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Jodi talks about similarities, differences with “The Broken Marriage Vow” character Jill Ilustre

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Mary Ann Bardinas 

As we look forward on seeing her take on her newest role Dra. Jill Ilustre in the highly anticipated Kapamilya series <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/tbmv2022" target="_blank">The Broken Marriage Vow</a>, award-winning actress Jodi Sta. Maria mingled first with some members of the media by responding to their questions in the virtual media conference livestreamed on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/abscbnentertainment" target="_blank">ABS-CBN Entertainment’s official YouTube channel</a> on Friday, January 14.<div> </div><div>How she feels about being part of it</div>Host Gretchen Fullido commenced the online event by asking her how she felt about being part of this huge project, which is the Filipino adaptation of the hit British series “Doctor Foster.” Jodi disclosed that she was initially in disbelief and surprised upon receiving the offer since she just had finished watching the Korean adaptation “The World of the Married,” as well as filming her teleserye then, <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/angsaiyoayakin" target="_blank">Ang Sa Iyo Ay Akin</a>. At the same time, she was extremely pressured because she was clueless on how she would do it and was aware of how popular it really was.<div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UDfFeWkLw4A" title="YouTube video player" width="1280"></iframe></div>The pressure she felt was appended with jitters when their lock-in taping kicked off since they knew they had to live up to the expectations of the people who were able to see the previous renditions, as well as to put their own spin to the narrative and to their characters in order to make it more Filipino or “sariling atin.”But now that they’re already promoting it, all the stress and pressure were already gone for she is instead filled with excitement to finally show this project they worked hard for to everyone.<div> </div><div>Similarities of Jodi with Jill</div>When asked about her similarities with her newest character, Jodi said that both of them try to stay calm, collected, and be logical as much as possible every time they are in a difficult situation. Besides, they are also passionate towards the things they want and that matters to them.Meanwhile, when it comes to motherhood, she pointed out how her onscreen son Gio (Zaijian Jaranilla) and son in real life Thirdy are of the same age. Thus, it’s likely for her to feel the same way as Jill, except on how they react on things. At the same time, Zaijian, to whom she got to work with in the ABS-CBN teleseryes <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/articles-photos/08080317-kapamilya-throwback-noah-2010-14804" target="_blank">Noah</a> (2010) and <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/angsaiyoayakin" target="_blank">Ang Sa Iyo Ay Akin</a> (2020), is also a certified gamer just like Thirdy.With regards to her “hugot” in portraying her character, she told the press that she actually referred a bit from her personal experiences and applied what she learned from one of acting classes she had with castmate Angeli Bayani.“Of course, for some of the scenes, alam mo ‘yong kahit papaano meron kang reference kung ano ‘yong paggagamitan mo, or sometimes may mga scenes na alam mo ‘yong very close to home na pwede mong magamit. But, siyempre as an actor, for me ang challenging doon is that when something is super close to home, parang I have a tendency to react as myself. But I am not as Jodi sa <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/tbmv2022" target="_blank">The Broken Marriage Vow</a>. Parang I can use that experience and then react the way Jill would react in a certain scenario or a certain situation,” Jodi related.<div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wc2D4iz3T5I" title="YouTube video player" width="1280"></iframe></div>Then she added, “Before ako nag-[The] Broken Marriage Vow, nag-attend ako ng few sessions with my teacher Angeli Bayani, and then we tried this method called the Meisner Technique and nakatulong din siya. This didn’t have to use personal experiences, but we use the things around you, your co-actor as your stimulus, or kung ano ‘yong ibabato sa’yong linya, you just have to react to that. So, ‘yon ang masasabi kong pinaghugutan ko for the gigil ni Dra. Jill for <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/tbmv2022" target="_blank">The Broken Marriage Vow</a>.”Just like in any project, Jodi also has some takeaways not just from portraying his character, but from making the whole series as well.