SHARON Cuneta just got home from a two-month vacation in the U.S. She attended the zoom presscon to promote her new movie “Revirginized” on Wednesday afternoon.

“I arrived back home in Manila very quietly at 4 in the morning on August 1,” she says. “Am now in my 10-day quarantine.”

In “Revirginized”, she plays the role of Carmela, who got pregnant at 16 and never experienced “ang pagdadalaga”. Later on, her husband, Albert Martinez, dumps her. And during one wild weekend, she rediscovers how it is to be young again with the help of some “kunsintidor” friends and a virile young tattoo artist played by Marco Gumabao.

What can you say about the violent reaction of some fans after they saw her in the trailer saying cuss words and obscene Tagalog words for the sex act and sex organ?

“I was already expecting that, kasi nasanay sila sa wholesome roles na ginagampanan ko na matino, desente,” she says. “But after 60 movies, I think I have earned the right to try other roles like this one, written by the genius that is Darryl Yap. When you watch the film naman, you’d see na may kalokohan lang sa umpisa, but in the end may tusok siya sa puso. When they told me nga the story, napaluha ako. Sabi ko, tatapangan ko na lang ang sarili ko, but I have to do it in my own way. I believe that when an actor does a movie outside of her usual genre, that makes the audience appreciate the other skills that the actor can do. I look forward to doing the usual Sharon movie pero mas mature na, but this movie is truly special to me because the role gave me the freedom to become a totally different person. There were times when I’d ask myself: gagawin ko ba itong eksenang ito? Sasabihin ko ba itong line na ito? But artista ako, so sige I will do it. I was asking for a challenging role and this came, so I did it.

I just hope I did justice to the role. And I pray that my fans will see beyond the obscene words at makita nila ang serious core and puso ng movie.”

Can you relate with your role since you yourself became a mom at a very young age?

“I identified with Carmela in a lot of ways. Pareho kaming may inner strength. I was already married secretly at 18 when I got pregnant with KC. Si Carmela, nawala ‘yung pagdadalaga niya and ako rin, kasi nag-work ako agad. Pero ‘yung mga na-experience ni Carmela sa ‘Revirginized,’ hindi ko na-experience in real life.”

How is it working with Marco and Direk Darryl?

“Marco is a dream to work with. I’ve never seen his films, but I trusted Viva. I know they won’t give me a newbie who doesn’t know how to act. And now, anak ko na ‘yan as he’s even younger than KC. He’s very professional and the heartthrob of Viva now. Magaling siya umarte kaya masarap siyang kaeksena. ”

She remembers the time they first met. “When he’s introduced to me, naka-mask siya. They said, alisin mo mask mo and he did. Aba, napakaguwapo pala ng batang to. Kung noong 90s ito, naligawan ako nito. Hahaha! He’s really a good boy. We’re both Christians. In our conversations, I learned he’s the man of their house now. He has taken on the responsibility of taking care of his mom and his siblings and I’d wish for a son like Marco. After the movie, I told him I can be his second mama who can give him guidance.”

How about Direk Darryl? “He’s younger than me but, from the bottom of my heart, he’s one of my most respected directors today. He’s a new blood who writes his own scripts. He’s a breath of fresh air who represents all the younger generations. I love his films. Bilib ako sa kanya kahit laging kontrobersyal ang films niya. He has the IQ of a genius. Viewers are just shocked sa umpisa, but he really knows how to touch people’s hearts in very different ways that we have not seen before in other films. Mabilis siyang magtrabaho and I will enjoy working with him again. And I like it that he loves his mom and his family very much.”

What’s the most difficult scene she did in the film? “It’s the scene where I was asked to drink tequila from the body of Marco. At first, sabi ko, gagawin ko ba itong body shot na ito? Kasi doon lang sinabi ni Direk sa set na may ganong eksena pala. E, hinahabol namin ‘yung araw so kailangan nang mag-take na kaya sige, shoot. And thanks to Marco for guiding me, one take lang ‘yun. I don’t drink alcohol, but ‘yung tequilang ininom ko, hindi ko alam na totoo pala ‘yun. Tinamaan ako, pero nakatulong naman, kasi after that, lahat ginawa ko na, pati ‘yung Sisa moment ko, abangan nyo yun.”

“Revirginized” starts streaming this Friday, August 7, on KTX.ph, iWant, TFC, IPTV, Sky PPV and on August 27, at Cignal PPV. It’s also going to be shown in actual theaters in the USA.

Dream come true for Marco, Direk Darryl

MARCO Gumabao says he couldn’t believe it when Viva told him he’d be doing “Revirginized”, a movie with the Megastar.

“I’m a Sharon Cuneta fan from way back,” he says. “One of my dreams is really to get to do a movie with her someday but heto, ibinigay na agad. So dream come true for me na leading man pa niya ako sa ‘Revirginized’.”

So how is it working with Sharon?

“It’s great, What’s nice about her is that she doesn’t really make you feel that you’re an inferior. Ms. Sharon made us feel comfortable to be with her, especially on the set. She’s so genuinely nice and easy to talk to.

What is his most memorable scene with her?

“Aside from the body shot scene where she drank tequila from my tummy, it’s the scene na may tinutulak kaming kotse kasi ‘yun ang turning point ng movie. Doon naging mas free ang feeling ni Ms. Sharon as Carmela. She became a really changed woman at nawala ang pagiging uptight niya.”

He really had fun shooting “Revirginized” in Subic.

“Honestly, I will never forget the whole experience. To be given the chance to be the Megastar’s leading man is really something. I was like a sponge and absorbed everything I learned from her.”

How about their director, Darryl Yap, how was it working with the Megastar? “Nasa bucket list ko talaga to do a movie with her and I never thought they’d give me the chance to direct her this early. Now, I’m so proud I could finally boast that I already have a Sharon Cuneta film. Sharon is really an angel to work with. No airs in spite of her stature as the Megastar. She’s a very happy person, very generous she gave me a Louis Vuitton bag, and above all, very professional.”