First Lady Imelda Marcos no less.
“I first met her when I was only 18 years old,” she says at the movie’s zoom presscon.
“She was celebrating her birthday then at the Manila Hotel and I attended.
"She was so elegant and glamorous so I quickly became a fan, kaya when the offer to play her came, I quickly accepted it. I can see she she knows how to practise grace under pressure.”
They have yet to shoot the movie but it already has a playdate on July 20, to be shown not on streaming but in actual cinemas. How is she preparing for the role?
“I’ve been watching videos of her and I talked to Cesar Montano, who plays Ferdinand Marcos to find out how he himself is preparing for his role.
He said, you should sleep with Imelda on your mind. Yun daw ang ginawa niya when he did his movie on Jose Rizal for which he won awards. Inilagay niya sa utak niya si Rizal and he imagines na kapag natutulog siya, katabi niya si Rizal.
"So I will be trying to do that, sleeping with Imelda on my mind para ma-internalize ko siya nang husto.”
Ruffa is happy to be reunited with her daughters, Lorin and Venice, who just came home from Turkey to visit their dad, Yilmaz Bektas.
“It took 15 years before they all saw each other again,” she says.
“You really have to trust in God’s perfect timing. It took a lot of patience and a whole lot of faith, but everything is worth all the long wait.
"Abangan nyo because Lorin is writing about their whole reunion experience in Turkey in her vlog soon.”
How about speculations that she and Yilmaz will also have a second chance and reconcile?
“Right now, I am just happy that we are cordial with each other. He thanked me for allowing our daughters to visit him.
"I never stopped naman our kids from having a relationship with their dad and I hope this will be the start of a new chapter between them as father and daughters.
"I cried when I saw their reunion video and so many people are happy for them. So let’s just all be happy with that.”
