Gretchen Barretto on her ‘Magkaribal’ co-stars: ‘Walang pa-star, walang primadonna’

Taping for the teleserye Magkaribal does not feel like work for Gretchen Barretto because aside from the fact it’s her first teleserye after almost a decade, she is thankful about working with some of today’s biggest stars such as Bea Alonzo, Derek Ramsay, Erich Gonzales, Enchong Dee, and Angel Aquino, among others.

“Ang maganda ngayon dahil siguro maraming-maraming artista, kahit mga sikat na sila like Erich, Enchong, and Bea, even if you know na talagang may karapatan na sila sa industriya gaya ng talagang box-office hits [ang movies nila], may fans club and all, nagulat ako na walang pa-star, walang prima donna, walang nale-late,” she beamed. “Everyone is equal sa set, walang malaki ang ulo. It’s just surprising para sa akin. ‘Pag sinabi mo na ABS-CBN, ang mga stars dito [aakalain mo] mga brat. Hindi. We’re all just really fun to work with, easy to work with. Siguro dahil ‘yung competition ngayon, ‘di ba, grabe?"

Gretchen takes pride in saying that they all now feel comfortable with each other on the set. “Parati nga akong tinutukso ng mga ‘yon, eh [sinasabi nila sa akin], ‘Kumakain ka na naman.’ Ngayon everybody talaga nagtutuksuhan.”

Ironically, Gretchen’s co-stars are all one in saying that they all felt intimidated by her at first. “Siguro in the beginning lahat nakatingala. They always say nai-intimidate sila, nahiya sila, pero ngayon hindi ko nakikitaan na ganon, talagang barkada na kami.”

Gretchen also added that her showbiz comeback has the blessing of her partner, businessman Tony Boy Cojuangco and her daughter Dominique. “Okay naman. Naiintindihan naman nila na talagang gusto ko ang ginagawa ko. Obvious naman na ine-enjoy ko ang ginagawa ko kaya pinagbibigyan nila ako.”

Dubbed as the first fashion-serye on local television, Magkaribal’s story revolves around the fashion industry. Being a fashionista herself, Gretchen explained that she gets to give her inputs when it comes to clothes. “Pinaglalaruan namin ‘yung mga damit, anong feel natin, anong bagay sa role na ‘to, sa eksenang ito. Nagpo-progress ‘yung character namin so iniiba rin para hindi nakakasawa.”

As for doing movies, Gretchen prefers to do one project at a time. “Siguro gagawin ko after the teleserye kasi na-notice ko, hindi talaga puwedeng pagsabayin ang pelikula o teleserye [kasi] hindi na talaga ako matutulog,” she said with a laugh.