Maris Racal has been serving us talent and charisma ever since, and she’s giving MEGA Entertainment a deep dive on her current roles and future plans.
From TikTok to X (previously Twitter), the name “Maris Racal” has been the talk of the apps lately. For one, the audience has deemed her portrayal of the fringed Irene Tiu on Can’t Buy Me Love as natural, entertaining, and effective, especially opposite Anthony Jennings who plays Snoop. She has also made rounds online as Sarah, a purgatory guardian of sorts in the online series, Simula Sa Gitna. But even as herself, Maris is already a character of her own.
RELATED: Kaila Estrada, Maris Racal, and More Actresses to Watch Out For This 2024
@allpurposequeenthings Dramarama sa tanghali ng Radyo Uno 😂😂😂 brought to you by #MarisRacal 😆 sana may paganito ka rin for #PeachyMabunga and #IreneTiu 🥹😁 @mariesteller #Actress #Guitarist ♬ original sound – Queen Maris
In a quick catchup with MEGA Entertainment, the actress gave us a deep dive on her characters, as well as her dream collaboration and projects with her fellow actors.
The making of Sarah
“I had to do [my] homework.” These were Maris’ first thoughts on being asked how she prepared for her roles as Sarah and Irene. For the former role, she booked a session with Ms. Angeli Bayani to create a backstory for her character. “Marami kaming naungkat or na-discover kay Sarah na kahit wala sa script, para mabuo namin ‘yung character. We [had] to dig [into] her past.”
In a nutshell, Simula Sa Gitna is a spin-off series of the film Hintayan Ng Langit. Khalil Ramos, as Andrew, enters the Kalagitnaan, the place of souls before they go into either Langit or the Basement. While earning his “points,” Sarah, played by Maris, ushers Andrew into the realm and guides him through everything, apart from adventures of their own.
According to the Kapamilya actress, Khalil was an intelligent co-actor. “Ang dami niyang binibigay sa’yo na wala sa script. It really helps big time sa eksena, lalo na kung ‘yung challenge niyo is to create this chemistry together and you have to like each other. It really helps if the actor is giving, and Khalil is someone like that.”
The becoming of Irene
“It’s actually my first role in a teleserye na opulent, luxurious, rich,” she raised. How did she prepare for her breakthrough character? By watching Succession. “Nung napanood ko ‘yun, ang dami kong nakuhang acting tips by just watching kasi ang gagaling ng mga artista du’n. I made Irene Tiu something like Siobhan Roy and Ronan Roy. Pinag-mix ko ‘yung dalawang characters na ‘yun.”
Both power women in their own right, the spunky Tiu sister and Maris herself share the same quality of being go-getters. “Parang ganu’n din ako,” the actress expressed. Talking more about character, she shared, “Actually, si Irene, she is so misunderstood. She has so many dreams and she’d do everything just to get them, kahit maku-question mo na ‘yung sense of morality niya. [Like Irene,] I’m such a go-getter and I really want my dreams to happen. So, gagawin ko talaga lahat.”
The painting of Maris
With her roster of characters, netizens would dub her many names, among which was the new Romcom Queen. “Thankful ako sa mga netizens na tinatawag akong romcom queen. It’s a huge title especially here sa country natin na mahilig sa romcom. Wish ko siya, a romcom film talaga. I’m just really up for it.”
sobrang game if ever 🥹 https://t.co/SSdCiHJCOa
— Maris Racal (@MissMarisRacal) May 22, 2023
Bringing up her dream project, Maris concluded the interview with excitement. “Sana may romcom na GL na darating!” Of course, the idea of co-actors came into light. “‘Yung kawork ko, parang ‘di naman GL. I really want to work with Barbie Forteza and Nadine Lustre. Sa romcom film, baka si Joshua Garcia.”
In 2023, Racal responded to a possible pairing for her and Forteza, quoting a tweet and said, “Sobrang game if ever,” she commented. Meanwhile, the Kapuso star echoed this quote tweet. “Game,” she responded.
Photos: MARIS RACAL (via Instagram)
