After Claudine Barretto’s network switch, there was a lot of buzz about who would take over her role in a proposed teleserye which would have had her star opposite her sister Gretchen Barretto. The frontrunner seemed to be Bea Alonzo who, when interviewed by ABS-CBN.com, said that she has yet to be formally offered the role by management. Bea added that she is willing to do the project but figured she will need to inform Claudine about it. “May naririnig ako about that pero hindi pa rin sure hanggang ngayon. Para sa akin ang trabaho ay hindi dapat tinatanggihan. Sino ba naman ako para tumanggi sa ganun kalaking project? Hindi ko pa nakakausap si Ate Claudine. Kapag formally i-offer sa akin ‘yung role ng ABS-CBN feeling ko responsibility ko na at least man lang i-text ko si Ate Claudine na tatanggapin ko na ‘yung role. She’s been my ate rito sa showbiz ever since I started. Respeto na lang sa kanya.”
Bea considers Claudine as one of her biggest idols in showbiz. According to Bea, even if she does well in this project, she can never equal Claudine’s caliber as a star. “I will just take over the role pero kahit kailan hinding hindi ko mapapalitan ang isang Claudine Barretto. Ang dami na niyang napatunayan. Isa siya sa mga idols ko sa industriya kaya for sure marami pa akong kakaining bigas para man lang maka-level siya. Hindi ko goal na mai-compare sa kanya o kahit kanino. Mas gusto kong gumawa ng sariling pangalan.”
What the 22-year-old actress feels nervous about in this teleserye is that she will star on the small screen beside one of the most beautiful women in showbiz. “Kailangan kong pag-aralan nang maigi ‘yung character lalo na si Ms. Gretchen ang makakasama ko. Kailangan kong paghandaan kasi naiisip ko baka magmukha akong yaya niya kasi sobra niyang ganda, ha ha ha! Hindi ko pa siya naka-work pero na-meet ko na siya. She’s a very beautiful person. Para siyang dyosa na titigan mo nang matagal. Sobra rin niyang nice.”
Sam Milby and Derek Ramsay are also being tapped to play the leading men in this teleserye. Bea had the chance to work with both men in her 2009 movie And I Love You So. Although she confessed she is excited about being given another chance to work with Sam and Derek, she doesn’t want to get her hopes up since the project is still being developed. “Hindi ko pa sure kung sina Sam and Derek nga ‘yung magiging leading men kasi wala pang formal word from the management. Ayoko masyadong mag-expect kasi baka magbago pa. Baga ang dating nagfi-feeling ako, ha ha ha!”
Meanwhile you can catch Bea reunite with her box-office ka-love team John Lloyd Cruz in Miss You Like Crazy, premiering in theaters nationwide this February 24.
by Napoleon Quintos