Rhian Ramos returns to ‘fantaseryes’ as the new villain in ‘Encantadia’
Truth be told, Rhian Ramos had been avoiding doing fantaseryes. But when she was offered the role of the main villain, Mitena, in GMA 7’s highly-anticipated primetime series “Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre,” saying no was no longer an option.
Not that she was given the chance to turn it down, anyway.
She was the first and only choice, according to creator Suzette Doctolero, who knew the role was Rhian’s after watching her acting performance in the 2023 mystery-thriller “Royal Blood.”
Mitena is the twin sister of Cassiopeia (portrayed by Solenn Heussaff) the first queen of Lireo in the 2016 “Encantadia” series.
“Sang’gre” is the latest installment or book within the “Encantadia” universe, which has since become an important part of Philippine pop culture after introducing in 2004 this imagined world of elemental kingdoms, warrior princesses or sang’gres, and magical gems.
Mitena is one of the TV saga’s latest characters, alongside the newest keepers of the brilyantes or gems — Flamarra (Faith Da Silva), Deia (Angel Guardian), Adamus (Kelvin Miranda) and Terra (Bianca Umali).
“I couldn’t believe it. I was very, very flattered, really — because of the kind of role that it was. Actually, at that time, I was actively avoiding doing fantasy series. I wanted to do more drama and kind of cement myself in that genre,” Rhian told The STAR.
“But when she told me the story, this was not a role I could pass up. I loved the whole journey of the character. They really gave me a lot to work with. Buong-buo yung character, from beginning to end. I was just so excited. I told myself, No. 1, this is the right (project) to return to a fantaserye and No. 2, to be part of the ‘Encantadia’ world.”
Despite the initial hesitation, in retrospect, Rhian said, “No regret at all (in accepting to play Mitena). In fact, I thank myself (laughs). I thank GMA, and I thank everyone who thought I could do this. When I think of who Mitena is, she is so far from who I am. I can’t believe they wrote her and thought I could do it.”
Nevertheless, Rhian — whose last fantasy series was “Indio” in 2013 — admitted that the role pressured her from the very beginning.
“It made me nervous, it made me question myself — and those are all of my favorite things to go through when I’m trying to figure out how to play a character. It’s when I’m removed from my comfort zone that I feel like I can really learn something from the experience. It’s also how I prove to myself that I still really do care about the craft.”
She added that she thrives on taking on challenging roles.
“Maybe because I’ve been doing difficult shows for such a long time that it’s really become my norm. I’ve become comfortable putting myself in uncomfortable situations. So, I think it just helps me be more patient, more mature. When I know I’m about to do something difficult, and when I’m faced with challenges in a role, I just get up, go to the set and show up.”
Asked what she particularly learned from playing Mitena, she said: “It’s not a spoiler that this is an evil person or an evil role. I really do love playing those flawed characters. I enjoy it when there’s something noticeably wrong with a character — because that’s when my imagination goes wild, and I really get to tap into my empathy. What would someone like that be going through to bring out the worst in them?
“I really studied the part, and I think somehow, playing these bad guys or flawed characters makes me a better person, a more understanding person.”
According to Suzette, Rhian contributed a lot to shaping the character’s look. Rhian described Mitena as someone who shows her strength the moment you meet her — something evident when Rhian herself showed up for the interview in full costume.
“I had seen sketches even before I saw the gown. I guess my contribution to the look was in helping source some of the pieces that put it together. Because when you’re doing a fantasy show with fight scenes, there needs to be a certain level of comfort and ease of movement in the clothing,” said Rhian, who was wearing her “royal gown” during the interview. She added that she had to be careful with the spikes on the costume as they’d already left scratches.
But the costume, she shared, truly transforms her.
“It really does something to a person — the process of changing my look and putting it on. Actually, even just removing the crown already makes me feel like a different person. There’s something about it — it’s not just the look, but how the spikes feel like they’re part of my body. Once I put everything on, I already feel like a much more threatening person… and it encourages me to boss everyone around (laughs)!”
Interestingly, The STAR discovered that Rhian was supposed to be part of earlier editions of the “Encantadia” saga.
“There were times in the other editions… yes (laughs),” she confirmed. “Well, I have no regrets over those times either because those projects became wildly successful for the station and for everyone who was part of them.
“I think that’s just part of destiny. If it wasn’t meant for me yet… that’s why I don’t feel bad if I’m about to do something and then something happens with the schedule and someone else ends up doing it — and then they win an award. That’s destiny. That wasn’t meant for me. That really was her role.”
Having to play a character with incredible powers, Rhian was asked if there was a superpower she wished she had in real life.
“Invisibility. I think that’s my favorite,” she replied. “Because parang there’s so much freedom… There’s something I hate and envy about those nameless accounts. It’s like being nameless in real life.”
And with a fresh set of warrior women introduced in “Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre,” who does she consider the most “astig” or strongest woman in her life?
“Di kami palaban. My family is not a palaban family. No, we’re actually respectful of rules — very teachers’ pet-ish,” Rhian laughed.
“(Being strong and empowered) — it depends, because you don’t know how often I cry in a week, so… But my mom is the nicest and coolest person. I look up to her for a different kind of strength.
“She’s not ‘palaban.’ But she doesn’t say bad things about people, whether or not they deserve it. That self-control, I think, is a different kind of strength. Yes — that self-control, the discipline, the values, her morals — that’s the kind of strength I look up to.”
- Latest
- Trending
