Glaiza off to a good start

She can still feel — and sometimes think — the way her character Emma, a loving and agonizing mother, does in independent film Still Life. The movie is directed by Maria Katrina Flores.

As an actress, Glaiza de Castro has no plans of forgetting Emma because she might need her again in future TV and movie projects with themes similar to Still Life.

This is how passionate Glaiza is about her craft.

“I was tempted to do sexy pictorials for magazines like FHM, you know, for instant fame and fortune,” says Glaiza, who has nothing against those who pose for men’s magazines.

“I just want to start on the right foot by focusing more on acting than diverting my attention to other interests. I want to become an actress and to show what I can do.”

Many think that Still Life was a good start for Glaiza to pursue her childhood dream and to take the same career path as Jaclyn Jose and Cherry Pie Picache have.

It seems nothing can stop the GMA Artist Center talent from portraying and doing a string of interesting characters and worthy projects. In fact, she is shooting her second indie Rakenrol directed by Quark Henares  and starring Jason Abalos, Ketchup Eusebio, Alwyn Uytingco and Diether Ocampo in a special role.

“It’s a lighter version of Almost Famous,” describes Glaiza of Rakenrol which is due next year. “It’s a fun and feel good movie. What’s the difference between doing an indie and a mainstream movie? In indie films, I’m free to do what I want off and on screen. I can improvise and suggest something to my character. I have also the opportunity to work with actors’ directors.”

Is she willing to show some skin or bare for the sake of art and realism?

Glaiza pauses, thinks hard and replies, “I want to play out-of-the-box and extreme roles. I like the works of Natalie Portman in V for Vendetta and Charlize Theron in Monster.”

Glaiza recalls that Charlize sacrificed her looks just to get into her character and deliver a fine performance. The South African actress played Aileen Wuornos, a highway prostitute-turned-serial killer. Her portrayal in Monster gave her an Oscar Best Actress award and a Silver Berlin Bear trophy.

Glaiza says she is willing to do what Charlize has done, especially when the role calls for it. It’s a welcome challenge for Glaiza. The young star hopes to do more acting assignments so she can improve her craft.

What keeps Glaiza busy these days, aside from her  regular shows like S.O.P. and Boys Nxt Door, is her  role as an endorser of Facial Plus, a chain of skin, spa and slimming clinics. She joins Jean Garcia and Polo Ravales as the faces of the facial clinic.

This is Glaiza’s biggest endorsement to date. She was tapped to reach the younger market of Bioessence’s sister company. She considers this Christmas gift a way to encourage others, specifically her friends, to take care of their skin.

Glaiza will also be seen in Batanes starring Iza Calzado, F4’s Ken Chu and Marky Cielo, her love interest in the movie.

(Facial Plus has branches in Caloocan, Novaliches, Legaspi, Cubao, Naga and Roxas City).