Ritz: I want to be versatile

MANILA, Philippines - Ritz Azul is the latest revelation. The Kapatid Princess, now dubbed as the “virginal bombshell,” has been gaining more attention since slipping into her new lead role as Maita Ramirez on TV5’s Misibis Bay. Her character requires her to be daring and bare some skin in the sexy drama series currently airing on primetime.

“I’m really thankful to TV5 for giving me the chance to show my other side (in acting). It’s been giving me projects that require me to experiment with different roles. I’m very happy that televiewers’ reactions have been good so far,” Ritz said.

In Misibis Bay’s premiere week, the audience positively responded to the show via networking sites, not only enjoying its fast-paced story and steamy love scenes, but also becoming enamored with Ritz, as TV5 stated in a press release.

This is the 19-year-old’s first mature role, a far cry from her carefree, girl-next-door personality in her previous series, the action-fantasy Kidlat with Derek Ramsay.

“Initially, nag-hesitate talaga ako, inisip ko na baka ma-typecast ako sa mga sexy roles. But the TV5 management trusts me that I can pull this off and I trust them. Pinag-uusapan namin kung ano yung makakabuti pagdating sa career ko. So, I’ll just do my best. I reassured myself na, ‘Ah, ibang role naman ‘to so I’ll give it a try.’ Kung para po sa ikagaganda ng show, gagawin ko po.”

Preparing physically for the role like shedding off some pounds or toning her body looked so easy for Ritz. She achieved the sexy curves she is proudly flaunting these days through the Master Cleanse or Lemonade Diet, thanks to Marge Natividad, the business unit head of Misibis Bay. “(Ms.) Marge not only gives pieces of advice in acting but she also recommended me to try the diet before we started taping for the show. ’Yun po yung cleansing and detoxification para sa weight loss na iinumin within eight days, six glasses per day. No solid food, puro juice lang talaga.”

She said she didn’t experience any discomfort, or collapse when taping started. “I think it depends on one’s willingness to achieve something or to put it aptly, ‘It’s mind over matter.’ Kung iisipin mong hindi mo kaya, hindi mo talaga kakayanin, kaya inisip ko na kakayanin ko ‘to.”

Ritz said that she still needs to lose two more inches off her waist. Her vital statistics are 36-26-36. Even if some doubted at how she achieved her almost-perfect figure now, she answered, “I didn’t resort to any surgical enhancement, my body is all-natural. I’m happy with what I have now, parang yun yung asset that I should be proud of. I think kung magpapa-enhance ako or magpapabawas man, it makes me feel na hindi na ako ‘yun.”

Is she okay being seen as a sex symbol?

“For me, it’s flattering that they tell me I’m sexy. But I want to be known more as a versatile actress. Kung nakita nila ako sa Kidlat na pa-tweetums-tweetums, sobrang bata and bubbly, with Misibis Bay, I’m able to do a mature role and show how daring I can be.”

At the recently-held FHM’s 100 Sexiest Women 2013 Victory Party, Ritz was the 28th Sexiest Pinay, placing higher than expected as she graced the magazine’s cover only once for its November 2012 issue.

Still, Ritz has given herself some limits. “For now, because I’m only 19, nasa dulo ng pagka-teenager, di ko pa kayang mag all-out and hindi ko pa kaya gawin yung sobrang intimate like bed scenes. Siguro nga kissing scene kaya pa.”

Ritz added, “(I’m able to do my scenes) sa tulong na rin ng co-artists ko, kay direk Monti (Parungao) and the production team that provided us an acting coach on the set. Sinasabayan ko din ng prayers na sana magawa ko nang maayos ang mga scenes ko. I also thank Ms. Marge and Ms. Camille (Montano, the production unit manager) sa pagpu-push sa akin na kaya ko ‘to so nagkakaroon ako ng confidence.”

Ritz discovered that through Misibis Bay “I can wear a two-piece pala sa TV and na-boost yung confidence ko. With my character naman, kasi knowing that Ritz is simple, may pagka-childish unlike Maita who is a fighter kaya ma-a-apply ko rin siya sa totoong buhay.”

Meanwhile, working with veteran actor Christopher de Leon for the first time got Ritz initially nervous and uneasy. Christopher plays middle-aged rich businessman Anthony who falls in love with Ritz’s Maita, a young and innocent lass who agrees to marry him with the dream of providing a comfortable life for her ailing grandmother.

“Medyo may ilang factor at first. But Tito Boyet is so professional. Nag-uusap kami before a scene and he would ask me if I’m okay, parang gagawin niya muna akong kumportable. By the time we shoot the scene, I feel comfortable na. Hindi ako nakaka-feel ng takot kasi alam kong aalalayan niya ako.” With that, Ritz has fairly executed the controversial lap dance for Christopher in one of the first episodes of Misibis Bay.

Ritz had also some good things to say about her leading men Victor Silayan, Daniel Matsunaga and Vin Abrenica.

“Aaminin ko every time I have a scene with any of them, kinikilig talaga ako. They’re gentle and you can feel their sincerity and respect. They are focused on their work and are so professional. Kung mamimili ako sa kanila, parang mahihirapan ako.”

Probably, it’s a bit early to tell so you have to tune in to find out.

(Misibis Bay, also starring Boots Anson-Roa, Vivian Velez, Megan Young, Andrea del Rosario, Lucky Mercado, Malak So Shdifat and Luke Jickain, airs weeknights at 8 on TV5.)