It’s been 10 years since Belle Mariano entered showbiz, but the long path did not seem to dim her passion for acting, as she set her sights on taking a “bida-kontrabida” role in the future.

Mariano revealed that being a “bida-kontrabida” is her dream role, as seen in a clip of “Tatak Star Magic Celebrity Conversations” with ABS-CBN’s Head of TV Production Laurenti Dyogi, which was uploaded on Star Magic’s official YouTube channel on Tuesday, March 7.

“What is your dream role,” Dyogi asked the “He’s Into Her” star.

“Bida-kontrabida. Gusto ko ma-try kasi paano kaya mag-maldita. Try natin, Direk (A protagonist-antagonist role. I want to try being mean. Let’s try it, director),” Mariano replied.

But Dyogi jokingly said the actress’ “gentle” face might make it difficult for viewers to take her for that role.

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During the interview, the ABS-CBN executive also asked how Mariano takes on every role given to her.

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“Sometimes, I do method [acting]. Sometimes, I get some experience [based on the character sketch], basta as long as ‘yung inaarte ko, magre-register sa staff and mararamdaman ng viewers (as long as my acting resonates with the staff and can be felt by the viewers),” she said.
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The actress also admitted that she wants to get an acting award in the future, as she shared that her primary goal is to “prove everyone wrong.”

“At the end of the day, my motivation is to prove them all wrong. I also want to learn and excel in what I do, and to inspire,” she added.

As a former child actress, Mariano shared that taking the long path towards superstardom taught her the value of patience, especially in a highly-competitive industry.

“You’re just gonna wait, but at the end of the day, what you get from that is that you really have your own time. You just have to be patient. There’s a time where you bloom. I remember one of my devotions na, ‘You just have to go through life first before you reach the top. You have to go through hardships before you can shine.’” she said.

“Ang biggest learning ko is patience. Dito [sa showbiz] na-test ang patience ko, but it was a good journey for me,” she added. (My biggest learning is patience. My patience was tested in showbiz, but it was a good journey for me.)

She also recalled a time in her career where her loved ones are at the receiving end of hate comments from bashers, saying that it’s the “hard part” of her fame.

“Maybe for me, hindi masakit [ang hate comments directed to me]. But seeing the people I love getting hurt, especially when my family is being involved. Masakit siya pero just to fulfill [my] dream, I know they’re happy for me and they support me. But when it comes to the people I love, I really can’t [bear to see them hurt]. Just because I love what I’m doing, masasaktan pala sila. That’s the hard part,” she said.

(I don’t mind receiving hate comments directed to me. But seeing the people I love getting hurt, especially when my family is being involved. It hurts but it has to happen just to fulfill my dream. I know they’re happy for me and they support me. But when it comes to the people I love, I really can’t bear to see them hurt. Just because I love what I’m doing, they would be hurt as well. That’s the hard part.)

In an earlier interview with broadcast journalist Karen Davila, Mariano revealed that she had gone through multiple auditions before entering the showbiz industry. “I think the process, lahat ng failures na pinagdaanan ko, lahat ng rejections na pinagdaanan ko, it’s what made me who I am now. It’s what made me do what I do now. It made me love my work more,” she said.

The singer-actress is set to star with her onscreen partner Donny Pangilinan in the upcoming ABS-CBN teleserye “Can’t Buy Me Love,” although the premiere date is yet to be announced. She will also release a solo album, however, details are still kept under wraps. EDV