Before flying to Switzerland last February to shoot scenes for their new drama series Unbreak My Heart, lead stars Jodi Sta. Maria and Joshua Garcia revealed what they had to go through to prepare for their intimate scenes that were shot abroad.

The two play heartbroken souls who cross paths and start a May-December love affair on the show. Jodi’s character Rose is desperate to heal her broken heart by atoning for her sins to rebuild the family she had lost while Joshua’s character Renz helps fill the void in Rose’s heart.

“Nag-prepare kami, dumaan kami sa sensuality workshop and then dun namin nasabi ‘yung limits namin, yung boundaries, kung saan ang kaya naming ibigay. Yung direktor yung tumahi nun para sa amin. Actually, sobrang hirap talaga nun pero dahil sa tiwala sa akin ni ate Jodi at sa alalay nila direk Manny (Palo) at direk Dolly (Dulu), mas naging madali,” Joshua shared during the Unbreak My Heart grand media conference.

WATCH: Jodi Sta. Maria, Joshua Garcia on shooting their intimate scenes for ‘Unbreak My Heart’ | PUSH TV

Jodi admitted that shooting intimate scenes are the most difficult kind of scenes for her to do.

“It will require a certain level of vulnerability and trust from your scene partner and also from your director, from everyone nandudun sa space na yun dun sa set. Of course, as actors, we deliver what’s required from us and yes, meron kang intimate scene between my character and Joshua’s character. So how did we prepare? They provided naman a sensuality workshop before we left for Europe.

“Nakatulong yung discussion about boundaries and what you’re comfortable and not-so-comfortable doing during the scene. So that’s one of the preparations that we did for the scene. And it’s always reminding yourself na you are not doing this as you. You are in the scene as your character. So yun yung preparation na ginawa namin for that one,” she explained.

WATCH: Joshua Garcia, inamin ang current relationship status | PUSH Daily

Having to do the workshop with Joshua, who is 15 years younger than her, was a big factor in them pulling off the scene convincingly.

“I remember when we did a sensuality workshop, direk Manny (Palo and direk Dolly (Dulu) were present din so lahat talaga dinisuss and even before the scene was shoot, dini-discuss pa rin yun. Kasi minsan nag-iiba pag nandudun na sa set eh. Depende yan sa placement, sa blocking, ganyan. But I’m just glad na si Josh is very respectful and he made the scene bearable and of course directors inalagaan din naman yung eksena. They made it artistic,” she recalled.

Playing a very intense chaarcter, Joshua admitted he had to dig deep in order to fully flesh out his latest role onscreen.

“Portraying Renz dito, sobrang challenging ito para sa akin kasi magkaiba kami ni Renz kung paano mag-express ng emotion namin, kung paano magalit, kung paano ma-in love. Yun yung pinaka-challenging sa akin. Kasi hindi naman ako palasigaw na tao. Hindi ako nagdadabog. And para ma-achieve ko yun, kinailangan kong mahalin yung character kong si Renz.

“Pinag-aralan ko yung character sa mas malalim. Lahat ng details just to create Renz, kasi ang hirap niya i-portray eh. And gusto ko yung na-cha-challenge ako. And finally, nasa kalahati na kami ngayon. Naitatawid naman. May struggle lang sa akin dahil may hugot itong emosyon. Hinuhugot ko yun sa character ko lahat. Minsan kumukuha rin ako sa personal life ko, pero para lang ma-set yung nararamdaman ko. The rest is Renz,” he admitted.

Unbreak My Heart stars Joshua Garcia, Jodi Sta. Maria, Gabbi Garcia, Richard Yap, Eula Valdes, Sunshine Cruz, Romnick Sarmenta, Victor Neri, Nikki Valdez, Laurice Guillen, Jeremiah Lisbo, Bianca de Vera, Will Ashley, Dionne Monsanto, Maey Bautista, and PJ Endrinal. The series was shot in scenic locations in Switzerland, Italy, and the Philippines and is directed by Manny Palo and Dolly Dulu and produced by Dreamscape Entertainment. Catch it on GMA Pinoy TV, TFC, and Viu.