Barbie Forteza’s present fame is not a one-hit wonder, but a journey built on grit and patience throughout the years
When you hear the name Barbie Forteza today, you will surely attribute it to Maria Clara at Ibarra. As Maria Clara Infantes, or better known by the audience as Klay, Barbie created a character that was relatable to both younger and older viewers of the series. Her portrayal has garnered acclaim not just because of how Klay was written, but also how she made Klay real and relatable to everyone.
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Grit in the business
While her role as the modern version of Rizal’s character has catapulted her stardom into greater heights from late last year until today, Barbie’s acting prowess was not built overnight. As a GMA star, she has already done 25 teleseryes to date. “Sa inyo ko lang nga po nalaman na naka-25 teleserye na pala ako, eh. Siguro nga po dahil ine-enjoy ko rin ‘yung ginagawa ko.”
When asked by journalist Karen Davila on her thoughts on being an actress, this was Barbie’s answer. “Aminin naman po natin hindi po madali ‘yung trabaho natin. Number one, ‘yung oras. Oras with yourself, oras with your family. Isa po talaga yung sa nakakadrain, eh. Not unless 100% sure ka na gusto mong gawin for the long term, hindi mo talaga siya kakayanin. Dahil kasi ‘yung pressure, ‘yung bashers syempre, hindi mawawala. So dapat fully equipped ka na [lampasan] lahat ng ‘yun.”
Her awards for acting have also warranted her skills with garnering three accolades—Cinemalaya Best Supporting Actress in 2014, Portugal’s Fantasporto International Best Actress in 2016, and 9th Ani Ng Dangal Awardee in 2017.
Love for her core
Besides her passion for the craft, which started from childhood, it’s also her determination to help her family that fueled Barbie to never give up. In fact, with her fully taking charge of her finances, she has also decided to build their family’s dream home. “Sila talaga ‘yung inspiration ko,” the actress said simply. After she established her earnings, she also asked her parents to no longer work.
The hype and recognition that Barbie Forteza is receiving today should not just be anchored on her performance as Klay. With her continuous determination to hone her craft and help her family, she deserves to be applauded beyond her acting roles.
And with her career continuing to progress through time, we can only expect more daring characters that she’ll play and hopefully, well-deserved awards to obtain.
Photos and Featured Image: BARBIE FORTEZA (via Instagram)
