Star-crossed lovers only onscreen

MANILA, Philippines — Julia Barretto and Joshua Garcia have essayed roles in romance-drama projects on the big screen. As JoshLia, they have won many hearts and nods of showbiz watchers. Starting tonight after FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, however, Julia and Joshua will bring their tandem to the small screen via Ngayon at Kailanman. This time, they will breathe life into Eva and Inno, the Primetime Bida star-crossed lovers.

“Finally, I was given a role that is far different from who I am (in real life),” said Julia in a recent media call. “How is it gonna be different? I feel like that the character already in itself is different even without (me) delivering (lines yet), kahit hindi pa ako umaarte. My character Eva is different from Zoey of I Love You Hater.” That’s true since most of her past roles would require Julia to approach them with quietness and restraint. Eva is totally a contrast.

“Eva is more free-spirited, mas magalaw, mas loud, (she has) big movements,” she added, “Yung salita mas bargas (her language is rough).”

As for Joshua, he described Inno as someone who is very stiff and reserved. “Inno (strictly) follows rules; he likes (doing things) by the book. Kailangan tama ang lahat ng ginagawa niya. He is longing for attention and love because the favorite son is Oliver (the older brother played by Jameson Blake).”

Eva, on the other hand, doesn’t lack in family attention. “She will do everything for her family and (eventually) for love,” said Julia. “Despite of the unfortunate situation of Eva, (she) is the life and source of hope and positivity of the family.” And when she meets him and her life gets entangled with his, Eva, as Julia teased, will put some color into Inno’s life.

Given the “life realities” of their characters and the roles they usually get, Julia and Joshua have made that switch: He is now from the privileged family, while she from the marginalized. Based on the show’s press statement, Inno is groomed to be an heir apparent, while Eva is nurtured as a street-smart girl.

“We’re playing totally different roles,” Joshua said. “Ako naman yung mayaman. Siya yung walang kaya. It’s a challenge for me to deliver lines in English. I have to do it with spontaneity so I won’t (stammer). I have to be fluent. Tama yung pagkakabigkas. I feel the confrontation scenes done in English will be challenging.”

Julia and Joshua bring their tandem to the small screen

Since it’s their first teleserye, Julia and Joshua can’t help but feel pressured. Expectations sometimes get the best of them.

“Of course, pressure comes with it,” she said. “Right now, I feel I would like to turn it into my biggest motivator. I cannot disappoint the network. More than anything, I feel so grateful. More than the pressure, I’m so grateful because I have waited long (for this to come). Nagpapasalamat ako and I just want to focus on and to do better in my work. Para ma-proud naman yung nagtiwala sa amin.”

Joshua also agreed with how Julia handles the pressure from their latest project.

“We use it as our motivation,” he said. “Para mas pagbutihan namin ang ginagawa namin. So that the support of those who believe in and trust us won’t go to waste. More than anything, we are happy and we feel very blessed.”

One cannot deny the happiness Julia and Joshua have in working together again. They know each other well and how to feed off each other’s creative energy. This speaks of the level of comfortability they have with each other and perhaps, special feelings for one another.

“Well, I think when the network or let’s say, Star Cinema, Star Creatives, really (pairs) two people, they don’t necessarily expect you, guys, to be really together in real life or expect you, guys, end up with special feelings for each other,” she said. “How does it help? Maybe because I think it’s just the comfortability level... parang mas makakapag-explore kami with each other. We’re comfortable doing scenes, particularly intimate ones. It’s more comfortable and we’re more open. There’s trust. It’s a different level of trust that we know we can take care of each other. We support each other, especially in a scene. I feel like whether or not (there are) special feelings, I think a partnership needs teamwork, a common ground and the same goal.”

With that trust between them, do we see Julia and Joshua embark on doing more mature and meaty scenes?

“I’m very open,” said Julia. “I’m happy because I have a feeling that with Ngayon at Kailanman, mas nagiging mature yung roles namin. And we are already adults. I’m very excited to shoot scenes that will challenge us.”

(Ngayon at Kailanman also stars Rosemarie Gil, Rio Locsin, Iza Calzado, Christian Vasquez, Alice Dixon, Ina Raymundo, Dominic Ochoa, TJ Trinidad and Joao Constancia. For updates, follow @abscbnpr on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit www.abscbnpr.com.)