MICHELLE Vito was part of Star Magic Circle 2013. We were there when she was launched along with Liza Soberano, Julia Barretto, and Janella Salvador. They were just teenagers then.

Michelle is now 26 years old and is currently playing the role of Andeng, a young single mother, in the new primetime drama series, “Lovers/Liars”.

At the show’s launch at Luxent Hotel, Michelle says this is actually a homecoming for her, as she really started with GMA-7 even before she joined ABS-CBN.

“As a tween star, napasama po ako sa ‘Tween Hearts’ before and did other Kapuso teleseryes like ‘Nita Negrita’ starring Barbie Forteza,” she says. “So ngayon, I’m glad puede ka nang tumawid ng networks and it’s nice to be given the chance to work with Kapuso stars.”

She got involved in “Lovers/Liars” because she has a contract with Regal Entertainment and the series is a collaboration between Regal and GMA-7.

“Some people think na lumipat na uli ako sa GMA but, hindi po, sa Regal po ako may kontrata,” she clarifies. “But I’m really very happy and I am so thankful na sa dami ng mga artista, ako ang napili nilang isama sa ‘Lovers/Liars’ na big drama project kasi comeback ito ni Ms. Claudine Barretto.”

It’s her first time to play a mother role and she says it’s very challenging for her.

“Maganda ‘yung character ko, si Andeng, kasi she is willing to do a lot of sacrifice just to give a good future to her child. Maraming madudulang tagpo kasi she goes through a lot of trials in life, and I want to thank our director, Crisanto Aquino, for helping me interpret my dramatic scenes well.”

The show is quite daring but she says she will not be required to do any provocative love scenes.

“Hindi ko pa po kaya, e. Minsan pa lang ako nakipag-kissing scene, with Enzo Pineda (her boyfriend now). Pero wala sa usapan noon na tototohanin niya, dapat daya lang. Tapos, tinotoo niya. E hindi ko pa siya boyfriend noon. After that, ayoko na talaga. Siguro, eventually, I might do it, but the role and the project would have to be really worth it.”

As it is, she is just happy to do a different kind of role in “Lovers/Liars”.

“Ito talaga ang masasabi kong most mature role ko so far,” she adds. “Hindi na ito pa-cute or pa-tweetums. ‘Yung character ko, si Andeng. She’s a strong woman who’s not afraid of life. Kasi growing up, marami na siyang pinagdaanang pagsubok sa buhay at nakaranas na siyang gumawa ng iba’t ibang trabaho makaraos lang sila ng family niya. And nang magkaanak siya, umikot na ang buhay niya for her child and she’ll do anything to give her son a comfortable life.”

Her boyfriend Enzo Pineda used to be with GMA-7 as a winner in Starstruck. What did he say when “Lovers/Liars” was offered to her?

“Three years na kami so we’re really open to each other. Okay naman sa kanya. This is a good opportunity to work again kasi ang last show ko pa sa ABS-CBN was in 2020 pa, ‘Bagong Umaga’. Noong may pandemic, wala talaga, so I’m just so happy to be back acting before the cameras again.”