Next big star tag boosts Charlie Dizon’s confidence

CEBU, Philippines —  Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2020 Best Actress Charlie Dizon said she is willing to take on more mature and daring roles.

“Depende sa konsepto ng materyal. Kung kinakailangan talaga, kung mas mapapaganda ‘yung storya or ‘yung mismong project, okay lang,” said Charlie in a recent virtual conference for her upcoming miniseries “My Sunset Girl” with Jameson Blake.

Following her highly lauded performance in “Fan Girl” – a 2020 MMFF entry where she had her first mature role — Charlie is playing another brazen character as Ciara: a hopeless romantic on the hunt for true love, even if it means killing herself.

Ciara is a free-spirited young woman who overcomes her situation in search of love and happiness. She has Xeroderma Pigmentosum, a skin disease that can be fatal if exposed to sunlight and thus, unable to travel the world.

She compensates by watching travel vlogs and establishing acquaintances online until she meets Lucas (Jameson), a fellow travel fanatic who offers to assist her in achieving all her travel bucket list aspirations.

Charlie and Jameson are no strangers as on-screen partners. They have worked together in the “Four Sisters Before The Wedding” and a “Maalaala Mo Kaya” Valentine episode. For “My Sunset Girl,” both admitted that they still worked on some adjustments with their chemistry.

“Kada bagong project naman, ibang experience din so may mga adjustments pa rin kahit matagal na kaming magkasama. Pero ang masasabi ko dahil sobrang kumportable na namin ni Jameson, sobrang madali nalang ‘yung mga trabaho,” said Charlie.

Jameson, for his part, shared, “Working again, may adjustments lang in terms of characters we have. Siguro mas naging technical din ‘yung adjustments namin since we’re comfortable with each other. We just had to focus on the other parts like ‘yung character. She helps me with my lines and everything.”

Although a budding actress, Charlie is tagged by ABS-CBN as one of the next big stars. She is immensely grateful for the recognition and the opportunity coming her way despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.

“Nakakakaba actually, nakaka-pressure din pero ako kasi sobrang grateful sa lahat ng dumadating na opportunity. Ang tagal ko rin itong inantay and ngayon talaga, iniisip ko lang lagi na galingan sa lahat ng projects kasi nakakatakot kung kailan ulit mawawala. ‘Yun talaga ‘yung lagi kong iniisip.” Charlie said.

“Nakakalakas ng loob kapag sinasabihan ako ng ganoon, aaminin ko nakakadagdag siya ng confidence talaga. Sobrang grateful  ako sa lahat ng opportunities na dumadating.”

Despite the fame, Charlie feels nothing has changed. She does not think of how big or small the role is and instead concentrates on how she can best portray it. She ensures that she gives her all in every project.

Asked how she relates to her character Ciara, Charlie said: “Yung mommy ko rin kasi overprotective talaga, parang ang tagal din bago niya ako pinayagan dito sa showbiz, bago ako lumabas-labas. Kumbaga marami rin akong hindi nagagawa dahil sa limitations ko because sobrang overprotective nga din ng mom ko.”

Charlie is still thankful to her mom for being overprotective because that guided her path. Despite known for playing rebellious roles, Charlie said she has not reached that point with her family.

Co-produced by Dreamscape Entertainment and All Blacks Media, “My Sunset Girl” is an iWantTFC original series directed by Andoy Ranay and also stars Mylene Dizon and Joem Bascon. It will stream on the iWantTFC app and iwanttfc.com starting July 14, 8 p.m.– Niel Anthony Lajot, Silliman University Intern