Bea ready for mature roles

MANILA, Philippines — In her latest soap titled Kapag Nahati ang Puso premiering July 16, Bea Binene could not imagine what to do if she were in the shoes of her character Claire, who will become a fierce rival of another woman she would later find is her long-lost mom. The two women vie for the attention and affection of one man.

“Actually, I haven’t thought about it because I think it’s impossible to happen to me. But I don’t know. I think it depends on the situation, depende sa panahon, sa tao,” said the Kapuso homegrown artist who was wearing a cleavage-baring royal blue gown during the recent grand presscon at GMA 7.

Playing Claire is her first mature role. So, expect an all-grown-up Bea. After all, she is turning 21 this year.

“Hindi naman po pwedeng forever pa-tweetums lang. Kelangan talaga nag-e-evolve yung role mo. That’s why I’m thankful and at the same time I’m very willing to take on this challenge because I also want to explore other things. I hope ma-portray ko siya nang maayos (because) it’s challenging,” she noted but was quick to add that “doing a mature role doesn’t only mean you have to bare skin or do intimate scenes.”

Bea, however, revealed that she and her leading man Benjamin Alves, whom she works with for the first time, already had a kissing scene during their screen test.

“Unang-unang eksena namin ni Ben yun so for sure we have a kissing scene. I don’t know yet if there will be love scenes. But I’m sure there will be limitations po. Basta ako I’m giving my best on this show. I can do it with the help of direk Gil (Tejada Jr.) and the whole production and the creative teams.”

Aside from studying her character, Bea had to prepare also physically. Losing weight was her most challenging.

“Up to now, nagpapapayat pa rin ako kasi ang laki ko sa TV. Ang hirap kasi e. I did everything already.” Bea is on a vegan diet.

“Na-pe-pressure po ako ‘pag nakikita ko si Ms. Shine kasi even if she’s a mom, she is so fit and sexy. She’s my fitspiration. And it made me more eager and inspired to work out and lose weight,” she said of her co-star Sunshine Cruz who portrays as Bea’s mom.

Kapag Nahati ang Puso star, Bea Binene: I’m very willing to take on this challenge because I also want to explore other things. I hope ma-portray ko siya nang maayos because it’s challenging. Left:With direk Gil Tejada Jr. (second from right) and costars (from left) David Licauco, Benjamin Alves, Sunshine Cruz, Zoren Legaspi, Bing Loyzaga and Nar Cabico

“I’m happy in all aspects of my life, except sa pagpapayat, hehehe!” Bea quipped, which prompted reporters to ask her if she means her lovelife is also doing great that’s why she is blooming. Bea only hinted that the guy is non-showbiz but did not reveal if he is her suitor or boyfriend already.

“I don’t want to say anything regarding (my lovelife) because I realized that it’s better to keep it private para mas konti lang ang nakakaalam,” she said. “All I can say is that I’m happy and contented right now kasi nag-school po ako, I’m planning to open a business and of course, I have a career. As an actress, I am learning and trying to be better.”

Even if Kapag Nahati ang Puso will keep her busy, Bea is bent on enrolling again this semester as an AB Film sophomore student at Mint College in Taguig. She doesn’t mind juggling work and studies.

“I’ll try po. I still have to check the available skeds at school. If I have tapings on MWF, school should be TThS, and I can also do my school work while waiting on the set. Education is very important. Actually now, I’m torn between work and school kasi I know that it is very important dahil ‘yun ka e, it defines you. Whatever it is that you achieve in showbiz, parang iba pa rin talaga if you are able to finish school and receive your diploma.”

(Kapag Nahati ang Puso, airing weekdays before Eat Bulaga, also stars Zoren Legaspi, Bing Loyzaga, David Licauco, Raquel Villavicencio, Robert Ortega, Sharmaine Santiago, Geleen Eugenio, Nar Cabico and special guest Freddie Webb.)