Denise gets in touch with inner artist

Actress Denise Laurel

“FOR A TIME, nobody wanted to listen to me so I stopped trying,” said actress Denise Laurel, explaining why she has not performed on stage for almost 10 years now.

Denise, who grew up in a family of art and theater enthusiasts, joined theater when she was 6. She was discovered by Star Magic’s Johnny Manahan in a production of Repertory Philippines. This was before she joined the kiddie gag show “Ang TV 2” in 2001.

She is one of the eight finalists of the second season of the reality talent search “Your Face Sounds Familiar,” which will premiere on Sept. 12 on ABS-CBN. Other finalists are Sam Concepcion, KZ Tandingan, Kakai Bautista, Michael Pangilinan, Myrtle Sarrosa, Eric Nicolas and Kean Cipriano.

Denise said she joined the show “to get in touch with my inner artist, to see if I could still do it. I’ve long turned my back on performing, that’s why I already lost confidence. I want to get it back and learn more.”

She added: “I’m just enjoying. I don’t even think about winning. Not to toot my own horn, but I was really good when I was younger. I’ve changed so much and lost so much of that confidence. I need to get in touch with my old self,” said 27-year-old Denise.

She said she would love to mimic Janet Jackson on the show.