Andrea Torres channels the ‘essence’ of Cherie Gil in ‘Love Before Sunrise’

CEBU, Philippines — One thing that Dennis Trillo and Andrea Torres have in common? They both seek varied roles in hopes of showcasing their wide range.

Coming off the 2022 series “Maria Clara at Ibarra” as Crisóstomo Ibarra and Sisa, respectively, and early 2023’s “Voltes V: Legacy” as Dr. Ned Armstrong for Trillo, the Kapuso stars were glad that their next television assignments deviated from their recent work.

“I just always have at the back of my mind that it has to be far from my last role. I’m at that stage now where I want to prove myself,” said Torres during a press conference before he and Trillo headlined a Kapuso Fiesta show at the Lapu-Lapu City Hoopsdome.

“I want to discover what else I’m capable of. So it should be roles that will surprise my followers dahil bago sa paningin nila.”

Trillo and Torres star in the romance drama “Love Before Sunrise”, a collaboration between GMA Network and streaming service Viu that premiered in September. A reunion of Bea Alonzo and Trillo two decades after starting out together in ABS-CBN, the series follows exes Atom (Trillo) and Stella (Alonzo) who split up after finding the right love in one another, but at the wrong time. They cross paths years later when Atom is already married to Torres’ Czarina, and Stella to Sid Lucero’s Roald.

“Love Before Sunrise” airs on GMA Telebabad, Mondays to Fridays at 8:50 p.m, while advance episodes stream 48 hours ahead on Viu Philippines from Saturdays to Wednesdays.

His third project with Torres, Trillo said the actress continues to surprise him with her efforts in altering her approach in every role.

“I see myself in Andrea because I also want to do something different each time. Ganitong kalibre ng artista, mas mapapadali ang trabaho kasi magre-react na lang kami,” said Trillo.

Torres, 33, said she’s constantly on the lookout for acting parts out of her comfort zone and that are likely to get her nervous. After her well-received take of Noli Me Tangere’s mentally ill mother, she’s found another one to chew on in her first time as antagonist to the leading lady.

Throughout the years, she’s realized breakthroughs sometimes arise out of unexpected situations, such as roles where she might have felt unprepared or ill-suited for.

“So when this was offered to me, go ako agad. It was the same feeling with Sisa and my previous roles where I doubted at first if I can do it. I just jump at every opportunity,” she said.

For Czarina, she took a page out of the late Cherie Gil, known as the country’s La Primera Contravida.

“Very sosyal na intimidating. At the same time, you feel for her,” she noted. “Although ayoko syempre gayahin si Cherie Gil, just the essence of it.”

Torres said she drew up her own backstory for Czarina’s wanting-for-nothing, yet neglected childhood. This helps her deliver her dialogue better, knowing where her spite is rooted from.

“Sometimes scripts don’t indicate what happened during their younger years, or why this is the situation with her parents now,” she explained.

Still part of her preparation with every new part, Torres attends acting workshops on her own volition because “I feel there’s always something new to pick up.” She’s also constantly devouring movies “kasi magugulat ka na lang, you will see a certain attack that you can apply in your own acting.”

Fun to watch

Czarina, who accidentally meets Atom and eventually applies for a job in her restaurant, immediately gets attracted to the guy. She’s impressed not only with his work skills, but also with his values.

“Czarina is very controlling because she went through a not-so-pleasant childhood. She comes from a well-off family and she’s spoiled by her parents, but she lacks love. I guess she needs validation because she quickly gets anything she wants. She can’t credit anything she has to herself. She also rarely finishes the things she starts.”

Torres continued, “It’s the same thing with Atom – she doesn’t care if there’s a Stella in the picture. What solely matters to her is that she gets what she wants. That’s where my character clashes with Stella because I really try to take Atom away from her.”

Co-star Lucero, during a “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” interview before the series premiered, had admirable words for Torres, saying, “Oh I love Andrea! That’s why it’s so sad because I’ve worked with her before, we had an entire show, from lovey-dovey to rawrr, we went through all the emotions. But now hindi kami masyado nagkaka-eksena. She has a lot to give, and she’s fun to watch here.”

Torres quipped that she feels “super kilig” with the praise especially that it came from a showbiz royalty such as Lucero who’s also reputed for his acting depth.

“When I learned I was going to work with him, kinakabahan ako kasi we all know Sid is really intense. Happy of course, every time I hear that my work is appreciated because that’s really the goal with every project,” said Torres.

When “Love Before Sunrise” wraps, the actress is crossing her fingers that she get a dark genre next, a relatable love story, or a superhero.

“Actually,” she added, “there’s still so much I want to do!”  — (FREEMAN)