Starring in her first-ever TV5 teleserye Niña Niño, Maja Salvador revealed that she immediately felt butterflies in her stomach when the story was first pitched to her.
“Andun ako sa, ‘Okay, let’s do it.’ ‘Pag may ganoong pini-pitch sakin at na-excite ako, alam kong dapat kong gawin,” said Maja during a virtual media conference on Wednesday for the upcoming series.
Maja and child actor Noel Comia Jr. play the title roles in the drama-comedy series. They are siblings who venture out to the big city and become con-artists to make ends meet. But an event will upend their lives and change the course of their destinies forever.
Maja related that accepting the lead role in the new series, which people can relate to in these times of uncertainty, served as a reminder for her to hold on to her faith even more.
“Ito ‘yung teleserye na kahit sobrang lakas na ng kapit ko kay God, sobrang lakas na ng faith ko, kailangan ko pa rin ang teleserye na ‘to na magre-remind sa sakin na kahit gaano kahirap ang buhay, ang mga sitwasyon natin ngayon, just believe in God. Paniwalaan mo na hindi ka niya pababayaan, na nandiyan siya may milagro lagi.”
The 32-year-old actress also opened up on the challenges of playing a much more “toned-down” character than her previous roles, as well as doing the dramedy genre which is a first for her.
“Ang hirap po pala magpatawa. Parang masasabi kong mas madaling umiyak. ‘Yun yung challenge for me yung hindi OA yung nuances na ibibigay,” said Maja.
Directed by Thop Nazareno, produced by Cignal Entertainment and line-produced by CS Studios and Spring Films, Niña Niño airs on TV5, weekdays at 7:15 p.m., starting April 5.
The new series also stars Empoy Marquez, Lilet Esteban, Ruby Ruiz, Ian Pangilinan, Sachzna, Junyka Santarin, Arron Villaflor, Moi Bien and Dudz Teraña.
