Slaps, stars, and 'Saving Grace': De Belen and Cuneta discuss working together

The upcoming free television premiere of Saving Grace: The Untold Story is generating buzz, especially with the revelation of the intense on-screen dynamic between veteran actresses Janice de Belen and Sharon Cuneta. During a recent media conference, the two stars shared their experiences working together, highlighting their mutual respect and professionalism, particularly when it came to filming a pivotal slapping scene.

The scene, originally aired in the series' Amazon Prime Video version, quickly became a fan favorite, showcasing a powerful confrontation between their characters.

Janice de Belen revealed that achieving the perfect take required three attempts. She emphasized the importance of building the emotional intensity through their dialogue before any physical action took place.

“More than the preparation for the sampal (slap), it’s the preparations of the lines na mas importante sa amin,” Janice explained, underscoring the significance of the dramatic build-up.

While the scene was captivating for audiences, Janice admitted she preferred not to do multiple takes, as the slaps were genuine.

“Kasi pag may sampalan, gusto mo take one lang kasi nakakasakit ka eh. ‘Wag na tayong umarte, minsan masakit talaga. Ang gusto mo hindi ka ma-take two kasi uulitin mo ‘yun — masasaktan ka, masasaktan mo siya. You try and make sure that you give your best sa eksenang ‘yun,” she shared, highlighting the physical demands of such scenes.

(When someone has to slap someone, you want it done in one take because it hurts. Let's not be dramatic; sometimes it really does hurt. You don't want to "take two" because you'll do it again. You try and make sure that you give it your all in that scene.)

Despite the intensity, Janice thoroughly enjoyed the experience of working with the Megastar.

“I was very happy to be working with Mega. She’s so professional kasi, lalo na sa eksenang nagsampalan kami… It was fun working with her. Siyempre kahit papaano alam kong maraming tao ang nakaabang na makita kaming magkasama. It was really good working with her,” she said, expressing her admiration for Sharon’s professionalism.

(I was very happy to be working with Mega. She's so professional, even in the slapping scene... It was fun working with her. Of course, we know people have been waiting to see us in the same project.)

Sharon, with a touch of humor, revealed the surprising force behind Janice's slaps. “Ang liit-liit na babae, [ang] lakas ng sampal, (She's a small women, but she's got a strong slap)” she quipped, acknowledging the impact of the scene. She also shared her own enjoyment of working with Janice, noting their shared history in the industry.

Saving Grace: The Untold Story, which premieres on free TV this 3 March, boasts a stellar cast, including Julia Montes, Jennica Garcia, Sam Milby, Christian Bables, Zia Grace, and Elisse Joson. The free TV version promises viewers additional storylines and scenes not previously seen in the Prime release, making it a must-watch for fans of the series.