‘Marimar’ stirs controversy

THE NEW GMA 7 TELENOVELA “Marimar,” set to premiere Aug. 13, has stirred a tempest of controversies in a teapot—mainly involving lead stars Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes.

Controversy 1: The steamy scenes between Marian and Dingdong, as Marimar and Sergio respectively, have caused tension between the leading man and his real-life sweetheart, singer-actress Karylle.

False, says Dingdong. “Karylle and I are just at a point

where we’re doing things separately. I’m back to acting and she’s busy with her new album.”

Is there also a brewing catfight between Marian and Karylle?

Not true, Marian insists. “I see no problem if Dingdong and I should become close. I saw Karylle on ‘S.O.P.’ recently and I greeted her. She has no reason to get mad or jealous. This is just a job.”

Big adustment

It just so happens that the job involves smooching Dingdong—on the set, at least.

“That was a big adjustment for me,” Marian insists. “It’s my first time to kiss my onscreen partner. I heard there’s also a bed scene in a future episode.”

Good thing she is sharing such delicate shots with Dingdong, she points out. “He always makes me feel at ease.”

Controversy 2: With “Marimar,” Marian is assuming the position vacated by Angel Locsin as the hottest property of GMA 7.

Marian seems reluctant to accept such a tag.

“I’d like for that to come from my bosses at GMA-7 or from the televiewers.”

In any case, she says, she has nothing against Angel.

“She has never said anything against me,” Marian explains. “I don’t want to think of us as rivals.”

Marian would rather focus on the smooth working relationship she has with the whole cast of “Marimar”—including Katrina Halili, who portrays Angelika, the show’s contravida.

Marian is frequently on-cam with Manilyn Reynes, who plays Corazon, the nanny. “She’s a generous co-star, a lot like her character: fun and friendly,” Marian says.

For his part, Dingdong has nothing but praise for Richard Gomez, who plays his father Renato.

“I look forward to our scenes together,” Dingdong says. “The first time I acted with him was on [the GMA 7 fantaserye] ‘Encantadia,’ where he played my mentor.”

Although Dingdong is optimistic about the show’s launch on Monday, Marian acknowledges that the pressure’s on.

“I don’t want to think about people’s expectations and stress myself out,” she says. “Basta I’m giving 100 percent of myself because I’ve grown to love Marimar and the people I work with.”
Bayani San Diego Jr.
Inquirer