The ex-girlfriend

Richard Gutierrez does seem like Ehra Madrigal’s lucky charm. Coincidentally, after their team-up in “Lupin,” Ehra’s next two projects are still with the primetime heartthrob. Aside from being Vergel’s long lost sister in “Kamandag,” she’ll also be Evo’s ‘sosyalera’ girlfriend this Valentine’s. Here’s her story. Text by Jillian Q. Gatcheco. Photos by Connie M. Tungul. Playing Akiko In the story, Akiko breaks up with Evo (Richard) and eventually regrets her decision when she sees him flirting with Grace (Marian Rivera). But the truth is, Evo is just using Grace to make Akiko jealous. “Yung movie, medyo feel-good lang siya na romantic na medyo light,” shares Ehra. One of her favorite scenes is when they played truth or dare at the beach because they really had the chance to bond. “At saka yung scene sa auditorium -- may isang eksena doon na [I’ll confront] Marian tapos parang ako [pa] yung napahiya. Okay yung scene na yun for me.” Ehra is all praises for Marian and Richard’s new tandem, and she says that it’s obvious that the two have great chemistry on and off screen. “Sobrang nakakatuwa sila, kasi noong first time ko sila makasama together sa shoot, sobrang ang kulit nilang dalawa!” Ehra worked with Marian during the latter’s first show under Tape Productions’ Kung Mamahalin Mo Lang Ako. Richard, on the other hand, has been her co-star since her Lupin days. “Ang kulit ng chemistry nila. Hindi yung sobrang pilit. Kasi even off screen, sweet sila sa isa’t-isa, so nakakatuwa. Sobrang okay.” She adds, “With the [trailer] dubbing pa lang, makikita mo na na nandoon yung chemistry nila onscreen. Natural lang; kung paano sila umarte na hindi sa harap ng camera. Okay sila together.” Unexpected packages Ehra thinks that My Bestfriend’s Girlfriend is the perfect Valentine movie because a lot of people will be able to relate to it. “Sobrang light lang siya, and it can happen to anyone. Yung story niya, simple, pero may puso talaga. Parang [sa isang] random day, pwede mangyari sa’yo ang ganoon.” She’s referring to the movie’s recurring theme, which is “love comes in unexpected packages.” Is this something she believes in? “Sobrang true,” she answers. “Kasi for example, the next day, hindi mo alam kung ano mangyayari, or if you’ll meet this random person [na] yun pala, siya na [ang para sa’yo]. It can happen to anyone everyday.” Has she experienced this first hand? “Siguro in terms of crushes, ganoon,” Ehra admits, smiling. “Minsan actually, unexpected na all of a sudden, friend mo, tapos crush ka [pala!]” Spilling about Chard! As someone who worked with Richard before, Ehra spills that he is really malambing and maalaga, especially to his leading ladies. “Sobrang maaalahanin [at] tatanungin niya lahat [ng kailangan mo], pero mas extra attention talaga yung binibigay niya kay Marian, [syempre].” This is because she and Richard are old working buddies, and they already treat each other as mag-barkada. “Yung typical na biruan namin ni Chard, as in kulitan. So comfy na kami to work together.” She continues, “With sila ni Marian, noong una, medyo quiet lang si Marian. Pero noong tumagal na, as in nagbo-bonding na rin kaming dalawa tapos sila na rin ni Chard, tapos nasabi na rin yata ni direk Mark (Reyes) na si Yan-yan (Marian) yung nagbabantay ng phone ni Chard!” Ehra also bonded with GMA Artist Center friends while shooting. “[Sila yung mga] friends ko sa story, [tapos] even if walang shooting, kasama ko rin sila. So sobrang bonding na talaga!” She invites everyone to watch BFGF this February 13: “Sobrang matutuwa kayo sa movie, as in magiging maganda yung pakiramdam niyo after watching it, at saka suportahan po natin si Marian saka si Richard -- I’m sure, talagang magugustuhan niyo po talaga sila!” Talk about BFGF in the iGMA Forum! Text EHRA and send to 4627 to Feel the Fun with Fanatxt! To receive pictures from her mobile phone, text GOMMS EHRA ON and send to 4627. (Each SMS costs P2.50 for GLOBE, SMART, and TALK N TEXT, while it costs P2.00 for SUN subscribers. Each MMS costs P5.00 for all Networks) Related features Ehra sizzles Why Ehra is beautiful The perfect date movie He loves her eyes The best friend