‘It’s said bad publicity is still publicity so she should just be optimistic.’
ELLA Cruz obviously did not foresee she will be controversial when she said in an interview on the set of “Maid in Malacañang,” where she plays Irene Marcos, that “history is like chismis.” The reaction against her is so vehement, with many celebrities censuring her for not knowing the value of historical facts. They are now shooting the film which originally had an unrealistic July 20 playdate, so it has now been moved to a more achievable one, August 3.
Ella was born in 1996, ten years after the EDSA revolution, so whatever she heard about it, she says she just learned from school. In doing the film, she says she has an open mind to hear the other side of the story from the Marcoses themselves, as Imee Marcos is their primary consultant and she says some lies will be debunked.
The backlash against Ella’s statement is so great and she felt so hurt when her detractors lambasted even her dad, Tantan Cruz, who ran for mayor of Angat, Bulacan and lost. Some folks attributed his losing to their family’s not doing well in school. A basher said: “Ang kailangan ng bayan natin ay matalino na kayang solusyunan ang mga problema ng bayan.”
Ella was just silent about all the bashing that she is getting, but with her dad being mentioned, she is no longer able to just keep quiet and wrote in her social media account: “Bash me all you want PERO WAG NIYO NANG IDADAMAY ANG PAMILYA KO. Have a little humanity, please.”
We understand where Ella is coming from but maybe, she should just look at the bright side of things. She’s had a string of movies that just came and went without her being talked about. But now, all of a sudden, people are aware of who Ella Cruz is. It’s said bad publicity is still publicity so she should just be optimistic and Viva should thank her as the public is now more aware that there is such a movie as “Maid in Malacañang” that is being made right now.
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Jacklyn Jose was just playing a supporting role in “The Housemaid” but she was the one who got rave reviews in that Vivamax movie. Now, she plays another supporting role in Vivamax’ latest sex-drama, “Tahan,” and expect her to give another formidable portrayal for her role of a mother who kills the men who make love to her daughter, played by newcomer Cloe Barreto. How is it working with a new actress like Cloe in “Tahan”?
“First time ko to work with her, JC Santos and our director, Bobby Bonifacio. Most new actors na nakakatrabaho ko, nakakatakot sa akin, but I always tell them na huwag silang matakot sa akin. Cloe said she’s intimidated so I hugged her sa first shooting day namin and told her not to worry. Kasi galing din ako sa pagiging baguhan, so hindi ko sisindakin ang mga bago at batang artista, kasi sila ang next generation sa industriya.”
She says Cloe’s role in “Tahan” as a young woman forced into prostitution by her own domineering mother is very demanding. Did she give any advice to Cloe? “Basta ang sabi ko sa kanya, kapag sexy scenes. gawin na agad nang maayos para hindi na ipauulit pa.
Newbies today are lucky kasi nung time ko, walang tumutulong sa akin. Walang acting workshops, walang tutulong sa’yo that time but yourself. Kaya ako ngayon, basta makakatulong ako sa baguhan, I try to help them in their craft.”
Her role is similarly challenging. “This is one of the most shocking things I did: being a killer mother. First time ko play the role of a murderer. Sa trailer, makikita nyo na sinasaksak ko talaga ang mga biktima ko tapos nilalabas ko ang laman-loob. Suspense-thriller siya. And very gory. Hindi mo akalaing magagawa ‘yun ng isang nanay. But as a mother, you will really kill for your children, ganon ang mga nanay.”
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Lianne Valentin is one of today’s most hated women on local TV for her contravida role as Stella, the scheming other woman of Zoren Legaspi who steals him from his wife, Maricel Laxa, in GMA’s “Apoy sa Langit.” We first got to interview Lianne when she was only 10 years old as one of the hosts of the award-winning GMA-7 children’s show, “Tropang Potchi.” She’s now turning 21 years old on August 16. How does she feel that viewers hate her as Stella?
“Yes, galit sila sa akin, kabit daw ako ng bayan, but it only means effective ako in my role,” she says. “But I’m just very grateful na sa’kin napunta ang role na ito. When I auditioned for the role, hindi ko alam si Direk Laurice Guillen pala ang in charge. Sobra ang kaba ko kasi ang anak niyang si Ana Feleo ang teacher namin sa acting workshops. So ginalingan ko dahil ayokong mapahiya.”
Many actresses auditioned and she was so surprised when informed that she bagged the role. Zoren said that during their script reading, he got turned off when he was asking her something and she didn’t reply.
“Kasi hiyang-hiya ako sa kanya. First time ko to work with him and I will play his young lover. Alam ko, pamilyadong tao siya. Then nung first taping day, I noticed hindi niya ako kinakausap. And when we were doing a scene, nanginginig talaga ako sa kaba and he told me, gusto mong mag-backout? Sabi ko, ayoko. Natatakot lang po talaga ako. So he talked to me at nagkaintindihan kami.”
Lianne is the eldest of three kids. How does her family react to her role?
“My mom is very supportive. When she learned I’d audition, she said, sure ka ba? This is a very complex role. I said, kakayanin ko. But when she finally saw my bedscenes with Kuya Zoren, napasigaw siya ng ‘Anak!’ Nagulat daw siya kasi hindi niya ine-expect na ganun ka-daring.”
How about her boyfriend? “Wala akong boyfriend. May mga nanliligaw pero ayoko muna.
Ang tagal kong hinintay ang ganitong big break sa career ko so I won’t just let it slip away. Focused muna ako totally sa trabaho.”
“Apoy sa Langit” is such a big hit that the show has just been extended for three more weeks. “Yes, buti na lang tumama sa vacation namin ngayon sa school.”
Yes, despite her busy schedule, Lianne has not neglected her studies. She’ll be an incoming third year student at the ISHRM School System at Bacoor, Cavite taking up business management, major in human resources.
