Serving as her comeback acting project, Kapamilya star Maymay Entrata expressed her full dedication to her role in the action-driven series ROJA.
In an exclusive interview with PUSH ABS-CBN, Maymay recalled how her long-time dream of starring in an action project made her say yes to the series without hesitation.
“Dati pa lang po, sobrang sobrang fan na ako ng action movies, action series and alam iyan ng mga sumusuporta sa akin and ang tagal ko rin hindi po nag-acting dahil gusto ko po una mag-focus sa music and mag-spend ng more time doon sa nanay ko noong buhay pa siya,” Maymay said.
She went on to express her gratitude for the opportunity, which came shortly after her mother’s passing.
“Thankful ako na bliness agad ako ni Lord after one month na mawala si Nanay and pinitch sa akin yung ROJA. tinanaong ko kung ano pong genre and sabi po, action kaya maiyak iyak din po ako talaga kaya sabi ko yes po,” she expressed.
Now with more time to focus on her career, Maymay shared that taking on projects has also helped her heal while honoring her mother’s memory: “Ngayon, bumabawi ako para ibuhos ko yung time na mag-healing ko and naghahanap ng time na maging busy.”
Since it had been years since her last acting project, the Pinoy Big Brother alum admitted she needed a refresher and immediately enrolled in acting workshops.
“Nag-aral po ako ng acting before so parang naninibago ako ulit so nag-workshop ako agad para ma-tap ko po yung mga natutunan ko dati. Thank God talaga na kahit papaano po naapply ko po yung mga natutunan ko po,” she said.
Maymay also shared that she exerted extra effort in preparing for the action scenes with a short training period.
“Kahit three days lang po yung training talagang binuhos o. Buwis buhay! Ay hindi naman buwis buhay pero kasi siguro kapag gusto mo at matagal mo nang hinihintay talagang ibinigay ko po yung best ko para matutunan yung action,” she stated.
She noted that performing action scenes came naturally to her, having learned basic self-defense from her family when she was younger.
Maymay described her experience on set as enjoyable and comfortable, especially since she had previously worked with most of the cast in non-acting projects such as ASAP and hosting stints.
“Hindi naging mahirap sa akin po, naging madali sa akin kasi lahat sila sa cast kilala ko na. Nakatrabaho ko na sila sa ASAP, sa hosting and kahit anong plataporma na hindi acting. Isa rin po sa sobrang na-excite po ako ay (makasama) yung mga veteran stars po,” she remarked.
Maymay also admitted she initially felt nervous working with seasoned performers, particularly respected actors Joel Torre and Lorna Tolentino, who portray antagonistic roles in the series.
“Noong una sobrang kinakabahan ako kasi siyempre veterans sila, mga seniors, mga magagaling na talaga sila and mga kontrabida like sila Sir Joel and Ma’am Lorna tapos naging comfortable na po ako makausap sila. So sabi ko, ito na po yung oportunidad ko na para kahit papaano matuto po ako sa kanila,” she said.
She went on to praise their generosity on set, “Sobrang mapagbigay po sila allo na si Sir Joel Torre na talaga nag-take time siya sa techniques niya kung paano siya mag-lock in sa character niya.”
In ROJA, Maymay plays Luna Javier, a local who grew up in La Playa Roja alongside Liam (Donny Pangilinan) and Olsen (Kyle Echarri) and is best friends with both.
ROJA airs on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, and A2Z, and is also available on Netflix and iWant.