- Jennylyn Mercado talks about working with newcomer Gil Cuerva
- She believes that leading men are lacking inside GMA Network
- The Ultime Star also shared why Alden Richard failed to make it as her leading man in “My Love From The Star”
The Ultimate Star Jennylyn Mercado says she finds her new role in the Philippine version of “My Love From The Star” quite challenging for a number of reasons. First of all, she’s 9 years older than her leading man, played by newcomer Gil Cuerva.
Although with Jennylyn’s youthful look and physique, it’s not really that noticeable. You wouldn’t even think of her real age because she looks just as young as Cuerva.
Jennylyn reveals this is also the first time that she needs to be funny with her character. For someone who’s used to doing drama series, Jen takes on the challenge of taking out the funny side of her persona which not many people are aware of. Jen portrays the role of Steffi Chavez, a popular celebrity with a diva attitude.
“Maniwala kayo, nakakatawa ako sa totoong buhay!,” reveals Jen.
“Puro kasi mga heavy drama ang ginagawa ko. Kaya akala ng marami, ma-emote akong tao. ‘Yung maraming hugot parati.” “Pero in real life, kengkoy ako. Sa bahay naming, mahilig akong mag-asar. Kapag kaming dalawa lang ng anak no [Alex Jazz], nagpapalitan kami ng jokes,” she added.
Jen says that she’s thankful to be doing something different for a change. “Masaya ako na this time, hindi ako iyak ng iyak. Comedy naman ako this time na medyo kaaasaran nyo dahil sa kaartehan at pagka-diva ng character kong si Steffi.”
She also recalled that the last time she’s done something similar to this project was when she did the romantic-comedy for TV “I Luv New York” back in 2006. In the movies, Jen has shown her lighter side too in movies like the award-winning “English Only Please,”” #Walang Forever,” “Just the 3 of Us,” and “The Pre-Nup.”
When Jen was informed she’ll be doing the character of Steffi which will be comical, she immediately agreed to do the said project.
“Nagustuhan ko agad, para maiba naman di ba? Kasi for the past seven years, I’ve been doing heavy drama. The last was for “My Faithful Husband na sobrang mabigat. This one, it will be light and funny.”
Another reason why Jennylyn finds doing “My Love From The Star” was learning how to do the so-called ‘comic timing.’ She says it was director Binibining Joyce Bernal who taught her how to properly deliver her lines with comical timing. “Dapat natural lang pewro ang bagsak, dapat matindi.”
On her new leading man, Jen says newcomer Gil Cuerva is easy to work with.
“Noong una, tahimik lang talaga siya. Alam kong kinakabahan kasi malaking role agad ang ibinigay sa kanya, so may kasamang pressure. Pero later on, okay naman na siya, he stared opening up, mabilis naman kaming nakapag-adjust sa isa’t-isa. May serious at funny side din siya.”
Performance wise, Jennylyn gives Cuerva a thumbs-up. “For a newcomer, nakakasabay naman siya agad.” She also says that she does her part to support her leading man. “Of course, there are times when he makes boo-boos when delivering his lines. Natural lang ‘yun kasi nga baguhan. Lahat naman kami dumaan din sa ganyan, di ba?”
Jen also revealed that she was supposed to work with Alden Richards on “My Love From The Star”.
Unfortunately, Alden couldn’t make it due to his hectic schedule.
“Si Alden ang alam ko noong una na makakatambal ko. Excited pa naman ako kasi first time ko pa naman sana siyang makatrabaho sa isang telerserye. We’ve worked together in Magpakailanman and Wagas. Kaya it’s also my dream for us to work on a teleserye.”
“Pero biglang sinabi na papalitan si Alden kasi nga may gagawin silang teleserye ni Maine. Siyempre, nanghinayang din ako kasi ready na ako to work with him. But when they said na may bagong actor akong makakatrabaho, okay lang. Siguro hindi pa talaga meant for us to work on a teleserye ni Alden.”
Jen also believed that GMA Network lacks in leading men. “It’s a good choice na nakatagpo sila ng katulad ni Gil.”