Miss Philippines Earth 2019 Janelle Tee is getting out of the box as she plays a sexy role in her latest movie, something she feels that she has to go through, just like any other aspiring actress.
Tee plays Euka in “Putahe” who sheds her mysterious aura and reveals her wild, seductive side as she engages in a tryst with Ayanna Misola’s Jenny character.
Her transition from a former beauty queen to a sexy star is not without challenges.
“I would say [it is] challenging [because] from being wholesome and then of course you’re doing sexy films,” she noted during the online press conference for the movie last Wednesday, April 25. “Kumbaga, mahirap siya. Gusto ko kasing maging isang magaling na aktres. Kumbaga, pinasok ko ito, ano ba ang proseso para doon.”
(It is hard. I want to be a good actress. It is like, I went into this, so what is the process to become [a good actress]?)
Tee felt she needed to get out of the box to make her dream come true.
“Kailangan kong baliin ‘yung pagiging beauty queen na nakakahon lang ako sa roles na kailangan maganda, kailangan best friend ka ni ganito. I would forever get those roles if hindi ko babaliin ‘yung ganoon and hindi ko ipapakita na kaya kong maging isang magaling na aktres,” she said.
(I need to break [my image] of being a beauty queen where I am just boxed in roles where I need to be beautiful, to be just the best friend [of another character]. I would forever get those roles if I don’t break [that image] and show that I can be a good actress.)
“If being sexy would be the starting process towards that, then I am embracing it fully now,” she added.
As Euka, a bisexual in the movie, Tee discovered the world of a woman engaged in a girl-to-girl relationship.
“Wala sa gender ang pagmamahal. Kapag nagmahal ka ay ibinubuhos mo ang lahat at binibigyan mo ng buong-buo. Ito ang na-discover ko sa pagganap ko kay Euka. Kumbaga, lahat ibibigay mo at lahat hahamakin mo para sa pagmamahal,” she explained.
(Gender is not the basis of love. When you love someone, you give your all and you give fully. This is what I discovered from playing Euka. You will give everything and you can face anything in the name of love.)
“Putahe”, directed by Roman Perez, Jr. and which also stars Hershey de Leon, Massimo Scofield, Nathan Cajucom and Chad Solano, starts streaming May 13 on Vivamax. JB
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