Michelle Madrigal poses at the gala premiere of 'Bacao'. (Photo by Jude Bautista/InterAksyon)
It took a while, 10 years to be exact, for Michelle Madrigal to finally have her first leading role.
But despite her starmaking turn as a woman who is willing to do anything to have the offspring that has eluded her happy marriage in Edgardo “Boy” Vinarao’s “Bacao”, this may be the last time we’ll see the 26-year-old actress do something this daring on the big screen.
“May maiitotodo pa ba dun? I’m not so sure if I can do a sexier role and show more than what I showed here in this film,” Michelle told InterAksyon and other media after the recent gala premiere of the non-horror entry in the ongoing Film Development Council of the Philippines’ Sineng Pambansa Horror Plus Film Festival.
The actress was not only referring to her steamy love scenes with Arnold Reyes who plays her husband but also to her much talked about breast exposure in at least two key scenes in the film. Also, because it focuses on a couple desperate to have a child in a small town filled with sexually active residents, including the characters of Marife Necesito and Alvin Anson who play their neighbors, and Irma Adlawan and Menggie Cobarrubias who play Arnold’s parents, “Bacao” has drawn comparisons to the so-called ST (sex trip) and TF (titillating films) features pioneered by Seiko Films during the 1990s.
Such comparisons are further reinforced by the fact that many of those sexy films had agriculture-related titles like “Kangkong”, “Talong” and “Patikim ng Pinya”. “Bacao” means corn in the Isabela dialect.
But both Michelle and Direk Boy Vinarao are quick to point out the one thing that distinguishes “Bacao” from the sexy films in the past is that it does not have frontal nudity. Michelle said that is something that she specifically made clear when she agreed to do the film.
“Sinabi ko kay Direk kung ano ang puwede at hindi ko puwedeng gawin. Okay naman sa kanya and happy naman ako sa kinalabasan. The love scenes were tastefully shot,” she noted.
Vinarao stressed that Michelle’s partial nudity is not the focus of the film. “Even though she exposed a small portion of her flesh, she’s very good in her acting. Moreover, she took her performance sincerely and seriously, especially in drama.”
Michelle Madrigal with Leo Martinez in a scene from 'Bacao'.
For Michelle, “Bacao” was indeed an opportunity to flex her acting muscles and show another side of her. Daughter of former sexy star Karla Kalua and sister of the equally sexy Ehra Madrigal, Michelle started her career as one of the finalists of ABS-CBN’s defunct reality talent search series “Star Circle Quest”. Her female batchmates included Neri Naig, Melissa Ricks, Sandara Park and Roxanne Guinoo.
She later transferred to GMA Network where she flourished as a character actress best known for her kontrabida roles. Like her sister Ehra, Michelle also posed for men’s magazines landing the cover of the now defunct Maxim Philippines once and FHM three times.
It was in one of those cover photos that Michelle’s morena features registered well with Direk Boy. The latter told InterAksyon that when he was casting “Bacao”, he could not think of anyone else who was perfect for the lead role of Mayet.
“If she didn’t agree to do the project, I’m not sure if I would still want to do it,” the seasoned filmmaker best known for his work as film editor admitted.
Even as her decision to do the project is proving to be a rewarding experience for her and her director, Michelle said she hopes to explore other facets of her craft in future projects.
“I’m glad I did this film. I’m happy with the finished product but I don’t want to keep the same thing. I’m not saying I’ll never do sexy again but I want to try something different, maybe an action film that is still sexy, like yung mga ginagawa ni Angelina Jolie,” she enthused.
The Sineng Pambansa Horror Plus Film Festival will run at SM Cinema branches nationwide until November 4. “Bacao” is being screened alongside three other films — Gil Portes’ “Hukluban”, Romy Suzara’s “Sigaw sa Hatinggabi” and “T’yanak” by Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes.
Michelle Madrigal reluctant to do more sexy roles after ‘Bacao’
Source: InterAksyon.com (October 31, 2014 at 09:14PM)
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