EXCLUSIVE: Maris Racal admits to having a crush on Daniel Padilla and James Reid

After making it to the Big Four in Pinoy Big Brother All-In earlier this year, Maris Racal admitted she is happy to have been part of the cast of a Primetime Bida series. “Masaya naman na tumagal ako sa Hawak Kamay. At first nahihiya ako kasi parang nakakilang kasi sila Piolo Pascual yun, parang big names na kasi sila eh. Pero nung tumagal umokay naman. Masaya ako na nandun ako. Ngayon parang wala na lang, parang tao rin ako dun (laughs).  Hindi pa talaga nag-si-sink in, hindi ko pa talaga naiisip naisasaulo na artista na ako, na ganito na ako. Parang ganun pa rin ako noon hanggang ngayon sa family at friends ko. Kung ano ako noon, ganun pa rin. Kapag may free time talaga pumupunta ako sa church and then bumibili ako ng CDs para mapanuod kapag break time or day off and kino-contact ko pa rin yung mga friends ko sa school noon. Nanunuod pa rin ako ng movies, ganun,” she told Push.com.ph.

While growing up in Tagum, Davao City, the 17-year-old aspiring actress said she has always looked up to the acting of the Star for All Seasons. “Si Vilma Santos talaga acting idol ko kasi ang galing niya. Kasi nanunuod ako ng Cinema One kasi parang nakakakuha din ako ng tips dun. Eh ang parating pinapalabas dun mga old movies kaya siya parati kong napapanuod ngayon,” she recalled.

Maris said since entering showbiz, she has kept an open mind about the roles she wants to portray. “Ang gusto ko wala, kahit ano game ako. Kahit anong i-o-offer sa akin I'll accept it kasi open naman ako sa lahat pero sa ngayon wala akong maisip na dream role eh,” she added.

When she got paired with former co-housemate Manolo Pedrosa in Hawak Kamay, fans of the two teens dubbed them as “MarNolo” which Maris clarified is nothing more than a good friendship on and off camera. “Wala, okay naman din sa akin kasi close din naman kami ni Manolo pero siguro yung relationship namin parang friends lang talaga kai ganun lang talaga kami, parang sweet. Sweet si Manolo at saka sobrang kulit kaya kinukulit ko lang din siya, yun lang. Si Manolo mabait naman siya and sobrang gentleman niya and then as a boyfriend hindi ko alam eh (laughs). I just wish for him more projects and sana maging happy siya sa life niya sa showbiz. Siguro wala talaga akong iniisip na boyfriend stuff. Sa mga relationships ang inspiration ko si Toni Gonzaga kasi parang career muna,” she said.

This is also why she does not feel awkward with another former co-housemate Nicole Barranda whom Manolo was supposedly courting after going out of the PBB house. “Hindi awkward, tini-text ko pa rin si Nicole. On screen lang naman yung Marnolo pero friends lang talaga kami so hindi ako na-o-awkward,” she insisted.

Even before joining showbiz, Maris said her real crushes have always been two Kapamilya heartthrobs. “Si Daniel Padilla at si James Reid, yung mga teen stars. Nanunuod lang ako ng mga movies nila. Wala lang, parang bagay lang talaga kasi sila ni Kathryn Bernardo kaya ayun. I adore them,” she said.