EULA VALDES was last seen on the Kapuso network in the second version of “Encantadia” five years ago.
She’s now back with GMA in Afternoon Prime’s sexy drama “Return to Paradise”, where she plays the role of an oppressed woman imprisoned for a crime she did not commit.
It starts airing on GMA's Afternoon Prime this Monday, replacing "Raising Mamay".
“It’s nice to be back with GMA kasi masayang katrabaho pati ang staff and crew,” she says.
“Sa taping, pantay-pantay kayong lahat. Kasundo mo ang lahat kaya magaan at masaya ang trabaho sa lock in taping.”
In the story, she plays the mother of Elle Villanueva, who is given her biggest break here as the leading lady of the dashing and hunky Derrick Monasterio.
Teresa Loyzaga, the mother of Derrick, turns out to be Eula's mortal enemy and the reason why she is framed up and sent to prison.
Of course, Teresa is indignant when she learns that her son has fallen in love with the daughter of her foremost rival.
So how will she gauge Elle’s acting since they have many scenes together?
“Okay naman siya. Hindi siya takot makipag-eksena sa mga mas experienced actresses like Teresa and I.
"I look at her eyes in our scenes together and she doesn’t get intimidated.
"Focused naman siya sa acting niya and she’s willing to learn, so it looks like may depth siya, seryoso siya sa craft niya so mukhang magtatagal siya in the business.
"And I like her morena good looks. Maganda ang kulay niya. I really like her skin color. Maganda tingnan on screen.”
How about Derrick?
“He’s tall, good looking, leading man talaga ang dating. At nakakaarte rin.
"I really think magki-click ang tambalan nila ni Elle dito sa ‘Return to Paradise’. They have good on screen chemistry.”
Isn’t she tired of playing “inaapi” roles in soap after soap?
“Actually, kahit parang pare-pareho ang roles mo, it’s all up to you as an actor kung paano ang atake mong gagawin,” says Eula, who started her career as a teen star in “Bagets” in 1983 and won the Urian best actress award in the movie “Dagitab” in 2014, so she certainly knows what she is talking about when it comes to acting.
“Lahat naman ng roles na ibigay sa iyo, may challenge,” she adds.
“Kahit sa tingin mo, hindi gan’on kahirap ang role na ibinigay sa iyo, you should still work on it.
"You should try to fully understand it to make it special, to make it your own. Hindi yung basta kinunan ka lang, tapos okay na yan, puede na yan.”
She says an actor’s job requires constant education and learning.
“Dapat, kahit nagawa mo na yung role before, pag-aralan mo pa rin yan. Parang may assignment ka sa school, pag-aralan mong mabuti how you’d treat it.
"Nasa sa iyo na how you’d make it special at naiiba sa mga dati mong nagawa, so you won’t be mediocre.”
Off cam, Eula used to be in a relationship with actor Rocky Salumbides. They were together for 13 years.
It was Rocky who announced last month in his social media account that he is now on with the daughter of Pilar Pilapil, Pia, who used to be together with model Gerry Gonzalo and they have four kids.
