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Mercedes Cabral on playing kontrabida roles

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Rhea Manila Santos

Push Team

From playing the scheming police corporal Lena Cortez in <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/batangquiapo">FPJ’s Batang Quiapo</a> last year to her role in the movie Fatherland this year, actress Mercedes Cabral shared how she navigates playing different kinds of roles onscreen in an exclusive interview with PUSH ABS-CBN. “Yung pagiging bida kasi, I know it&#x27;s a lot of responsibility talaga. Na-enjoy ko rin siya gawin, but at the same time, iba rin kasi yung nabibigay na satisfaction din sa akin bilang kontrabida. Na-enjoy ko rin siya kasi. Siguro parang lahat naman kasi tayo, I think everybody has like, a dark side, di ba? Parang if it’s like your choice to show it to other people or not. But I&#x27;m sure lahat tayo may dumi, may mga tinatago na saltik.&quot;Siguro parang sa akin, na-enjoy ko lang maging kontrabida kasi parang may mga nagagawa itong character na to, yung mga kontrabida na hindi mo gagawin in real life. So in a way, parang it&#x27;s a sense of liberation na yung nabibigay sa&#x27;yo personally. Tapos parang ma-ri-ri-realize mo na super evil nito tapos hindi ko gagawim to, alam mo yon?” <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/4/3/mercedes-cabral-reunites-with-cherry-pie-picache-onscreen-ako-naman-yung-mabait-dito-1009">READ: Mercedes Cabral reunites with Cherry Pie Picache onscreen: ‘Ako naman yung mabait dito!’</a></div>The talented actress, who is also a visual artist with a degree in Fine Arts from University of the Philippines in Diliman, said she also appreciates the feedback from the audiences, even though it is not always positive reactions.“Yung may mga gano’n eh na iniisip mo na yung mentally na, I&#x27;m glad I&#x27;m not like this person. But at the same time, parang ang saya lalo pag na-di-diskubre ko, nalalaman ko yung mga reactions sa mga tao. May mga nababasa ko parang ayaw kita sa ganito-ganito, galit na galit ako sa&#x27;yo, nanginigil ako sa&#x27;yo, yung gano’n. May mga times na na-o-offend ako. May mga sinasabi sila na offensive. But in general, ako natutuwa ako kasi ibig sabihin effective yung ginagawa. Like, responsibility ko ‘yun, and trabaho ko ‘yun na inisin yung mga tao.  So, I guess like I&#x27;m doing okay (laughs),” she admitted. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/batangquiapo/articles-videos/mercedes-cabral-reveals-why-she-loves-playing-kontrabida-roles-22974">READ: Mercedes Cabral reveals why she loves playing kontrabida roles</a></div>With a filmography that has spanned more than 16 years, Mercedes said that she still has a lot to learn when it comes to being a good actress.“Mas maganda kung kukunin mo din lahat ng opportunity to learn more about your acting. Para mapaiba. Parang hindi ako siguro satisfied pa sa kung ano yung kaalaman ko ngayon as an actor. Gusto ko mag-explore pa ng iba&#x27;t techniques or paano mapapaganda siyempre yung character na binigay sa akin. Kasi, siyempre para sa akin, being an actor is my responsibility yung character na binigay sa akin, pinagtiwala ‘yon sa akin. So gusto kong pag-ingatan, gusto kong pangalagaan, gusto ko siyang ipakita in a very truthful way as much as I can, and to really understand the character.&quot;Kasi may mga times na may mga ginagawa yung character sa binigay sa akin pero hindi ko gusto yung decision niya, kung paano siya mag-isip. But ang sa akin, kasi natutunan ko na be more understanding and empathic towards your character na kaya ka rin binigyan na itong character na ito or sa iyo binigay ang character na ‘yan kasi ibig sabihin may nakikita din yung director sa iyo as an actor na kaya mong gawin itong character na ‘to,” she explained.The Fatherland actress also added that she feels like she grows in her craft after every project. “Nagkakaroon din ako ng better understanding towards myself or inward din. Parang nagkakaroon ako ng reflection din about myself, kasi alam ko na hindi ito yung nagawin ko personally. Ang sarap niyang pagdaanan, but at the same time, it is always a challenge.” Fatherland is produced by Eng. Benjamin Austria’s Bentria. It also stars Inigo Pascual, Angel Aquino, Mercedes Cabral, Cherry Pie Picache, Max Eigenmann, Richard Yap, Ara Davao, Jeric Gonzales, Kazel Kinouchi, and Rico Barrera. Written by Roy Iglesias. Fatherland is now showing in cinemas.

'Fatherland' actress Mercedes Cabral talks about how she navigates from playing protagonist to antagonist roles onscreen and why they are both are a challenge.

'Fatherland' actress Mercedes Cabral talks about how she navigates from playing protagonist to antagonist roles onscreen and why they are both are a challenge.

EXCLUSIVE: Mercedes Cabral on playing kontrabida roles: 'I think everybody has a dark side'

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EXCLUSIVE: Mercedes Cabral on playing kontrabida roles: 'I think everybody has a dark side'

Rhea Manila Santos,

Push Team

Published Apr 26, 2025 07:53 PM PHT

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Mercedes Cabral

Fatherland

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