PHOTO CREDIT: SOME PHOTOS ARE TAKEN BY VINCENT SULLA
YEN DURANO, the daughter of actor DJ Durano, made waves in the Joey Reyes’ sexy drama, ‘Tag-init”.
She was playing a supporting role but nearly stole the movie from lead star Franki Russell as a liberated city girl who has no qualms in doing a threesome with Ali Asistio and Aerol Carmelo.
She also played a supporting role in “Baby Boy, Baby Girl” as an escort girl, then did the series “Lovely Ladies Dormitory” where she played one of the lead actresses playing the role of Jackielyn, a dancer who just got jilted but is ready to fall in love again.
She is now being launched in Roman Perez Jr’s “Litsoneras” where she plays Elria, a feisty young woman who is the daughter of Joko Diaz as Eloy and Jamilla Obispo Minerva.
The leading man and also main antagonist is Victor Relosa as Jonas, a worker in their family’s “litsunan” who becomes the lover of both Yen and Jamilla.
We got to interview Yen at the Sinepop screening of “Litsoneras” and she says initially, she wanted to be a singer.
“Both my mom and dad are singers,” she adds. “I write my own songs, R&B and soul, and I’ve sang in bars.
"I graduated from my masscomm course at UST before the pandemic na nataon, maraming nawalan ng trabaho. Ton Lau, my stylist, asked me if I want to try acting and brought me to Viva.
"Ayun, nabigyan ako agad ng assignments and I didn’t really expect na mabibigyan ako agad ng ganitong solo movie.”
Did she have to ask her parents’ permission for her to go sexy?
“No need to make paalam because I’ve always been independent. I just informed them and they’re both very supportive naman.
"My dad is an actor and he definitely understands the kind of job na pinasok ko.”
She’s very thankful to Joko and Jamilla for helping her in her acting.
“Both Joko and Jamilla, itinuring nila talaga akong anak during our shoot in the litsunan location in La Loma.
"We shot there for seven days and they gave me advice how to handle the difficult dramatic scenes.”
How about Victor Relosa?
“We’ve worked together before in an episode of the series ‘Sssshhh’ also directed by Roman Perez. I think that’s where Direk Roman saw our potential kaya kinuha kami for ‘Litsoneras’.
"The irony of it is I don’t eat lechon as I don’t eat pork.
"But I like working with Victor kasi he is a good actor at marunong siyang magdala ng mga eksena namin, specially the bedscenes na may halong violence kasi sinusuntok niya ako while forcing me to have sex with him.”
Has she had a boyfriend?
“I’m now 24 and I’ve had three serious relationships na akala ko they’re the one na, pero hindi pala. I have a boyfriend now and he understands my work, but I told him not to watch my movies na lang.”
So how does she see herself in the future?
“Sana mabigyan ako ng chance to do mainstream films. I dream of playing a singer kasi singer naman talaga ako, parang yung role ni Sarah Geronimo in ‘The Breakup Playlist’.
"But as of now, ok lang doing films for Vivamax. I’ve just finished a new movie with Direk Joey Reyes, ‘Choosy Me’.
"And I really pray the audience will support and watch ‘Litsoneras’ that will start streaming on Vivamax this July 28, so don’t miss it!”
