BARBIE IMPERIAL gained fame when she joined Pinoy Big Brother in 2015, introduced as The Doll Along The Riles in Albay as she’s really from Bicol. She became part of the group Girltrends in “Showtime” then did lead roles in TV series like “Araw, Gabi”, “Bagong Umaga” and “Oh Mando”.
Now, Viva got her to star in a film with her own real and real life BF, Diego Loyzaga. This is in “Dulo”, written and directed by Fifth Solomon. So how is it?
“Sobrang happy ako kasi I really like to work with Diego and I’m thankful to Viva they gave me this project with him,” she says. “Happy rin akong siya ang una kong nakasama sa first movie ko with Viva.
"May follow up project na nga raw kami agad. Nailang pa rin ako noong una na umacting with him, but after the first day, okay na.”
Is it easier to work with your own boyfriend? “Mas madali in a way, kasi kilala ko na ang mga galaw ni Diego. Suportahan kami sa eksena, pero sa mabibigat na eksena, hindi muna kami nagpapansinan para kunwari, totoo yung mga away namin, para yung paghuhugutan mo, maging totoo.”
In working with him, she discovered how good an actor Diego is.
“Si Diego, talagang magaling na aktor. Ang husay niya rito. If I’d rate him, I’d give him 11, not just 10. We help motivate each other. Noong una, medyo kabado ako kasi alam ko, magaling nga siya.
"So sabi ko sa sarili ko, lalabanan ko ito. I won’t be intimidated, kasi kung matatakot ako sa kanya, baka magtuloy-tuloy. We also had an acting workshop before shooting started at minethod talaga namin ang mga eksena namin.”
What did she like in Diego as a boyfriend?
“Si Diego masyadong totoo, walang pakialam about your past or sa maling decisions na nagawa mo. Hindi ka matatakot sabihin sa kanya kahit yung mga mabibigat na bagay na nakakahiyang sabihin, kasi hindi ka niya ija-judge. Tatanggapin ka niya. Hindi siya mapanghusga.
"Ang totoo, sobrang maalaga siya. Hindi siya mahirap mahalin. Our relationship is a work in progress. You have to make a lot of sacrifice, hindi naman yan lagi na lang kayong masaya. Part ng relationship yung magkaproblema kayo. Ang importante alam nyo kung paano i-solve yun.”
Which scenes are more difficult to do for her: the emotional dramatic scenes or the bedscenes?
“The most challenging for me are the bed scenes. First time ko kasing ginawa. I was nervous but Diego helped in calming me down. Kasi sa drama scenes, emotions wise, mas madali kasi parang yung nangyayari sa totoong buhay na binabalikan lang namin.
"Andaming mabibigat na eksena, very draining, but we really support each other at naitawid naman namin. At ang direktor namin, hindi kami pinabayaan, inalalayan niya talaga kami”
How is it being directed by a new director like Fifth Solomon?
“Direk Fifth is a longtime friend. And the story he wrote is perfect for us as we are able to connect easily with our characters. Pasok na pasok kami kahit sa mabigat na eksena. Kaya lang nadadala ko yung character ni Bianca pati sa pag-uwi namin sa hotel during our lock in shoot.”
Supposing they’re doing love scenes with other partners in future projects, would they seek each other’s permission first?
“For me, no need to make paalam if we’d do love scenes with other partners. Kasi we understand naman that it’s part of each other’s careers. I will just ask him kung comfortable siya.
"E, siya nga, andami na nga niyang bed scenes with other actresses. But I know trabaho lang yun at loyal naman siya sa akin. Kundi siya loyal, subukan niya lang.”
Is there something she doesn’t like in Diego?
“Yes, isa sa marami, joke lang po, yung tamad siyang mag-update kung nasaan na ba siya. Buti na nga lang, alam kong he is just working out sa gym or playing basketball na lagi niyang ginagawa.”
Don’t miss “Dulo” when it starts streaming on Vivamax on December 10.
