“I was also nominated for the same role in the Urian, but for best supporting actress,” she says. “This time, best actress naman and I’m really honored and excited to be nominated along with some of our best actresses.”
She’s competing with Bea Alonzo and Dawn Zulueta for “The Love Affair”, Angelica Panganiban for “That Thing Called Tadhana” and Meryll Soriano for “Honor Thy Father”. 'Apocalypse Child' is my first indie film,” she adds. “I auditioned for it to director Mario Cornejo and we filmed it for one month in Baler, Aurora. After that, I did another indie film, ‘Straight to the Heart’, where I played a lesbian. Now that I’m no longer with GMA and a free lancer, I really want to do more indie films with challenging roles and perhaps even work behind the camera later.”
It’s also the first time she went sexy as she she had a love scene with Sid Lucero. “It took us one whole day to film that scene. Direk Mario asked for our inputs on how to do it and I was the one who thought of doing it on top of a table kasi Sid’s love scenes with Annika Dolonius was in bed. There was pumping motion but I was fully dressed, not naked. But I did wear a bikini in the surfing scenes kunsaan nagkasugat-sugat ako.”
How did her real life fiance, Jeremy Marquez, react to the love scene? “Hindi niya pinanood and it’s better that way para wala na lang selosan. Kasi ako man, I’d rather not watch my loved one doing such a scene.”
She confirms that she and Jeremy are officially engaged and will have a church wedding in Panglao Island, Bohol, early next year, with reception at Amorita Beach Resort. “We met in March last year and after a month, he proposed agad. Di ko sineryoso then he proposed again last October 4, our monthsary, complete with a ring and I accepted na.”
What does she find endearing in Jeremy? “He’s very persistent. Noong una, I thought he’s really bad boy, like what they say, but when I got to know him, he really has a big heart and wants to help everyone. He’s a big teddy bear.”
Aside from doing more films, Gwen also wants to try the theater. “I will audition sa Red Turnip ni Anna Abad Santos, my co-star in ‘Apocalypse Child’ who’s a theatre actress. Sana makuha ako.”
Her dad Philippe being a culinary expert (Pastry Chef of City of Dreams), Gwen has also ventured into the food business with her own branch of Elarz Lechon in Taguig.
