24-year-old Kapuso actress Ysabel Ortega is taking on her biggest role on television to date, and as a Kapuso star, via the Filipino live-action TV adaptation of the anime classic, Voltes V.
Ysabel Ortega joined GMA Network in 2019, just months before the pandemic hit. Prior to becoming a GMA Sparkle talent, she had several memorable shows as a Kapamilya star, including On the Wings of Love (2015), Born For You (2016), and Araw Gabi (2018). The daughter of Senator Lito Lapid and Michelle Ortega, the now up-and-coming Kapuso actress has been consistently proving her worth to her new home network. With ‘Voltes V: Legacy’, she takes on her biggest role to date, one that may catapult her to a new career high.
Along with her fellow co-lead actors, Miguel Tanfelix, Radson Flores, Matt Lozano, and Raphael Landicho, Ortega was able to introduce herself and her role to a group of Iloilo press people, during the GMA Regional TV-hosted press conference held in Iloilo City, last January 21.
“Ako po ang fifth member ng Voltes team. Ako po ‘yung paa ni Voltes V, so puwede nating sabihin na I keep the robot grounded. Isa po siyang anak, anak po siya ni Commander Robinson, played by Gabby Eigenmann,” she said. She also shared details of her preparation for the role.
Ortega said her preparations included martial arts (Wushu, Arnis, Muay Thai) and learning some stunts; physical skills; and patience were required to give justice to her role as Jamie Robinson.
“Pero ang pinaka-training ko talaga na super nagamit ko is, stunt training. Kasi siyempre iba naman ‘yung martial arts sa stunts na gagawin ko sa set, kasi iba ‘yung marunong sumuntok at iba rin ‘yung marunong kang pumeke ng suntok,” she added, recalling her struggles during her preparations.
The actress believes that the series is set to create a defining milestone in Philippine television, citing its quality.
“Aside from story niya being about family, about heroism, siguro quality?..Talagang pinaghirapan ang show na ito. We took our time and they took their time editing everything. So it’s quality and it’s free. So sa mga namamangha sa Hollywood films like Pacific Rim, Transformers di ba, they can get that same quality, or same feel, dito sa GMA,” she proudly shared.
As 2023 begins to shape up as a breakout year for Ortega, she only wishes that she remains committed to bettering herself in many aspects.
She concluded, “Sana ma-maintain ko ‘yung drive ko to be a better actress, to be a better person, to be better in my studies, lahat lahat na,” she said, when asked what she would want to wish from Señor Sto. Niño. The cast notably visited Iloilo, to join in the celebration of the feast of Sto. Niño and the Dinagyang Festival.
