Gretchen to pursue theater singing in London

CEBU, Philippines – Award-winning actress Gretchen Barretto may be one of the most established personalities in Philippine showbiz but there is one thing she still wants to pursue — musical theater.

“I am going back to London after my work. I want to get trainings in theater singing,” she shares with Anthony Taberna in “Tapatan Ni Tunying” airing this afternoon.

“It has been my dream ever since I was a kid. I knew I wanted that. I just needed a push. So now I feel like, if I have the time in London, I will do theater singing and then hopefully do another album, a musical album,” Gretchen adds. The star previously released two albums — “Unexpected” in 2008 and “Complicated” in 2009.

But before flying to London, the 44-year-old actress has to promote her first Star Cinema movie “The Trial,” where she plays a developmental psychologist who helps a mentally challenged student, played by John Lloyd Cruz, accused of raping his grade school teacher.

Gretchen says she did not hesitate to accept her role in “The Trial” because she was drawn to the material. As known in the industry, Gretchen first rose to fame via skin flicks in the late 80s to early 90s.

“I felt that I had to offer something significant to this industry. Fortunately, ABS-CBN gave me a chance to do that. I think, for the past seven or six years, I’ve been doing the right thing as far as my career is concerned,” Gretchen says.

Gretchen reveals more about her life and career in this week’s episode of “Tapatan ni Tunying” this Thursday at 4:30 p.m. on ABS-CBN’s Kapamilya Gold. (PR)