Janine Gutierrez poses for photos during the “Lavender Fields” media junket. Image: Hannah Mallorca/INQUIRER.net
Janine Gutierrez admitted that portraying a kontrabida in “Lavender Fields” was a tough experience, as there were moments she allowed her character’s anger to get into her head. She is nonetheless grateful for the praise she received throughout the drama’s run.
Gutierrez starred as Iris Buenavidez-de Vera, the central villain in the revenge drama, her first time to take such role in her career. She is driven to make Jasmin Flores’ (Jodi Sta. Maria) life a living hell after getting into an affair with her estranged husband Tyrone de Vera (Jericho Rosales), although their marriage reached its breaking point.
“Ayoko na, ang sakit sa ulo. Umaakyat lang ang galit sa ulo (I don’t want to do it anymore. It gives me a headache. The anger went into my head),” a laughing Gutierrez said during a media junket when asked if she wanted to be a kontrabida in her next project.
The actress nonetheless expressed her gratitude for the praise and trust she received after playing Iris, although she will be a kontrabida again “in a few years.”
“Sobrang na-appreciate ko kapag sinasabing [kaya kong maging kontrabida] kasi noong una, pinapagalitan pa ako. In a few years na tayo magkokontrabida ulit. Pero bilib ako sa mga mahuhusay na kontrabida,” she said.
“Pati si Ate Dimples [Romana], na-DM ko pa sa Instagram para [humingi ng tulong]. Grateful lang po kasi naging masaya sa pagiging kontrabida ko,” recalled Gutierrez.
(I really appreciate those telling me that I can be a kontrabida. At first, I was reprimanded. I can be a kontrabida again in a few years, but I’m amazed by actresses who can be great villains. I even sent a message to Ate Dimples Romana to ask for help. I’m grateful that people are happy with my portrayal of being a kontrabida.)
On portraying Iris
Gutierrez also recalled how the production team of the drama helped her in her portrayal, where she initially struggled with channeling the character’s anger without comprising herself.
“Natulungan ako ng creatives namin. Na-dinner ako, parang ito ‘yung order kay Iris. Noong naintindihan ko na [si Iris], doon na naging mas madali. Doon naging madali ang pagtataray. Feeling ko po naiuwi ko [‘yung pagtataray], naging maliit ang pasensya ko,” she said.
(The creatives helped me with my character. They sat me down for dinner and discussed how should I portray Iris. When I started understanding her, that’s when the process became easier. That’s when the anger became easier to do. I felt that I brought her anger home, and my patience became smaller.)
One of Gutierrez’s struggles was her source of anger at the time. She was instructed to focus on Iris’ anger at its core, which didn’t have any trace of sadness.
“‘Yun ang iniisip ko (ang lungkot) noong una kaso mali. As myself, ‘yung mga nakasakit sa’kin and ‘yung memories na masakit, rumerehistro ang lungkot,” she recalled. “Dapat si Iris, walang nakikitang galit. Nagpapakita lang siya ng lungkot kapag mag-isa. Sa harap ng ibang tao, galit lang.”
(I initially thought of sadness at first, but I was wrong. As myself, thinking about those who hurt me and painful memories made me sad. But Iris should be angry. She only shows sadness when she’s alone. She’s angry when in front of other people.)
Jericho Rosales and Janine Gutierrez. Image: Hannah Mallorca/INQUIRER.net
Despite her initial struggle, Gutierrez is grateful for the opportunity to be part of the revenge drama, citing that working with Maricel Soriano, Jodi Sta. Maria, and Jericho Rosales had always been her dream.
“I’m so happy na nakatrabaho ko ‘yung mga pangarap kong makatrabaho. It just proves na kapag meron kang dream, dapat maging specific ka about it. My favorite thing about this is na-manifest ko lahat,” she said.
(I’m so happy that I worked with the actors I dreamt of working with. It just proves that if you have a dream, you have to be specific about it. My favorite thing about this is I manifested everything.)