From 'kikay' to cry baby

MANILA, Philippines -  If there’s something Sheena Halili has to offer to God this Lenten season, it would be her dramatic role in a Lenten presentation. Sheena will star on GMA 7’s Maundy Thursday presentation of The 700 Club Asia titled Tanikala: Ang Ikalawang Libro.

Sheena, who has turned Born Again Christian, happily shares, “This is the perfect time for me to give back to the Lord. I’ve been meaning to do it all along.”

“GMA 7’s Lenten offering is a real account of struggles with the spirit world involving a high school student named Jenny who hates her parents so much when she found out that they have separated without her knowing it. That’s why she is tempted to side with the bad spirit in exchange of helping her unite her family again,” Sheena relates the story.

A totally different Sheena will appear on the TV screen. “This is my first lead role in a suspense-drama. I will be crying from start to end. This project really takes so much of my energy,” she says about her role.

Sheena admits this opportunity tests her acting skills in drama, as opposed to other roles where she did drama while cracking a joke.

“I want people to see me as Sheena who is effective not only in comedy but also in drama. It’s a nice feeling to know you make the viewers happy. But isn’t it great hearing them tell you, ‘Hey, you do great in drama, you made us cry!’ Now you can really say that you’re an effective artist,” Sheena shares.

In the almost six years she’s been in showbiz, Sheena considers this project a big challenge for her. Her portrayal in her previous shows like those in Full House, Rosalinda and LaLola as support to the lead star saw her in light roles — playing the kikay and comic best friend.

Sheena, who considers her acting debut in Marimar her biggest break, consistently appears in one show after another. She’s just happy knowing her blessings are endless. She recently appeared in the just-concluded Full House with Richard Gutierrez and Heart Evangelista. And she still co-hosts with Chris Tiu on GMA 7’s Pinoy Records’ Extreme Challenge every Saturday.

The StarStruck 1 avenger used to be bothered by the emergence of new talents — especially those who come from the StarStruck batches — who are now ahead of her.

Sheena says, “But now, I think it’s just about right timing. You still have to be patient.”

Now that she’s beginning to feel her importance in her chosen path, after being considered to play the lead role in Tanikala, Sheena frets no more. She dares to find out what other roles she can play. Sheena would rather wait for whatever her network will give her. “What’s more important for me is that I have continuous projects,” she adds.