Barbie Forteza (right) and Christopher de Leon
One of Barbie Forteza’s earliest memories of getting starstruck was meeting one of her favorite actors, Christopher de Leon, for the first time in 2010. She had photos taken with him using an old camera, but the film, she recalled, couldn’t be developed.
Now, as they reunite in the “The Lookout”—the latest instalment of the GMA 7 drama anthology “I Can See You”—Barbie made sure to keep souvenirs of their time working together.
“Our first project together was ‘Jillian: Namamasko Po’ and he played my father. I was left speechless because he was someone I watched while I was growing up,” the actress, now 23, gushed as she recalled that moment in a recent virtual conference.
“Madrasta” was one of Barbie’s favorite movies and she couldn’t believe that she was sharing the cameras with one of show biz’s most respected and decorated artists. “I remember my mom whispering to me, ‘’Nak ‘yan ‘yung pinapanood natin!” she related.
And things haven’t really changed much 10 years after. “I’m very honored and thankful to be working with him again. I’m still starstruck! ‘Di na ‘ko nasanay!” said Barbie, who was described by Christopher as a “talented, bubbly and humble” girl “who’s easy to work with.”
Grey character
In “The Lookout,” Barbie plays Emma, a raketera, who—in a desperate attempt to earn money for her sister’s surgery—agreed to become an accomplice to his friend Dalo (Luis Hontiveros), who plans to rob a house owned by a renowned, affluent family headed by Dr. Robert Penuliar (Christopher).
However, upon breaking into the house, Emma finds out that another intruder has gotten in, putting the family in danger. So, she sets off and uses her tactical skills in hopes of rescuing the people in distress.
Barbie said she enjoys playing grey characters like Emma, because no one, she pointed out, is completely good or bad. “It’s how things are in real life; nothing’s black or white. We all have our moments. And a given situation can test our character. Emma is a real person,” Barbie said. “She has experiences of her own. She’s very relatable because she has her share of issues, conflicts.”
There were hints that there might be a romantic angle between Emma and Darius (Paul Salas), one of the besieged members of the family during the said heist. Asked what was it like being paired with Paul, Barbie said it helped that they’re good friends in real life.
Good friends
“It’s good that I become friends with the people I get paired with along the way. The awkwardness goes away, and you become more comfortable doing ad libs and adding nuances,” said Barbie, who previously worked with Paul in the fantasy-drama series “Kara Mia.”
“This is more mature. I’m glad to be able to work with him at this point in his career, because I see how much he has grown as an actor. During our breaks, he would just be at the standby area on his phone, taking a nap or having a coffee. But the minute we start working, you can see that he really studied his role,” she said. “Paul doesn’t take anything for granted.”
Playing a grey character is a welcome step, Barbie said, especially now that she’s getting older. “I’m not getting any younger and I would like to think I have already graduated from teeny-bopper roles. Quota na ako,” she quipped. “But of course, when I say that I’m willing to accept more mature roles, I don’t necessarily mean sexy. ‘Mature’ to a character’s treatment.”
Settling down?
She also misses doing indie films, for which she won acting awards in the past. “I can’t wait to be given another opportunity to do an indie again for material that’s out of the box,” said Barbie, who earned local and international acclaim for her performances in “Mariquina,” “Laut” and “Tuos.”
As for her relationship with her boyfriend and fellow Kapuso star Jak Roberto, Barbie said they joke about settling down once in a while. But her family, she stressed, remains her priority at the moment.
“I’m proud to say that helped me grow and become more mature in handling my responsibilities. He’s always there to support me when I have problems. He doesn’t judge me. I’m happy he’s my best friend,” she said of Jak.
“But I want to secure my parents’ future first… I’m a provider,” Barbie added. “The COVID-19 pandemic made me realize how precious life is. My parents are getting older and they have health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure. That’s why I’m being extra careful these days. And I want to make each day count.” INQ