DEXTER Doria has been acting since the late 70s. She got nominated as best supporting actress for films directed by name directors, like in Lino Brocka’s “Inay” in 1978, Marilou Diaz Abaya’s “Moral” (just one scene but her impact in the film is so great) and Gil Portes’ “Mga Munting Tinig”. All these directors have gone to the great beyond but Dexter continues to be active as an actress.

Last year, she finally won three acting awards (FAMAS, Urian, Gawad Tanglaw) for her portrayal of a mother who’s suffering from Alzheimer’s disease in “Memories of Forgetting”, directed by acclaimed indie writer-director Jay Altarejos. Now, she is reunited with Jay in his first project for Vivamax, “Memories of a Love Story”.

“Direk Jay gave me three best supporting actress awards,” she says. “Wala pang nakagawa niyan for me sa mga naging director ko, so I have the highest respect for him. Kaya naman kapag siya ang tumawag sa akin, yes agad! Nanginginig pa. It’s nice to work with him kasi kabisado ko na siya dahil lagi niya kong kinukuha. I see both his good side and his bad side, at nami-miss ko ‘yung bad.”

Since their new movie is “Memories of a Love Story”, what does love personally mean to her?

“Naku, pagdating sa love, marami na akong experiences. Lahat sila, bitter sweet, may maganda, may hindi. When love ends, it means hindi na siya maganda and that hurts. Kasi kung maganda pa, di tuloy pa rin yan. Ako, I’d rather just move on. Iiiyak ko yan, but tapos na sila sa akin.”

Since “Memories of a Love Story” is about BL or love between two boys, has she ever experienced GL or Girls Love? “I used to have a best friend na bisexual pala siya.

She swings. Okay lang sa’kin and, sabi niya, hindi niya ako kakataluhin. Babae naman siya kapag magkasama kami, so magkasundo talaga kami. But ‘yun pala, may gusto talaga siya sa akin. She told our common friends but she cannot tell it to me, kasi nahihiya siya. When I learned about, hindi ko talaga maisip na magiging lover ko siya, kasi best friend ko nga siya. Ang nangyari, nagkalayo kami and for a long time, nagalit siya sa akin. Naisip ko namang it’s better na layuan ko na lang siya. Nagkabati rin kami eventually, but we never became close again.”

In “Memories of a Love Story”, she plays the role of a powerful matriarch in Bicol who wants to control everyone, including her own grandson, played by Migz Almendras. When Migz falls in love with Oliver Aquino, the son of their former housemaid, she intervenes and stops their love affair. But she herself is having a long time secret affair with her hunky driver, played by Josh Ivan Morales. Is this kind of role of a domineering woman new to her?

“For me, every role is new, kahit ilang beses mo nang na-portray ‘yan. And for me, kahit anong role ang ibigay mo sa’kin, it’s special, whether long or short ang role. One role I’d like to play dahil hindi ko pa nagawa is the role of a blind woman, very challenging siguro.”

She’s been in showbiz for more than four decades. What’s the secret of her staying power?

“More than anything, pakikisama is the key to longevity. Galingan mo lagi ang trabaho mo siempre, but importante rin ‘yung pakikisama mo hindi lang sa director, producer at co-stars mo but sa lahat, pati sa crew at sa utility. Because feeling entitled or feeling diva won’t get you anywhere. Dapat you’re one of the guys, pantay pantay tayong lahat dito.”

Does she have any wild memories during her stay in showbiz?

“Ay wala, hindi naman ako kontrobersyal. Nabalitaan mo ba akong na-involve sa anumang controversy in my four decades as an artista? Wala, kasi I just go to the set and do my work. Yun lang.”

Dexter is currently making her mark in DDSerye, an online video series where she plays Didi, a teacher who is appalled with the proliferation of fake news and wants to tell the truth about current issues to her online students. This is perfect for Dexter as she is really so articulate but shares her views in a casual, easy to understand manner.

“I just want to help in correcting all the disinformation we have now,” she says. “I want to enlighten people on what is true and what is happening now. I want to help our country get true leaders and not corrupt ones who will only do more bad things for us.”