Barbie gladly dons the superhero cape to cheer up everyone

Barbie Forteza is indeed a real trouper in acting. Her multi-genre body of small-screen work speaks of it. Through her characters, viewers can cry and sympathize with her — and laugh with and laugh at her. Barbie can treat them to a wide range of familiar emotions from one project after another.

Starting tonight at 7 and in the next three Sundays, Barbie will be everyone’s Captain Barbie in GMA 7’s Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko. As a wont, her character will engage in action-packed adventures, peppered with drama, comedy, and romance.

Barbie, as a reliable actress, gladly dons the superhero cape for the first time, and as Captain Barbie, carries on her shoulders the responsibility to save the day.

“I think this is my fifth,” answered Barbie when asked about the number of guest appearances she had in the weekend fantasy drama series for kids and kids at heart in a virtual media call. Three years ago, the actress portrayed a wish-granting genie in a month-long series with Ruru Madrid, now the lead actor of the upcoming action-adventure Lolong.

“Since it’s fantasy, talagang walang limit (as to what the show can explore, story-wise and character-wise),” said she. “That’s why Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko has a wide range, parang lahat nang gusto mong gawin pwede. (Putting) logic (on hold temporarily), because it’s fantasy, kaya ang sarap paglaruan, ang sarap laruin nung character, nung story (that’s why it’s enjoyable to play a fantasy character and to be part of her story).”

Given the genre’s sky’s-the-limit and suspension-of-disbelief nature, actors like Barbie and viewers are taken to an unimaginable life and a realm of possibilities, which make them forget the cares of the world.

Joining Barbie in Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko presents Captain Barbie, as partners in preventing and solving crimes and why not in love, are Jeric Gonzales and Anjo Damiles as devoted police officers named Bruce and Andrew.

As for the real score on Captain Barbie’s relationship with Bruce and Andrew, or the real connection of Captain Barbie with Bruce, Barbie was mum about the details but hinted at the story’s interesting twist.

“Kinilig ako nung i-nofer sa akin dahil ako man nung bata ako, nanonod din siyempre ako ng mga superheroes (I got excited when it was offered to me because my young self would watch superheroes on TV),” said Barbie of her character in pink-silver suit. What also thrilled her was, the actress and the superheroine share the same name. “It was fun portraying her. The costume was very cute, very wholesome and (in) super pink,” added she. “I’m happy that I did this.”

When the people behind Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko conceptualized the story, they had Barbie in mind, said executive producer Reylie Manalo. They saw in her the actress who fits the bill.

“In my previous heavy drama (shows), I had to memorize long lines,” shared Barbie. “In (Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko presents Captain Barbie), I memorized the fight scenes, na pang-bagets pa din. Every time na merong masama (na nangyayari), nanduon si Captain Barbie (In every bad situation, she will always be there). I enjoyed the entire experience and I felt like a superhero every time I wore the costume.”

Barbie added that being Captain Barbie was “empowering in a way,” perhaps because of the implied gender-equality theme of the narrative. “(The costume is) sweet but all (her) accessories, from earrings to (hair) clip and cape have a particular power. It’s something everyone should look forward to,” shared she.

Captain Barbie, on the other hand, is also an opportunity for Barbie, Jeric and Anjo to get in touch with younger audiences. They can see for themselves the range of their appeal. After all, kids also have a say on the family’s choice of entertainment weekdays and weekends.

As an actress, Barbie simply wants to bring a wholesome and lessons-filled show for the young minds, whose imagination and creativity are being inspired, to some extent, by their lovable TV superheroes.

Captain Barbie is Barbie’s follow-up to her character Cors in the successful Heartful Café, topbilled by Julie Anne San Jose and David Licauco, with guest appearance from boyfriend Jak Roberto. Her sophisticated, mataray, Englisera kontrabida character, as she described it in another interview, has also shown Barbie’s versatility and enthusiasm to take on new roles.

“As of now… wala pa namang final (talk para) sa akin (there’s no final talk as to what my next project after this is),” said Barbie. “But given the chance to suggest or to give an opinion, parang na-enjoy ko nga yung Heartful Café (I did enjoy my character and stint in Heartful Café). I would (also) like to see myself doing a drama and (I hope) my character is no longer teeny-bopper and it is more age-appropriate.”

With that, a family drama that explores adulting and details the intricacies of a relationship is also a perfect project for Barbie. Her experiences in the love department will help her deliver an inspired and insightful performance.

“It’s really thriving with flying colors,” said the actress of JakBie’s four-year relationship. “Without pandemic or with pandemic, magkasama man o hindi (because of the pandemic), masaya pa din.”

(Airing Sundays after 24 Oras Weekend, Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko presents Captain Barbie is directed by Rico Gutierrez. It also stars Thou Reyes, Glenda Garcia and Lianne Valentin.)