In her first movie this year, Erich Gonzales said she isfeeling the pressure of headlining another major Star Cinema project. “Hindi naman talaga nawawala yung pressure salahat ng proyekto na ginagawa ko and dito naman sa movie na ito may tiwalakami, naniniwala kami sa project na ito na maaabot yung audience natin and veryrelatable talaga siya lalo na sa panahon ngayon kasi yung mga characters namindito flawed siya, marami silang mistakes, shortcomings and I guess everyone canrelate to it kasi we’re not perfect. Lahat naman tayo pagdating sa buhaypag-ibig may mga nagagawa tayong mali. Walang kontrabida dito kasi may kanyakanya silang journey, may kanya-kanyang pinapatunayan at inaabot sa buhay,”she explained during the Once a Princess blogcon held last August 4 insideABS-CBN.

Erich said she does not let popularity get to her head eventhough she has top billing in the film. “Hindinaman yun sa akin importante talaga kasi naniniwala ako na lahat ng artistakahit maliit or malaking role, pag maganda ang project na napasama ka, blessingtalaga yun,” she said.

The 23-year-old actress said her role became very close toher heart. “Ako naman kasi I’m always upfor the challenge. Dito sa pelikulang ito na-challenge talaga ko kasi nag-startkami dito na sa part one mga bata kami, mga estudyante so andun yung paano moba siya gagawin na may difference kasi sa part two naman working na kami. Medyochallenge siya kung paano mo ma-differentiate yung nung younger days and thennung adult na kayo. Masasabi ko na iba rin naman siya sa mga nagawa ko, itoyung pinaka-mature ko when it comes to experience din talaga,” she added.

The Once a Princess staralso shares that her character goes through many challenges in life. “Si Erin ibang klase talaga yung pinagdaananniya sa buhay niya na hindi biro. From a princess life na she has everythingand then sa isang iglap nawala lahat. Imagine mo mangyari yan sa totoong buhaynapakahirap talaga di ba? So yun yung kailangan ko isapuso sa character na yun.Na hindi ako si Erich. Every time na pumupunta ako sa set lagi akong ready andkung ano man ang hinihingi ni direk kaya ko ibigay at handa ako ibigay sa kanyang buong buo,” she said.

The talented actress said the project was a good learningexperience for her. “One thing I learned from Erin my character is that beinghurt is something you can’t avoid from happening in life but being miserable isalways a choice. In everything, kahitsaan pa man, everything really is a choice and it’s up to you kung kunwari saisang sitwasyon hindi mo na gusto, nasa kamay mo yun kung paano ka aalis,or how to put a stop or an end to it. So it’s all your hands, how you shapeyour dreams, how you create your destiny,” she shared.

Out of everything she did for the movie, Erich said it was neitherher intimate scenes with JC De Vera nor her dramatic encounters with EnchongDee that she found most challenging to do. “Hirapna hirap talaga ako sa beach scene, yung naka-two piece ako. As in! Buong arawyun, from umaga hanggang gabi naka-ganun ako. Kaya kabag at pulmonya inabot(laughs). Kasi first time kong gawin yun and nakakahiya naman na tanggihan kasinasa beach ka nga naman. Alangan naman mag-jacket ka o pantalon. Nung nabasa konga na merong beach na eksena, baka mag-pe-prepare lang kami ng food orstrolling lang so puwedeng naka-dress. Pero pagdating dun sa set sabi, ‘Olulusong na kayo sa tubog. So sige na, hubad na!’ Grabe siya, pero siyempredirek Laurice Guillen naman yun,kailangan din naman yun sa eksena,” she explained.

Another thing Erich shared during the blogcon was her ownphilosophy in life in relation to her character who had to go through manystruggles in life. “Sa buhay ko kungnakagawa man ako ng maling desisyon siguro no regrets yun kasi mas pagsisisihanko kung hindi ko nagawa yung mga bagay. Di ba we should all take risks becausewe only have this one life to live and kailangan matapang tayo at i-embracenatin yung mga change at maging open tayo sa lahat ng opportunities. Dito namansa showbiz lahat may mga pagbabago everyday yan so kailangan open talagapalagi. Dapat every day may mag natututunan tayo na na-i-a-apply natin yun sabuhay natin,” she said.

Watch Erich Gonzales in Oncea Princess along with JC De Vera and Enchong Dee.