Frencheska, Sam reveal how they handle controversy

FRENCHESKA FARR and Sam Pinto were thrust into the limelight via GMA 7’s talent search “Are You The Next Big Star?” and ABS-CBN’s “Pinoy Big Brother” which made their entry into Tinseltown easier.

When we chatted with them recently, however, Frencheska and Sam, two of the main cast members of “Captain Barbell,” told us that there’s one thing those reality shows didn’t prepare them for: Dealing with intrigues.

Frencheska shares that it’s part of her nature to get easily attached to people she works with. So, while the “Next Big Star” experience was truly something she’d cherish for the rest of her life, she says that the show has also taught her how to “separate the wheat from the chaff”—and she learned it the hard way.

She recalls, “I was always chummy with the other contestants on ‘Next Big Star.’ During a competition, you try to put your best foot forward. But, it was a shock for me to hear somebody I was close to talk against me behind my back! I tried to leave that experience behind without becoming a cynic. But, it’s a lesson learned.”

These days, the star of last year’s movie musical, “Emir,” is also happy about the good feedback she’s getting for her debut album, “Inside My Heart.” The film got mixed reviews, but its pretty star won plaudits for her lovely voice and understated acting.

How was it working in Morocco? She beams, “The three-week shoot was unforgettable, and I learned a lot from Direk Chito (Roño). When we weren’t working, ang bait-bait n’ya—but, when the cameras started grinding, takot na ako (laughs)!

For her part, the lovely Sam, who plays a lipstick-bearing superheroine on “Barbell,” endeared herself to viewers for seeming so fragile and transparent on ‘Big Brother.’ She recalls, “That whole experience was both scary and fun. But, when I finally got in, it didn’t take long for me to start asking if I made the right decision.”

Crush

Sam’s first taste of controversy happened the minute she left “PBB.” She recalls, “When I got out, I was asked which male actor I had a crush on. So, I said, ‘Gerald Anderson,’ because he’s really good-looking. Then, the Kimerald fans started attacking me. I found it disturbing.”

When we asked Sam what her most memorable performance was on “Party Pilipinas,” which she cohosts every Sunday, her answer surprised us: “My first dance number—because I sucked at it!

“It’s when you make embarrassing mistakes that you learn not to take things lightly. If you want a place in show biz, you need to work hard to earn it!”