Motherhood, life experiences add depth to Rita Daniela’s performances

Rita Daniela (left) with son Uno —RITA DANIELA/FACEBOOK

In the past, love life was a topic Rita Daniela usually veered away from during interviews.

But in 2022, Rita dared to admit that she was expecting her first baby. The following year, she revealed that she had called it quits with her partner, and that she was moving forward as a single mother to their son, Juan Andres or Uno.

The decision to share something so personal with the public didn’t come easy. She wondered how people would react. Would her revelation have any impact on her career?

Now that she’s back to the show biz grind, Rita couldn’t be happier and relieved that viewers welcomed her with warmth and kindness.

“I can’t say that it was easy. I had to think long and hard about it but I just felt back then that it was the right time. And it truly was. Now, I’m so happy that the audience and netizens have been so welcoming and understanding of my story. I felt the support for me being a single mom. I find that heartening,” she told the Inquirer at a press conference for the primetime drama series “Widows’ War.”

To be happy

“Of course, coming from a love team (with Ken Chan), revealing that I was pregnant was a surprise to many people. I didn’t really open up about my personal life, particularly my love life. But I realized that being a mother to my son will always be part of my story, my career, so I went ahead,” she said.

If she appears glowing and happier than ever, it’s because she is. “Motherhood really suits me. I love being a mom. I’m literally so happy,” the 28-year-old GMA 7 artist said.

But the responsibility isn’t any less challenging. “My ex-partner and I are coparenting, but technically, I’m still a single mom. And that means I’m my son’s source of happiness and all sorts of emotions,” pointed out Rita, who makes conscious steps to keep her mental health in check.

“If my cup isn’t full, my son would have nothing to draw from. So, it’s my responsibility to take care of myself. I have to help myself and be busy,” the singer-actress added.

Rita let on that there’s some thrill in her life right now but it’s nothing really serious. Entering a new relationship isn’t a priority. “I just want to be happy—no drama. I’m not up for a commitment, because my son is my priority,” she said. “But if someone comes along who’s meant to make me happy, who am I to deprive myself? I think I deserve that.”

Experiences

What kind of man will it take for her to love again? “Someone who can love my child and put him before me. If there’s a man who can do that, then I would consider having him in my life,” she said.

Just because she’s a mother doesn’t mean that her roles from now on should be mother roles. “My character here isn’t a mom. I hope this can be a platform for me to show that I still have it. I’m glad that that’s not how things are done anymore … na kapag mom ka, mom roles na rin dapat. I want to show that we don’t have to follow the norm,” she said.

If anything, she believes that motherhood only added emotional depth to her acting and singing. “Yes, there have been physical changes and everything but as an artist, I think my abilities have changed for the better. What with all the experiences I have been through,” she said.

That’s exactly what she has been proving with her role as Rebecca in “Widows’ War.” An enigmatic member of the Palacios family, Rebecca seems to hold secrets that could either illuminate or further ignite the volatile clash between Sam (Bea Alonzo) and George (Carla Abellana).

While much of the conversation about the show revolves around the two main characters, Rita’s portrayal of Rebecca has also earned raves from both viewers and the show biz press, who couldn’t help but applaud her scenes in the video primer shown.

A particularly memorable one shows Rebecca at a wake, whispering what sounds like an incantation over a coffin. When the candle flame beside her begins to glow even more, she lifts her head and gives a stare that’s both sinister and despairing. “The original script wasn’t like that. I memorized the lines but our director, Zig Dulay, changed it,” she said.

“He told me, ‘When the light goes out, look at the camera. Your eyes should express a different emotion,” she said.

Aside from Bea, Carla and Direk Zig, the show also features one of Rita’s biggest idols, Jean Garcia. Rita knew she had to give her 100—actually, make that 120 percent. “It has been challenging, but I’m really happy seeing it all onscreen,” she said. “Goosebumps are normal when you’re happy. But seeing that scene not only gave me goosebumps—it also made me feel like crying.”

“It’s so overwhelming. It’s an honor to be entrusted with such a project. Oftentimes, I go to taping like it’s the most normal thing in the world. But seeing the final product, I thought, ‘Wow, this is really beautiful,’” she said. INQ