CARLA Dunareanu facebook photo
Romanian-Chinese actress Carla Dunareanu, who has decided to try her luck in local show business, said she didn’t mind being tagged nonstop as singer Christian Bautista’s girlfriend.
“It’s absolutely fine. I’m a foreigner here. I can’t expect people to immediately know everything about me,” she told the Inquirer. Carla and Christian met and fell in love while working on the Singaporean hit TV musical “The Kitchen Musical.” She came to Manila with Christian for a holiday in the summer of 2012.
“This is my first time in the Philippines. Like many foreigners, I’ve fallen in love with it and decided to stay. I’ve been here a year,” Carla pointed out. She recently joined Magic 89.9 as host of the radio program, “On Demand.” She is also busy hosting corporate events, as well as appearing in TV and print ads.
“I think the wonderful part about working in a new place is being surrounded by people who don’t have a preconceived notion of you. You can just work hard and have them appreciate you and your persistence. That’s what I’m here to do. I’m no longer here on a holiday.” Carla is also a cast member of the Joel Lamangan sexy romantic flick “The Bride and the Lover,” which opened in cinemas May 1.
What did Christian tell you about the local show biz culture?
He spoke to me about it once I got here, and then again when I got the movie offer. I think it’s pretty much the same in every country—you need to respect your coworkers, you can’t treat anyone less than you’d treat your directors. I already knew that, coming in.
How do you and Christian spend time together despite your busy schedules?
You always make time if you prioritize something. Both of us enjoy wine and French food. “The Kitchen Musical” influenced our taste buds. We’ve been trying out French restaurants, and even rank them. If we like a new bottle of wine, we’d take a photo of it and try to search for it the next time we dine out.
What are your plans in the Philippines?
Growing up, I’ve always had to travel around. I’m used to moving (she grew up in Germany, lived in Australia and eventually settled with her family in Singapore). I think I’m going to be here for as long as there’s work for me, for as long as things are going well for me.
I do miss my family in Singapore. I’ve had thoughts of going back because I’m very close to them, but I think they understand that this is my life. You have to go your own way. They don’t always have to be right next to you—they’re just a phone call away. You can always go back to see them.
Have you done movies before? What have you discovered while making one here?
I’ve done a lot of TV series, short art films, but never a full-length film, that’s why I feel so excited to be a part of this project.
It’s very different here in terms of production size. I can only speak of my experience in Singapore because I’ve not really done anything elsewhere. Here, you have the manpower. On the set, you have so many people helping you do different things. It’s wonderful because you, as an actor, can just concentrate on your scenes and not worry about getting your costumes ready or your makeup done. That’s what I love about working here. They really look after the artist.
The talents here are amazing and the cinematography is wonderful. You have beautiful scenery, places that look completely different from one another. The Philippines is big, you can travel intercountry, whereas in Singapore you will be able to identify every single place you film at. However, it also has its charms.
Would you agree to do sexy roles?
I started acting when I was 10 because I’ve always loved it. To act, whether in theater or in the movies or TV, is my passion. I don’t mind showing some skin as long as it’s necessary for the role and that it’s tastefully done. Christian is in the same field, so he understands the things we need to do for work.
(“The Bride and the Lover,” from Regal Entertainment, also features Lovi Poe, Jennylyn Mercado, Paulo Avelino, Ahron Villena and Hayden Kho.)
(mcruz@inquirer.com.ph)