Tessie Tomas feels a ‘contravida’ must have saving grace

Tessie Tomas

While she may be role-playing as Cielo Fiero, the evil matriarch in the TV series “Dirty Linen,” actress Tessie Tomas exercises caution in playing a “contravida” (villain).

“As contravida, naghahanap ka rin ng (you’re looking for) saving grace. Ayaw mo namang kalmutin ka ng tao paglabas mo sa publiko (dahil) napakasama mo (You don’t want people to scratch you when you go out in public because you’re so mean),” she said during the grand mediacon for the series.

Describing Cielo as a “loving mother,” Tomas feels that she is so strong that she hides her true feelings.

“Hindi lang niya talaga nae-express at palagi ay matigas siya. Hindi niya ipapakita na nasasaktan siya o nahihirapan siya. Kailangan matigas ka pa rin, pero at the same time ‘yung kirot ng puso mo ay itinatago mo,” she explained her role. (She just does not express it and she’s always tough. She would not show that she’s hurt or she’s struggling. You need to be tough, but at the same time you hide the pain in your heart.)

Playing Cielo, Tomas admits that she’s working at different levels and at the same time making sure that she is believable.

“Dirty Linen” is directed by Onat Diaz and Andoy Ranay, and will premiere on Jan. 23 at 9:30 p.m. on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, TV5, Kapamilya Online Live, iWantTFC and TFC.

In the revenge drama, Alexa (Janine) cunningly infiltrates the household as a maid of the wealthy and extremely influential Fiero family after the sudden disappearance of her mother Olivia (Dolly de Leon), whom Alexa suspects was killed by the Fieros after they made it appear that Olivia ran away and stole jewelry worth millions.

To execute her grand plan of exposing the Fieros’ dirty secrets, Alexa takes justice into her own hands and connives with her second family–Rolando (Joel Torre), Lala (Jennica Garcia), Max (Christian Bables) and Nico (Seth Fedelin)–who are also seeking justice for their family members who suffered greatly in the hands of the Fieros.

Alexa changes her identity to Mila and exhausts all means to take down the Fiero family led by the matriarch Cielo (Tessie Tomas), Feliz (Angel Aquino) and her husband Ador (Epy Quizon), the ‘sabong king’ Carlos (John Arcilla) and his wife Leona (Janice de Belen), and their children Aidan (Zanjoe) and Chiara (Francine).

Also in the show are JC Santos, Xyriel Manabat, Raven Rigor, Andrea Del Rosario, CJ Navato, Rans Rifol, Raphael Robes and Rubi Rubi, with the special participation of Susan Africa, Soliman Cruz, Liza Diño, Karl Medina and Ruby Ruiz.  /ra