Empress Schuck is poised for bigger things as she has joined the circle of teen stars like Kim Chiu, Melissa Ricks and Erich Gonzales who successfully crossed over to serious acting. Empress’ ticket to drama is the ABS-CBN afternoon TV series Rosalka which will premiere on May 17. This is the first time the svelte, statuesque and stunning young star will deglamorize herself since she will play a hunchback. Empress is on prosthetics most of the time. The character is reminiscent of Anne Curtis’ Kampanerang Kuba. But Empress’ Rosalka is not the two-dimensional ugly character who sulks in self-pity.
“She doesn’t let everyone to put her down,” Empress describes Rosalka. “She fights back, especially when she is on the right side of things.”
Rosalka dreams big. She convinces her parents to stop hiding her hideous looks by studying in the city. This is where Rosalka’s test of character begins.
Playing Empress’ love interests are Felix Roco and Matt Evans. Also in the cast are Mila del Sol, Mickey Ferriols, Dominic Ochoa, Bernard Palanca, Kier Legaspi, Maricar de Mesa, Nikki Bacolod and Pretty Trisha. Jeffrey Jeturian and Mervyn Brondial direct the fantasy-tearjerker.
“I want to prove that I deserve this break,” says Empress. “That I can also be a good actress. I wish (people) to support and love me.”
Watching the teaser for Rosalka, one can say that Empress knows how to express herself through her craft. And she has made a good impression.
Below, Empress shares how she begins and ends her day off camera.
8 a.m. — After taping, I go straight to my room to get some sleep. I change my clothes. I’m either in pajama or big shirt. And I pair (the latter) with shorts. Then, I’m off to dreamland.
3 p.m. — I wake up and have my decent meal for the day. It’s my lunch and I usually have a heavy meal. I have rice and a viand on my plate. I eat anything except ampalaya and Chicken Curry. But if my schedule is not hectic, I’m up by 10 a.m. and I have my brunch. I have a light meal of pandesal. While eating, I watch Wowowee. Then, I channel surf. I tune in to Kapamilya shows. I also check cable shows such as The Tyra Banks Show, E News, Ellen, Gossip Girl. Then, I also go on-line. I check my account on Facebook and Twitter. I also log on to see what’s the latest on YouTube.
Between 4 to 5 p.m. onwards — I go out with friends to Promenade or Eastwood. I watch movies there. I go for chick flicks, comedy and horror. I have my dinner before or after watching a movie. But it depends on my mood. I chill out with friends at Starbucks. We talk over coffee. I avoid staying late because I have work the following day. Then, I call it a day with my friends.
12 midnight — I’m finally at home and I sleep. — Jerry Donato