When half-Japanese, half-Pinoy actress Yukii Takahashi first found out she was cast in director Dan Villegas’s film Almost Us, she admitted she almost didn’t believe it was true.
“It’s a funny story. Sobrang funny. Kasi hindi ko kasi alam if scam siya or not. So nung minessage ako through Viber, I wasn’t sure if it was real and everything. And then when I found out it was direk Dan, dun na ako naniwala. Totoo pala ito (laughs). I really didn’t know. Honest reaction ko was I thought it was a scam.
"And when I went to the meeting, andun sila direk Dan, sila Fyang (Smith), and then I was so happy kasi friends ko na rin sila Fyang and si JM (Ibarra) before and I’m glad that I finally got to work with them because they’re super nice people and they’re so professional. I’ve learned so many things from them. Sobrang happy ako. Nagulat talaga ako,” she shared with PUSH ABS-CBN during an exclusive interview.
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In the film, Yukii plays the role of Sue, a selfless environmentalist who is one of the leaders in a humanitarian volunteer group that JM’s character RR wants to join in the film. The 24-year-old actress admitted that because her role is the third party in the storyline, she has already braced herself for backlash from the popular love team’s fandom.
“It was short but I would say it’s a very meaningful job. Grabe talaga yung script and the cast and everything so I kind of fell in love with the movie and I hope everyone will fall in love din with how good it is.
"My name is Sue here and I’m older ako kay Fyang and kay RR. Well yung role ko dito, I’m a very confident woman and sobrang self-assured ako with everything and somehow medyo pinagseselosan ako ni Fyang dito. Of course, I am ready with the fear of getting bashed, but at the same time, if I am going to get bashed, maybe it’s for a good reason. Kasi maybe the acting is effective and everything. Sana ma-enjoy ng fans. So whatever they feel, it’s valid. Mainis sila, matuwa sila, and hopefully maiyak sila sa film. Hopefully they will love the movie.
"Sana panoorin talaga nila ng paulit-ulit kasi ang daming layers ng palabas na ito and si Sue nakatulong siya para mailabas ang insecurity na nararamdaman ng character ni Fyang na si Janine. I guess panuorin niyo na lang,” she said.
Having worked closely with the two lead stars of the film in almost all her scenes, Yukii revealed what she observed on and off-cam when it comes to JM and Fyang.
“I would say sobrang totoo nilang tao and sobrang gaan nila kausap. Sobrang natural nilang tao which I admire and I think medyo hindi sila typical sa showbiz so they’re very raw. And nag-click talaga kami lahat and sana people will see more of their heart. Kasi ang ganda nila, ang guwapo nila, but their heart, it speaks so much life and I am happy that I am friends with them,” she added.