Coney Reyes On Why She Accepts Playing Negative Characters In Soaps, Like Her Dr. Margaret Role In 'My Dear Heart' That Ends This Week

CONEY REYES, who just turned 64 on May 27, gave us a copy of inspirational Christian writer Harold J. Sala’s book, “Strength for Today”, at the thanksgiving presscon of “My Dear Heart” that will end this week. Thanks, Coney. We love the book.

As usual, Coney gives another memorable performance in the show as Dr. Margaret Divinagracia-Lana, the stern mom of Ria Atayde as Gia and the grandmother of Nayomi Ramos as Heart. This is only to be expected as Coney gave similarly competent performances in teleseryes like “100 Days to Heaven” and “Nathaniel”.

She usually starts as an antagonist in these shows but will eventually have a change of heart. Some folks are wondering why she accepts such negative roles considering she’s a devout Christian. Other actors who are avowed Christians usually avoid them.

“I can only speak for myself,” she says. “I don’t know about the others but ako, kapag maganda talaga ‘yung role being offered to me, siyempre pinag-uusapan ‘yan. May certain parameters din ako as to what I will do, may limits ako and malinaw iyon. I lay everything down on the table before I start taping. So, I am usually comfortable with my role because I know that they understand, management understands what I can do and I cannot do. Kasi it’s easier to show good if you also show evil in the same show. I think if you portray evil and viewers will see your transformation, then it becomes very clear to people and they will realize that there is hope for one who is so bad to become good, to transform, so enjoy ako sa ganung reversals sa characters ko. Kaya kailangang may transformation talaga ang character ko kasi kung wala, kung masama siya up to end, I won’t do it.

Yun naman ang nagiging challenge sa akin because I want to portray my character differently from the last one. I really had fun doing ‘My Dear Heart’ kasi ang mga batang kasama namin dito, sina Heart at Bingo, they’re so smart and talented. Nagbibigay sila ng saya sa taping lalo na kapag ginagaya nila ang sinasabi ng mga direktor naming sina Jerome Pobocan and Jojo Saguin.”