Modest and punchy with honesty. These will probably be the impressions the one and only Maricel Soriano will leave you when you get to speak, get acquainted, and chat with her, even while for only a few minutes of an interview.
The Diamond Star, who has been known to be one of the original “Taray Queens,” known to be unapproachable yet glamourous, with piercing responses to either preying or insignificant questions, has mellowed. But the star-struck appeal and magnetic presence, she has maintained.
At the stunning ‘revelation of horrors’ concept to open the grand press conference of Regal Entertainment’s latest movie The Heiress, Marya is still who you’d wait for and expect to appear and come up on stage, along with its cast that include Sunshine Cruz, Janella Salavador, McCoy de Leon, with director Frasco Mortiz.
Displaying a cheerful mood and gamely answering questions over how she has been with younger stars, from their behaviours and preferences being Millennials, to various movie genres she has been in, plus learnings she imbibed and shares, Marya is both strengthened by time and transcendent at this very day and age. “Aware naman ako lagi kapag bagong artista, first time na makatrabaho ako, may mga ganon silang naiisip. Hindi nila ako basta malapitan, nahihiya sila dahil sa, yun nga kung sino ako, o kaya siyempre naiintimidate”. But she was quick to counter “kaya aaminin ko minsan ako ang nag-eeffort. Ako nagsisimula, nakikipag-usap sa kanila. Mas madali kong mapapagaan ang loob nila, eh. Oo, para makampante sila. Kakapain mo rin sila kase, mga bata yan eh. So gagawin ko silang komportable di ba? Minsan hahanapin ko sila para maki chichi.” Gesturing her hand like an opening-closing mouth for talkativeness “alam mo naman ang lola mo chi-chi…o eh para happy lang ang bonding namin sa set”. She herself knows “di naman ako nananakot o kaya ako yung kinatatakutan. Mabuting gawin nating masaya kaming lahat sa set. Gagaan pa ang trabaho di ba?”
Well, if it’s work to dabbled on, the surprises even come to everyone. Because with her ultra-rich film and tvmography, awards and royalty acting status, and looking well into her 50s, Marya shows no signs of slowing down. She is still hungry to play new characters. “Meron pa anak meron pa akong mga roles na gustong iportray lalo na kapag alam kong maganda, na may importanteng sasabihin sa manonood”. Characters she finds interesting to study and introduce. When she has already dented to our hearts and minds with many of her characters and dialogues.
Evolving from a sought-after child star, and amidst her Shirley Puruntong in the iconic sitcom John & Marsha, Marya became Clarissa Gardamonte who became disillusioned when a rich family adopted her in Kaya Kong Abutin ang Langit. Angeli was the orphan who became arrogant in Pinulot Ka Lang Sa Lupa. In Soltera, Sandra proved a May-December affair has limitations and compromises. Norma is a nanny with mother instincts but absents to her real child in Inang Yaya. The dragon-esque persona of wealthy Tsinoy Vera Go softened in Mano Po. Affluent doctor Joanna Villanueva reluctantly accepted her loss being a mistress in the elegant A Love Story. In Sa Piling ng Aswang, Marines confronted the creatures of the underworld.
Such a statement brings us to the mystery Marya’s character Ate Luna will pound our pulses on. The surrogate mother and deadly mambabarang with powers to harm anyone is a force. A force — like the actress herself. Should there be a simple character description we will find unforgettable about Ate Luna, she is quick to provoke without spoilers “naku anak, meron akong isang importanteng eksena dito, delikadong eksena, na hindi ninyo makakalimutan”. Exactly like Marya, who herself is unforgettable.
Written by Wilbur F. Hernandez