“Isa siguro sa mga bagay na natutunan ko hindi lang sa character ko, pero sabihin na natin sa serye na ginawa namin, is that our lives are moving in the directions of our decisions. So, whether babae ka o lalaki ka, kung ano ‘yong mga desisyon na ginagawa mo sa buhay mo, may direct effect ‘yan sa’yo, sa asawa mo, sa pamilya mo, and it can even go as far sa friends and those people around you. So, you have to be wise in making choices and decisions sa life natin. And siguro, isang natutunan ko kay Dr. Jill naman din na there is always life after a heartbreak,” she conveyed.<div> </div><div>Comparison with previous characters</div>Being in the industry for more than two decades, the 39-year-old actress has already portrayed innumerable roles that have mostly become remarkable. And her much-awaited depiction of Dra. Jill is definitely not an exception, so she was asked how it is different from her previous characters.“Sobrang iba,” she started off. “Siguro masasabi ko kasi halos lahat ng nangyayari kay Jill internal e. Minsan, may sasabihin siya pero ‘yong words niya hindi ‘yon exactly ang nararamdaman niya. Parang sabi ko nga minsan, she would speak in riddles. Ang hirap ng galit ka pero nakangiti ka, pero dapat ipapakita mo na dapat galit ka. Siguro, ‘yon ang mga pinagkakaiba ni Jill kay Maya, kay Amor, kay Marissa, at sa iba ko pang roles na ginampanan in the past.”She continued, “I’m thankful siyempre na ‘yong mga roles na nabibigay din sa akin, kahit papaano magkakaiba talaga sila. Ang dami mong pwedeng gawin, ang dami mong pwedeng laruin.”Jodi is also grateful for the trust bestowed to her to show more of her capabilities as an actress and the opportunity to portray different characters. It indeed makes her feel good to do something that she really loves.Aside from the fact that Jill is totally different from the other roles that she portrayed in the previous projects she did, what made this extra exciting for her is that it allowed her to live one of her biggest dreams – to become a doctor.<div> </div><div>Working with co-stars and Direk Connie</div>With regards to working with the whole ensemble, Jodi expressed how “sobrang blessed” she is since they were all kind, exceptional, and generous when it comes to providing the emotions required in certain scenes, thus, making their jobs easier.“For mga sensitive scenes tulad ng batok or ng scene kung saan nabugbog ni David si Jill, before kami pumapasok sa mga gano’ng klaseng kabibigat at mahihirap na eksena, nandoon naman ‘yong pag-uusap,” she related when asked how she and her co-actors execute their heavy scenes. According to her, there were times when their intense scenes became real as they sometimes found it hard to shake off the emotions of their characters.She also expressed how amazed she was of Sue, especially during the remarkable “batok” scene that they were able to execute in just one take, and of their leading man Zanjoe Marudo who astoundingly portrayed his role David. Besides, she’s thankful for Zanjoe, Sue, Zaijian, and their other castmates for bringing balance at their set through the jolly mood and fun kuwentuhan they share.Meanwhile, with regards to their director Connie Macatuno, she admired how meticulous she was in every scene that they did until she gets what she wanted to see and what she wanted to feel.Although their two-month lock-in taping in Baguio City took them away from their respective families, Jodi still found it advantageous as this enabled them to stay in their respective characters, making them more efficient. However, their long stay there created a psychological impact on them as she recalled dreaming about taping and having sepanx after they finally went home on December 24 – just in time for Christmas.The mediacon wrapped up with Jodi inviting everyone to watch <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/tbmv2022" target="_blank">The Broken Marriage Vow</a> and expressing her gratitude to everyone who consistently supported her throughout her acting career in the past 24 years.<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/tbmv2022" target="_blank">The Broken Marriage Vow</a> will premiere on January 24 and will be broadcast on <a href="http://kapamilyachannel.com/" target="_blank">Kapamilya Channel</a>, <a href="http://kapamilyaonlinelive.com" target="_blank">Kapamilya Online Live</a>, A2Z Channel 11, and TV5. <a href="https://app.iwanttfc.com/Mkr3OdLk6ab" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a> subscribers also have the chance to see first its pilot episode on January 22.

Jodi Sta Maria talks about her character Dra. Jill Ilustre and working on The Broken Marriage Vow in a mediacon.