(From left) Barbie Forteza, Marian Rivera. Images: Instagram/@barbaraforteza, Instagram/@marianrivera
Barbie Forteza is one of today’s leading Kapuso stars, but when she was just starting out in the industry, she had a taste of failure when she did not bag the coveted roles for three younger versions of the characters portrayed by the network’s “Primetime Queen” Marian Rivera.
During a “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” interview on Tuesday, Feb. 13, Forteza recalled at her earlier days in show biz, wherein she auditioned to be a young Marimar, Dyesebel, and Darna.
“‘Yung unang tatlong teleserye ni Ms. Marian Rivera, nag-audition po ako as a young [Marian]. ‘Yung ‘Marimar,’ ‘Dyesebel,’ tsaka ‘Darna,’” she said. (The first three teleseryes of Ms. Marian Rivera, I auditioned to be a young Marian in “Marimar,” “Dyesebel,” and “Darna.”)
The actress, while laughing, said she failed all three of the auditions because the three roles required her to go beyond her comfort zone.
“Takot ako sa aso eh diba may Fulgoso [sa ‘Marimar’]. Sa ‘Dyesebel,’ hindi ako marunong lumangoy. Ganda lang siya. Ganda lang ambag ni girl! Eh medyo ‘yun ang point ng show. Dapat marunong ka lumangoy,” she said.
“Sa ‘Darna’ naman po, takot naman ako sa heights. Hindi naman pwedeng lumipad,” she further added.
(I’m scared of dogs even though Marimar has a dog named Fulgoso. In “Dyesebel,” I don’t know how to swim. I can only contribute my beautiful face. But that was the point of the show. You must know how to swim. In “Darna,” I’m scared of heights so I can’t fly.)
Forteza disclosed in multiple interviews that she underwent multiple auditions to snag her desired characters. In her earlier days in showbiz, she starred as the younger Jodi in “Stairway to Heaven” and the teen series “First Time.”
The actress is set to star in her second historical drama “Pulang Araw” with David Licauco, Alden Richards, and Sanya Lopez. Details about the storyline, their characters, and premiere date are yet to be announced.
