Marian Rivera is warrior princess Amaya

Primetime Queen Marian Rivera is the lead ac-tress in Amaya, the most expensive and most ambitious television production to date. The Kapuso star is playing the role of a warrior princess in this GMA Network production that boasts of visually stunning production values and an absorbingly well-researched story.

When asked if she’s feeling the pressure with her TV comeback in Amaya, Marian says there is always pressure when a new soap opera opens but she’s more excited than pressured. "There’s always pressure but I use that to inspire me to work harder and be better in my craft. I know Amaya is a very big project and I am very thankful to GMA Network for trusting me with this project," says the girlfriend of Kapuso hunk Dingdong Dantes.

She says it’s difficult to play Amaya as the role requires her to go physical with the numerous fight scenes. "Ibang klase ang role kasi may fight scenes and I am the only woman doing the fight scenes with a lot of men. It’s another challenge for me because I am also using a sword as a weapon," she added.

So physically taxing is her role that Marian sometimes comes home with bruises in her arms. But she has no complaints, just to make a beautiful episode. It excites her because she’s no super hero in Amaya, no need for a magical stone to give her powers. She’s not a mermaid either. But she did train hard, took up martial arts to prepare herself for this role of a lifetime. Her role as Amaya requires her to go topless but her bosom is covered by her hair. But Marian says she’d rather not talk about her going topless but more on how beautiful the story is of Amaya and how GMA Network spent so much to make this show possible.

Joining Marian in this blockbuster spectacle are two of the most desired leading men in the industry: Award-winning actor Sid Lucero as Bagani, Amaya’s dashing warrior lover and model-turned-actor Miakel Daez as Lumad, Amaya’s good friend and protector who falls for her.

Under the helm of director Mac Alejandre, the epic series is from the original concept of Suzette Doctolero together with the guidance of UP Historians. Also in the cast are Lani Mercado, Raymond Bagatsing, Gina Alajar, Gardo Versoza and many more.

Amaya, the enthralling saga of a warrior princess and her battle against her father’s greatest enemy, premieres on May 30 on GMA’s undisputed telebabad block.

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Also playing an important role in Amaya is sexy actor Gardo Versoza who plays Rajah Mangubat, a good warrior and an undefeated one. Gardo says the role reminds him of action films like Braveheart and Gladiator.

"The role is very demanding physically that’s why I also have to keep fit. There are many new things for me here like wielding a sword, doing fight scenes. Plus my character as Rajah Mangubat is very powerful and he has a deep story. This is something new kasi kailangan kong makipaglaban at pumatay ng kaaway," said the sexy actor.

His mom died last January but he has yet to recover from the loss of his mother. Gardo says it’s painful to lose his mom but he has accepted the fact that she has gone ahead in this life.