MILLEN GAL EFFECTIVE AS THE DOMINEERING ISABEL IN 'KAHALILI'
MILLEN GAL is a cousin of sisters Stephanie and Micaella Raz, and Angela Morena.
They were the ones who encouraged her to try acting and she first played supporting roles in some films that starred her cousins, like “Virgin Forest”, “Lawa”, “Breathe Again”, “Salamat Daks”.
She also did bit roles in the series “Stalkers”, “High on Sex” and “Lovely Ladies Dormitory.”
And now, she is given her biggest role so far in the erotic mystery-drama about surrogacy, “Kahalili”, which is now streaming on Vivamax.
“I’m really thankful to Director Bobby Bonifacio Jr for getting me in this project,” she says at the zoom presscon for the movie.
“Full length ang role ko at hindi gaya sa ibang films na ginawa ko na minimal lang ang exposure ko.
"Dito, as Isabel, the wife of Sid Lucero who plays Rod, I’m there from beginning to end.”
In the story, she has had four miscarriages and cannot get pregnant anymore. But she really wants to have a child so she convinced Stephanie Raz as Martha to be her child’s surrogate mom to be paid P1 million.
“I really prepared for my role kasi it’s my biggest one so far,” she adds. “Malalaki ang mga eksena and so much was required from me, as it’s emotionally, mentally and physically challenging.
"Ako yung dominant partner dito who guides both Sid and Steph sa mga gusto kong ipagawa sa kanila. Religious fanatic din ang character ko kaya I require Sid and Steph to be punished in front of the altar kapag may kasalanan sila to purify them.”
She says enjoyed playing her character. “The role of Isabel is actually fun to do as I got to explore the dark shadows of my human side. But I also empathize with her because of the loss and pain she went through kasi nga she lost her baby several times. Kawawa naman siya.”
In the scene where Sid impregnates Steph, Millen is also with them in bed and she also romances Steph, even kissing her nipple, prompting some writers to say that it’s a case of incest as they are cousins. How does she feel about it?
“Steph knows it all just part of our work. I had a wonderful experience doing the movie with her and I pray we can work together again in the future. And also with Sid. kasi ako ang nag-request na makasama siya.
"When I played a role in ‘Salamat Daks’ for Direk Bobby, I told him I wish I could work with Sid at yun, nagpapasalamat ako that I got to work with him here and husband and wife pa ang role namin.”
In all fairness to Millen, she might be new but she gives a persuasively powerful performance as Isabel. As one writer commented: “Ang lakas ng dating niya on screen ha.”
It’s just too bad that she was absent when the movie had its special private screening.
When asked about her, Direk Bobby said she was sick at that time so she failed to attend the screening. But how come Sid was also absent in the said event?
“Siempre po, mag-jowa sila ni Millen,” says the director. “E, may sakit si Millen, so kailangang alagaan niya, kaya hindi rin siya nakarating sa screening.”
So there, that bit of information came from their marites director himself.
