EXCLUSIVE: Chienna Filomeno on playing mean girl roles, ‘I really like this’

Rhea Manila Santos

<div><img src='' alt='061615-chienna_main.jpg' width='400' height='290' align='left' border='0'>As part of Star Cinema's newest teen romance movie<i> Just the Way You Are</i>, Chienna Filomeno admitted she is excited to finally watch their project on the big screen especially since they started filming it early last year. “I play the role of Cassidy, yung mean girl na magpapahirap sa buhay ni Sophia (played by Liza Soberano). I will fall in love with Drake (played by Enrique Gil). I'm a product of their bet na kailangan makuha ako ni Drake pero eventually may gumulo then na-fall in love ako sa kanya then na-threaten ako nung nililigawan ni Drake si Sophia,” she told Push.</div><div><br/></div><div>Another perk for Chienna as part of the cast of<i> Just the Way You Are </i>is getting the chance to do scenes with her real-life crush Enrique Gil. “Matagal ko na siyang na-meet. Sobrang friendly niya so yung work hindi naging mahirap knowing na yung character ko in love sa kanya so konting adjustments lang, ganyan. Hindi pa ako nag-a-artista crush ko na siya. Napapanuod ko siya dati sa<i> Good Vibes. </i>Parang yung <i>Got to Believe</i> stepping stone ko talaga na feeling ko kung ano yung potential ko at kung ano yung kaya ko pang i-improve ngayon na ka-work ko na siya. Knowing na ka-work ko na si Enrique na crush ko nga, sobrang dream come true,” she said.</div><div><br/></div><div>The 17-year-old actress is excited to finally have her first movie project ever since joining the Kapamilya network four years ago. “I was discovered through auditions then I did commercials before joining Star Magic in 2011. I did VTRs. Lahat ng hirap na napag-daanan ng katulad ko. 13 years old pa lang ako pumupunta na ako sa VTRs so meron yung mga instance na dalawa na lang kaming pagpipilian, yung napili yung isa so ako sobrang depressed pero sabi ko kaya ko ito until andito na ako ngayon. It's something that I really want kasi nag-commercials pa lang ako yun na yung sinabi ko sa mom ko na gusto ko mag-artista. And I know na dito ko gusto lumaki,” she recalled. The incoming college freshman said she wants to be able to finish a Business Administration course.</div><div><br/></div><div>In the PrimetimeBida soap<i> Got to Believe</i> which aired last year, Chienna played the role of Amanda Lopez. “Ako yung nagpahirap din sa buhay ni Chichay (played by Kathryn Bernardo). It was really sobrang overwhelming kasi first teleserye ko halos yun then kontrabida ako ni Kath na it's a privilege na ako yung gumawa sa kanya nun knowing that I'm a newbie here, parang rising pa lang or something like that,” she admitted.</div><div><br/></div><div>Chienna said she is not bothered to be playing a mean girl role again in a movie.  “I really like this. Tinatanong sa akin kung anong gusto kong role, ang sabi ko kontrabida po kasi feeling ko walang spice yung isang project kung walang kontrabida so gusto ko ako yun,” she added. </div><div><br/></div><div>When it comes to acting, the teen said she already has idols in local and international showbiz. “Sa local Miss Anne Curtis and then sa Hollywood si Angelina Jolie. Si Angelina kasi sophisticated silang dalawa and kahit sa mata lang nakikita mo na yung acting nila. So yung mata sila nag-to-talk,” she explained.</div><div><br/></div><div><i>Main photo credit to Chienna Filomeno's Facebook page</i></div>

Chienna Filomeno admits it is a dream come true to work with her crush Enrique Gil in ‘Just the Way You Are.’

EXCLUSIVE: Chienna Filomeno on playing mean girl roles, ‘I really like this’ | PUSH.COM.PH