AVA MENDEZ is happy to work with Kiwi actress Franki Russell in Direk Yam Laranas’ erotic drama, “Laruan”.
“Hindi kami magkakilala at first time ko to work with her but nagkasundo kami agad,” she says.
“Marami kaming eksena together, along with our co-actors, Jay Manalo and Kiko Estrada.
"Magiging karibal ako rito ni Franki sa husband niyang si Jay Manalo na niloloko niya kasi lover niya si Kiko Estrada.
"In the end, magseselos siya sa akin nang parehong maging close sa aking sina Jay and Kiko.”
Ava is one of the most talented among Vivamax sex sirens.
She has yet to be given a solo starrer but in the movies, she did, she nearly stole the limelight from her co-stars who play lead roles like, “Ang Babaeng Nawawala sa Sarili”, where she played the role of an avenging ghost, and also in “Purificacion” where she played a rich but corrupt woman who wants to control the people around her.
How come she acts so well in all her roles?
“I take my work seriously and I study the roles assigned to me well para magampanan ko nang maayos,” she says.
“Dito sa ‘Laruan’, Direk Yam Laranas gave us acting workshops before the actual shooting started at malaki ang naitulong niyon para mas maintindihan kong mabuti ang role ko.”
She says her role in “Laruan” is something very different from anything she has done before.
“Dati kasi, laging loud yung role ko, maingay, so they require big movements.
"But here, sabi ni Direk Yam, i-tone down ko raw.
"Kasi ang role ko is an art student na mahinhin at makaka-relate kay Jay Manalo who plays a respected artist in the story.
"Kilalang painter siya and we bond well talking about art. Each time na medyo tumataas ang acting ko, Direk Yan tells me na babaan mo.
"So, mas kontrolado ang acting ko rito. I should also thank Jay, Kiko and Franki kasi talagang nagtulungan kami sa aming mga eksena para lumabas na maganda ang movie which is about illicit relationships.”
She does both sex comedies and sex dramas with equal ease. Any kind of role that she’d like to do in the future?
“Gusto ko po mag-try ng action movie. Yung real deal action na ako mismo ang gagawa ng fight scenes and stunts ko sa movie.
"I think makakaya ko naman kasi may training ako sa martial arts and I’ve always been very athletic.
"Physical fitness influencer din ako and I joined sa mga marathon before.”
She also dream of winning an acting award in the future.
“Siguro naman, lahat ng pumasok sa pag-aartista, nangangarap na balang araw, manalo sila ng isang acting award.
"So inapanalangin ko pong mabigyang ako ng isang maganda at demanding role that will acquire pure acting talaga.
"Maganda yung material at mahusay ang direktor para mapansin naman ako for my performance.”
Meantime, don’t miss the intense rivalry of Ava with Franki Russell over Jay Manalo and Kiko Estrada that will lead to plenty of torrid, provocative love scenes in “Laruan”, streaming on Vivamax starting December 9.