‘‘Yun daw ang ginawa niya when he did his movie on Jose Rizal for which he won awards. — Ruffa Gutierrez’
RUFFA Gutierrez is happy to play former First Lady Imelda Marcos in Viva’s “Maid in Malacanang.”
“I first met her when I was only 18 years old,” she says. “She was celebrating her birthday and she’s so elegant I quickly became a fan. So when the offer to play her came, I gladly accepted it.”
They have yet to shoot the movie but it already has a playdate on July 20, to be shown not on streaming but in actual cinemas. How is she preparing for the role?
“I’ve been watching videos of her and I talked to Cesar Montano, who plays Ferdinand Marcos, to find out how he himself is preparing for his role. He said, you should sleep with Imelda on your mind. ‘Yun daw ang ginawa niya when he did his movie on Jose Rizal for which he won awards. Inilagay niya sa utak niya si Rizal, so I will be trying to do that, sleeping with Imelda on my mind.”
Ruffa is happy to be reunited with her daughters, Lorin and Venice, who just came home from Turkey to visit their dad, Yilmaz Bektas. How about speculations that she and Yilmaz will also reconcile?
“Right now, I am just happy that we are cordial with each other. He thanked me for allowing our daughters to visit him. I cried when I saw their reunion video and so many people are happy for them. So let’s just all be happy with that.”
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Christopher De Leon and Jean Garcia are partners in crime in GMA’s action-adventure series, “Lolong.” Christopher plays Gov. Armando Banzon and Jean is his wife Donna, both corrupt and hungry for power.
“Mahirap ang pinagdaanan namin kasi 40 days kaming on lock-in taping sa Quezon Province,” says Boyet. “There are times, maiinip ka but I get my inspiration from all of the cast members and our directors who are all so hard working. Na-enjoy ko rin na magkasama kami rito sa bubble taping ng aking eldest son, si Ian. Nakapag-bonding kami while working.”
How is it working with Ruru as the lead actor? “Si Ruru, masarap katrabaho. He is so committed, always in character, very disciplined siya at makikita yun sa work niya. You can see na mahal niya ang ginagawa niya.”
As for Jean Garcia, she loves being reunited with Boyet de Leon in “Lolong.”
“Ilang beses na kaming nagkasama on TV and even sa movies,” she says. “And always, it’s nice to work with one of the best actors in the industry. Bale 40 days kaming magkasama sa lock in. There were times na gusto mong maiyak sa lungkot but we all try to be there for each other. Kaya nagkaiyakan kami nung maghihiwalay na kami nang tapos na ang taping, kasi we became really close with each other. Don’t miss ‘Lolong’ when it starts airing on July 4 to replace ‘First Lady’.”
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Dominic Zapata is one of the prized Kapuso directors. He did such hits as “My Husband’s Lover,” “Alyas Robin Hood,” “Darna” (both Angel Locsin and Marian Rivera versions), “Captain Barbell” and many more. He also did hit local adaptations of such Koreanovelas as “Temptation of Wife,” “Ako si Kim Sam Soon” and “Descendants of the Sun.”
Now, he gets to do another local adaptation of a Korean show, “Start Up PH,” starring Bea Alonzo and Alden Richards. How is it working with their lead stars?
“I’ve worked with Alden several times before, so sanay na kami. But it’s my first time to work with Bea. Dati, nakikita ko lang siya sa gym pero hindi ko naman siya kilala. Now, kasama ko na sa set. I’ve heard many good things about her and now that I got to work with her, after nung first taping day namin, I knocked on her door and told her, ‘Bea, thank you, totoo pala lahat ng narinig ko about you: magaling ka, professional at mabait sa mga tao.’ She really exceeded all my expectations kasi magaan siyang katrabaho at wala kang poproblemahin sa kanya. Sa taping, hindi lang lines niya ang alam niya, alam din niya ang nangyayari sa buong eksena at pati sa iba pang characters. That’s the mark of a true professional, ‘yung concerned ka hindi lang sa trabaho mo kundi sa buong show. Hindi ako nahirapan with Bea kasi it helps na Dominic din ang pangalan ko.”
He is referring to Bea’s beau, Dominic Roque. How is Bea’s chemistry on screen with Alden?
“I know na how Alden works, but I was looking for them on how they’ll do a scene together.
I notice that the way they do it, they find the most likeable qualities in each other and then they feed off each other. And they’re both very likeable people, so the chemistry comes easy for them. Not forced, but natural lang talaga kasi sobrang good vibes sila sa isa’t isa.”
