HEAVEN PERALEJO is saying goodbye to her teeny bopper roles and playing her most mature and daring role to date in Rein Entertainment’s Metro-Manila Filmfest entry, “Nananahimik ang Gabi (Silent Night)”.
She as Me-ann and Ian Veneracion as a cop called Chief play illicit lovers who are having a secret rendezvous in a plush mansion somewhere.
With Ian as her sugar daddy, she’s even asking him to buy her a condo unit so they can just have their forbidden assignations there instead of elsewhere.
She has a love scene with Ian, with him putting kinky handcuffs on her, and a swimming pool scene with her in a skimpy bikini. What made her consent to go sexy?
“I consulted my mother about it and we both agreed that maganda ang script written by Direk Shugo Praico,” she says.
“I liked it because it has a valid message for today’s generation na iba na ang values. I’m a sugar baby here and I’m having an affair with a married man to improve my financial status without knowing that it can have bad consequences.
"I felt I want to be part of this film because it is thought-provoking and doing it is an eye-opener for me.”
But arriving at such a decision required a lot of self-examination.
“First, I asked myself, kaya ko ba ito? Kasi first time ko to do such a role and it will definitely be a milestone in my career.
"I talked to sina Direk Shugo and Direk Lino Cayetano of Rein Entertainment and they compromised with me on how they want and how I want to do it.
"They assured me na aalagaan nila ako at hindi nila ako pababayaan in the delicate scenes at yun naman ang nangyari.”
And how is it acting with Ian Veneracion who’s much older than her? Heaven turned 23 on November 25 while Ian turned 47 last February.
“Kuya Ian and I conducted exercises for us to get to know each other better before we started shooting.
"It’s important kasi na we are very comfortable with each other para maging credible ang scenes namin together.
"I think maganda naman ang naging teamwork namin. In the love scenes, or yung kumakandong ako sa kanya, iniisip kong hindi ako yun but my character, si Me-Ann.”
How about Mon Confiado as the mysterious man who barged into their house and terrorized them?
“I feel so lucky na yung mga kasama ko rito, parehong beteranong aktor. They both helped me in our scenes.
"Puro sila lalaki sa set and we became a family at ako yung baby nila. Ang babait nilang lahat. Y
"ung scenes ko with Kuya Mon is very physical. Maraming habulan, sakitan as he’s trying to harm me. Very violent kaya ang dami kong pasa, but it’s worth it naman.
"The film really has so many exciting, suspenseful scenes.”
She’s now doing the Wattpad series, “The Rain in Espana”, for Viva. Does this mean she’s already to do sexy flicks for Vivamax?
“I’m doing the series with Viva but I’m still with Star Magic. As for doing sexy flicks, hayaan na lang po natin doon sa mga may kaya.
"I did a love scene here but marami pa rin po akong boundaries. I’m glad nga na after this, I will be seen in a romantic series like ‘The Rain in Espana’ na wala namang sexy scenes.
"My prayer now is for moviegoers to actually go to the theaters on Christmas Day and support our movie and the whole film festival.”
