Claudine Barretto, Judy Ann Santos. Images: Screengrab from YouTube/GMA Network, Instagram/@officialjuday
Claudine Barretto has expressed her desire to work with Judy Ann Santos in a film as she admitted that it has always been on her bucket list.
Barretto made the confession during an interview with Boy Abunda during an episode of the show “Fast Talk With Boy Abunda” last Friday, May 5, saying that they’ve always been good friends behind the scenes. The topic was brought up after Abunda asked the actress if she wanted to work with Santos in a film in the future.
“Ohmigod, [working with Judy Ann Santos], that’s one of my bucket list,” she began. “Judy Ann and I, people think that we don’t get along or we never [get] along. But the truth is that, you know, even noong debut niya, right after, I remember that it was a Sunday and everything was closed, the after-party was in my condominium.”
The seasoned actress shared that she and Santos have been through a lot together during the height of their careers, describing their relationship as something of a “boyfriend and girlfriend” because of the circumstances at the time.
“Ang dami naming pinagdaanan ni Judy Ann. During that time, para kaming mag boyfriend-girlfriend ni Judy Ann. Bawal kami makita sa labas kasi ayaw ni Tito Alfie [Lorenzo] kasi dapat daw à la Nora [Aunor]-Vilma [Santos],” Barretto said, as she noted the supposed rivalry between Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos back then. Meanwhile, Lorenzo was Santos’ former manager who passed away in August 2017.
(Judy Ann and I have been through a lot together. During that time, Judy Ann and I were like boyfriend and girlfriend. We’re not allowed to be seen together because Tito Alfie Lorenzo didn’t want to. We were supposed to be like Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos.)
During the interview, the “Milan” star also thanked Santos for standing by her during the “lowest point” of her life.
“I would never forget what Judy Ann did for me, that is why she is who she is. That is why Judy Ann Santos is Judy Ann Santos. At my lowest point, when I also transferred from channel 2 to channel 7, and they said in one of her interviews, they said she was the teleserye queen. She said, ‘No. Claudine and I share this title,’” she said.
“I will never forget that until the day I die. And that our dream is to be able to do a movie together. I will forever be grateful to Judy Ann Santos. And queens support queens,” she further explained.
The veteran actress also revealed in the interview that she made a promise to her estranged husband Raymart Santiago that she has no plans of marrying again.
“I think I already gave my promise to my ex-husband and I think that’s enough. I mean, I have my children — I have four. Parang that alone takes so much of my time, my energy, my strength so I will focus on that,” she said.
Barretto is one of the most prolific actresses in local showbiz from the 1990s to 2000s, where her first major role was in the TV series “Ang TV.”
Among her most popular films and teleseryes to date include “Milan,” “Dubai,” “Sukob,” “Kailangan Kita,” “Got 2 Believe,” “Marina,” and “Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan,” among many others. EDV