DARNA Press Conference
By Mell T. Navarro
Photos by Donjun Somodio
Monday night, Marian Rivera will not only be crowned with the prestigious and coveted headgear of the country’s iconic comic book Filipina heroine Darna when the series premieres on television. Aug. 10 will also be the start of her reign as GMA-7’s “Queen of Primetime,” a title given by her mother network!
“I’m very grateful to our big bosses at GMA-7 for saying that,” expressed Marian during the recently held press conference for her new fantaserye “Darna.” “As an actress, I’ve always been professional and I always do what I was asked for in my TV projects with the network. And I really love my job!”
GMA Network executives didn’t just make up Marian’s title. Being called the network’s “Queen of Primetime” was based more on the result of the three consecutive successful TV series of Marian Rivera. It all began with the phenomenal hit “Mari Mar,” which was followed by “Dyesebel” and then the sexy-drama “Ang Babaeng Hinugot Sa Aking Tadyang.” And all rated high in their respective primetime slots.
Marian added that she can never call herself or claim to be a “queen.” She never expected such title to be bestowed on her but she respects the decision of her bosses as well as her fans’ judgment for calling her “Queen of Primetime.”
For being the new Darna, Marian has also been described as the “cutest” and “sexiest Darna!”
“I’m flattered and I still believe that people have different opinions on who’s the prettier or sexier Darna. If they think it’s me then I’m thankful. I’m also thankful that all of us in the set – from the cast and crew – get along well. What’s more important than these titles is that I’m enjoying my work as Darna and that I’m making our Kapuso viewers happy again with Darna’s return,” she explained.
The actress also revealed that she did a lot of adjustments for “Darna” especially with her costume as well as working with a new leading man in Mark Anthony Fernandez after three TV series with Dingdong Dantes.
“It’s hard playing a super heroine. You have to adjust to the fight scenes and the harness. Before, I don’t exercise but now I have to maintain my figure for my costume as well as the harness. If I gain weight I would have a hard time with the harness. I also need to exercise to prevent injuries and body pains,” stressed Marian who trained in Wushu as part of her preparation for the role.
As Darna, her goal is not only to protect mankind from supernatural villains but to recover all the different powers from every nemesis she defeated and restore them all in her “mystical stone” – the source of Darna’s powers.
Darna’s antagonists are Kobra (Paolo Contis), Valentina (Iwa Moto), Babaeng Lawin (Ehra Madrigal), Babaeng Tuod (Francine Prieto), Babaeng Impakta (Nadine Samonte), Babaeng Linta (Maggie Wilson) and the mad-scientist Dr. Morgan (Ricky Davao).
Also in the cast of Darna are Eddie Garcia, Celia Rodriguez, Caridad Sanchez, Robert “Buboy” Villar, Raymart Santiago, Rufa Mae Quinto, Janice de Belen, Rita Avila, Jestoni Alarcon, Ian de Leon, Alfred Vargas, Polo Ravales, Angel Aquino, Gabby Eigenmann, Bearwin Meily, John Apacible, Krissa Mae, Roxanne Barcelo, Renz Valerio, Sweet Ramos and Angeli Nicole Sanoy.
Darna is directed by Dominic Zapata and Don Michael Perez.
Related posts: