The best and toughest part of being an Eigenmann according to Cherie Gil

Cherie Gil

I have always liked Cherie Gil’s style. She has that certain je ne sais quoi. Her name has become synonymous with prima kontrabida in the entertainment biz. Cherie unleashes her power anew in GMA 7’s primetime series, “Onanay.” Superstar Nora Aunor is also part of the show. Cherie and Ate Guy’s scenes together could very well serve as a masterclass for bida/kontrabida wannabes.

Here’s my chat with Cherie:

What’s the best and toughest part of being an Eigenmann? The best is being a part of acting royalty and that makes me very proud. Nothing is so tough for us anymore, except sometimes for the family dramas that we have to thresh out ourselves like all other families. The hard part is how to keep it contained within us, being public figures. My mom has always advised me never to wash dirty laundry in public. I’d like the family to be remembered for our work and not because of what happens in our private lives.
What do you love most about working with Ate Guy? She is easy to work with. She doesn’t intimidate. Simple and totoong tao, walang arte. When she makes a mistake, she humbly apologizes, as if she doesn’t think we’re glad she did make a mistake so we will realize that an icon like her is also human, after all (laughs). It makes me less nervous.

How do you handle it when you have scenes with ham actors? I give them a long sungit look and make sure they know I’m annoyed. I’m sorry I don’t have patience, unless I see potential [in them].

How do you feel about your show being pitted against your mom’s show on ABS-CBN? I don’t feel a thing about it. I’m happy my mom’s back to work, continuing with what she knows best and enjoying it, as well.

How do you manage to age gracefully? Well, I think I’ve hit the gene pool jackpot. Aside from keeping active and giving time to de-stress and party, I always surround myself with positive, beautiful, loving people. When I’m stressed, I stay away from them. Or I reach out to them and drag them with me to do fun, crazy things and go on an adventure. I love to laugh a lot, too, and dance like there’s no tomorrow.

Among all the characters you’ve portrayed, which one is the most memorable? I’d say Kano from “City After Dark” because I played a lesbian drug pusher under Ishmael Bernal’s directorship.

Trining of “Oro Plata Mata,” of course, [because] it was an epic by Peque Gallaga, who specially wrote the role for me.

And of course, Lavinia Arguelles [of “Bituing Walang Ningning”], … perhaps you know why by now.

How do you feel about your niece Andi’s decision to sell all her luxurious stuff to live a simple life in Siargao?I don’t blame her (laughs).

I’ve done the same once and I’ll do it again …

We are Eigenmanns, which means “my own man” in German. We dance to the beat of our drum.

I’m happy that Andi is living her truth at the moment.

What’s the biggest love lesson you’ve learned? Love yourself and fulfill the life you want! Independently!

If your life story would be made into a movie, what would the title be and who would you want to portray you? It would be about love. I’d most probably portray myself.