Lovi Poe no longer embarrassed about ‘acting funny’ – and here’s why
Lovi Poe (right) with Coco Martin
Actress Lovi Poe said portraying the feisty and street-smart Mokang in the action-comedy series “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” has helped her break down the walls she unconsciously put up around herself.
“I used to be extremely shy. There were times when this has become a hindrance in my work as an actress. I used to feel embarrassed to act funny. I could only do it when I’m with my friends. Now, I don’t feel too self-conscious anymore. It’s like I’ve broken free. Thanks, Mokang!” said Lovi, who was known for playing sexy and daring characters in dramatic projects prior to joining the series.
Lovi also wished she was as outspoken as Mokang, she said. “Normally, I keep stuff to myself, but Mokang takes things as they are and tells you what’s on her mind straight to your face,” the actress pointed out, adding that she wouldn’t have been as effective as Mokang without the help of her co-actors.
“I get my energy from them, especially from Coco (Martin, her leading man in the series) and Tito Pen (Medina, who plays her father Marciano). All I’d do is look into Tito Pen’s eyes and I would already feel like crying. I super love everyone in this show!” Lovi beamed.
Feeling nervous
She admitted that in the beginning, she would feel intimidated whenever she had to shoot scenes with the more seasoned actors in the series, like Charo Santos-Concio, Cherry Pie Picache, John Estrada, and Susan Africa, who plays her mom Nita.
“Every time I had to tick off something from my list of sequences to shoot, I would feel nervous especially when the scenes are with them. My most recent taping was actually nerve-wracking because everybody was there. I’m grateful to be given the opportunity to work with them,” Lovi told reporters during a recent media gathering.
She then turned to Coco who, as the show’s main producer, personally picked her to be part of the cast. “Thank you, Coco, for bringing out my ‘Mokang’ side. I can still remember on our first day, you said, ‘Lovi, not like that. In my eyes, you’re still the sosyal Lovi I know. We have to remove that. This is what you should do…’ You even made me change my posture. Thank you for helping me create Mokang.”
On the set of “Batang Quiapo”
Lovi said she has a lot of favorite scenes in the show including Mokang’s 18th birthday party. “Another was the action scene I did in Divisoria, where I had to fight the snatchers. I’m getting used to doing my own stunts now. They help bring out my athletic side,” she shared with reporters.
Lovi recently put up her own production company, although she promised to share more about it with show biz media soon. She said Coco was one of the people who inspired her to get involved in the business side of production. “I will not deny that Coco is an inspiration. All of us on the set look up to him. He continues to set a good example, not just for me, but also for my coactors and the audience,” she began. “Whatever it is that I can draw inspiration from, I take it. This could be from my coworkers or the people I socialize with.”
Authentic Quiapo
She continued: “More than anything, I’m inspired by Coco’s technique. Most of us are used to following a script, but with his technique, we were forced to do improvisation. This makes me feel good because, as an actor, I am able to utilize skills that I rarely use. He brings out the authenticity in all of his actors.
“I guess that is also the reason he uses this particular technique. He wants to bring out the best in us. Even when we’re on location, he would make the effort to show the authentic Quiapo. In fact, during the show’s first week, he made sure to showcase its food and its people.”
“FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” airs on weekdays at 8 p.m. on the Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, and TV5.
