Cherry Pie Picache’s on-screen and behind-the-scenes relationship with veteran director Joel Lamangan is as layered and dynamic as the characters they bring to life.

Their collaboration, first seen in the primetime hit FPJ’s Batang Quiapo, showcased Cherry Pie as the emotionally charged Marites opposite Lamangan’s cunning Roda. Now, the tandem is back, ready to command the silver screen in Fatherland, a film helmed by Lamangan, with Cherry Pie taking on yet another transformative role.

“I played the role of Mayor Chen. Chinese po ako dito (I play a Chinese),” Cherry Pie shared with her signature mix of grace and candor. “Ms. Mercedes Cabral and I play rivals in this film. I have to speak Chinese — of course, believability is important, right?” The role pushed her into unfamiliar territory, prompting her to take Chinese lessons to deliver a convincing performance.

But stepping into Mayor Chen’s shoes was no small feat — especially under Lamangan’s famously swift working style. “Direk Joel doesn’t like to admit how fast he works,” she laughed. “You really feel the pressure to learn, but of course, you also need to ensure accuracy. It was difficult, especially since he had me learn more than just a few lines; it was actual Chinese, so it was tough.”

Despite the intensity, Cherry Pie thrives in roles that challenge her creatively. Whether protagonist or antagonist, it’s the depth of the script that matters most. “Actually, anything, as long as the role is good,” she said. “As long as the role is good and challenging, takes me out of my comfort zone — especially now, at my age, with the amount of work I’ve already done.”

She finds a special thrill in portraying darker characters. “I really, really had fun playing kontrabida roles — the dark characters — because I have more room to explore. That’s why people now say that Marites did nothing but cry and cry,” she quipped. “So villain roles offer more to play with. I have fun doing that.”

Reflecting on her time in FPJ’s Batang Quiapo, Cherry Pie is filled with gratitude. “We are thankful to all our Batang Quiapo viewers for embracing and supporting us,” she said, proud of the show’s recent win at the Star Awards. “I’m so proud of the team, I’m so honored, and I’m so grateful that I’m part of it.”

And for those eagerly following the series, Cherry Pie promises more surprises ahead. “Expect that we will really work harder to make the story even better,” she teased. “The exciting scenes will become even more frequent… I’m sure you’re all waiting for Mamon. The action will be intense — car drifting, it’s high-tech. So thank you very much!”

Though deeply immersed in teleserye work, Cherry Pie confesses she misses the world of cinema. “Actually, I do miss it. I can still do it, right? It’s just sad because now, there are so few productions,” she said. “I really hope we can help bring people back to the cinemas because, of course, how can you produce more films if they don’t even recoup their investment?”

Cherry Pie Picache returns to the big screen in Fatherland, produced by Engr. Benjamin Austria’s Bentria. The film features a stellar ensemble including Inigo Pascual, Angel Aquino, Mercedes Cabral, Max Eigenmann, Richard Yap, Ara Davao, Jeric Gonzales, Kaze Kinouchi and Rico Barrera, with a screenplay by acclaimed writer Roy Iglesias.

Fatherland hits theaters on 19 April.