After doing the 2015 film Etiquette for Mistresses, Claudine Barretto said she took a step back from showbiz in order to focus on her personal life, a decision she has no regrets doing.

“It was a very painful decision for me to leave showbusiness so that I could focus on my children. Kasi nga my ex-husband and I, we were separated already. So I didn’t want yung kids ko to ever feel na wala na silang tatay, wala pa silang nanay. So it was a very painful and conscious decision to leave showbiz. Looking back, I’d still do the same thing. It was all worth it naman. Worth it naman talaga kasi ang babait ng mga anak ko. Ang ganda ng bond namin. At least yung formative years nila talagang andun ako,” she shared during Vivamax’s media conference for their latest thriller film Deception.

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With Deception now her official comeback project, Claudine said the pressure to deliver will always be there.

“Yes kasi lahat naman talaga kapag meron kang bagong pelikula or bagong show na ipapalabas talagang hindi nawawala yung kaba, yung nerbiyos, yung excitement. Halo-halo na. Lalo na’t yung last movie na nagawa ko pa was Etiquette for Mistresses. So ilang years ago yun. So parang now malaki ang pressure sa amin ni Mark (Mark Anthony Fernandez, her co-star) kasi ngayon lang kami magkakatrabaho sa lahat ng mga taon na pinag-usapan na magkakatrabaho kami na hindi matuloy-tuloy. I’m very thankful nga kasi si direk Joel (Lamangan) hindi talaga kami pinabayaan. So talagang minotivate niya kami. Pero siyempre yun ang takot ko nung una talaga na baka maging stiff ako or ano. Pero with the help of direk Joel and of course Mark, everything went well naman,” she shared.

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In order not to be away from her family during their lock-in bubble for the film, Claudine said she made sure to have her children close by.

“Working during a pandemic siyempre you’re very cautious, you’re very careful, and mahirap talaga kasi lahat kailangan naka-swab, lock-in shooting kami. I’m just thankful kasi pinayagan akong dalhin yung mga anak ko. Kasi mahihirapan ako mag-lock-in shooting na hindi ko kasama yung mga anak ko. Hindi ako makaka-focus ng maayos. kasi Pampanga kami nag-shooting. I think yun yung pinaka-main concern na you’re working but at the same time alam mo na any time you can get hit by COVID,” she said.

When asked how she prepared for the film after more than six years of not acting, Claudine admitted she only had one thing to focus on.

“Isa lang. Makinig ka sa director kasi siya yung captain of the ship. The whole time when I was doing Deception, yung honor na lang eh, yung privilege na makatrabaho mo si direk Joel (Lamangan). Puro TV kasi kami ni direk nagkasama, never sa pelikula. So ang sabi ko nga lahat ng mga director na magagaling nakatrabaho ko na dahil nakatrabaho ko na si direk Joel sa pelikula. Wala kaming workshop or anything. As actors and as artists, nag-strive kaming lahat,” she added.

Watch Deception now streaming exclusively on Vivamax. Starring Claudine Barretto and Mark Anthony Fernandez. Directed by Joel Lamangan. Produced by Borracho films.