Why Kim Chiu is daring, baring in her latest teleserye

In more ways than one, Kim Chiu has surprised her multitude of fans by showing off her dangerous curves in her latest soap, The Alibi.

Not a few were shocked by her bold and daring performance as she seemingly threw all caution to the wind, gyrating like a professional pole dancer.

Cliché as it may sound, she did all this for the sake of art — or perhaps, more accurately, with a rational and purposeful mindset.

“I just want to show something new. And to those who are saying that I don’t know anything about this kind of role — this is it. I want to prove them wrong, that I can do more than what they know,” she said during the panel interview after the screening of her series at Trinoma Cinema 6.

She later gave a clearer explanation of what gave her the courage to perform such a daring pole dance act.

“Maybe as a 35-year-old woman, we’re done with those 16-year-old, teenie-teenie roles. But playing teenie-teenie roles is actually my favorite. When I look back at my journey in this industry, it feels like I’ve divided it into my teens and twenties. Then I asked myself, ‘What will I show off in my thirties?’ I think it’s my skin,” she said in jest.

“It’s done in an artistic way. It’s hard in a way,” she added.

Chiu plays Stella, a seductive escort who serves as the sole provider for her broken family. Her already miserable life becomes even more complicated when she accidentally crosses paths with Vincent (Paulo Avelino), the heir to one of the most influential digital news empires in the country.

Their indecent encounter takes a twisted turn when it’s revealed that Vincent is the prime suspect in a high-profile murder case involving his rival, Walter (Sam Milby). In a desperate attempt to save his tarnished reputation, Vincent strikes a million-peso deal with Stella to pose as his alibi.

The Alibi features a stellar cast that includes John Arcilla, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Sofia Andres, Irma Adlawan, Rafael Rosell, Robbie Jaworski, Angelina Cruz, Alyanna Angeles, Alma Moreno, PJ Endrinal, Lotlot Bustamante, Ian de Leon, Romnick Sarmenta, Enzo Osorio, Ayesha Bajeta and Thou Reyes. It is directed by acclaimed filmmakers Onat Diaz, Jojo Saguin, and FM Reyes, under the production of ABS-CBN’s Dreamscape Entertainment.

Ysabel Ortega shares her elevator trauma

Completing her first horror film, Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins (SRR), is a major milestone for Ysabel Ortega.

“Actually, I was so proud of myself that I finished this movie without crying on my way home. I’m scared. I’m jumpy. I’m skittish. I don’t know why, but I get scared of things I can’t see,” she said during the media conference for SRR.

Growing up, Ortega shared that she developed trauma from elevators.

“I had trauma with elevators. I always seemed to get locked inside them. I don’t know why, but it happened very often,” she recalled.

“There was one time when I was still a kid — I entered an elevator but my mom didn’t. It was like she accidentally left me. The elevator went up and down, and I felt like someone wanted to use it. I was so scared. There are horror films that feature scenes like that,” she added.

Being part of SRR was a long-time dream for Ortega.

“Ever since I started, it’s been on my bucket list to be in Shake, Rattle & Roll. It’s such an honor to be part of it. My mom was so proud when she learned that I would join SRR,” she said. 

Ortega plays Hermana in the first episode of the latest SRR installment.

“This story is set in the 1700s. It’s very interesting for me because it’s my first time to play a period character. It’s also very challenging because it’s my first horror project,” she shared.