A Comedienne in the Making

Young and talented Sheena Halili looks to be floating on cloud nine with all the breaks she has been getting. And her role in Ako si Kim Samsoon provides sufficient evidence that her talent is getting its due notice. – Text by Erick Mataverde. Photos by Mitch S. Mauricio. It was a bubbly and feisty Sheena who greeted us on the set of Ako si Kim Samsoon. However, we noticed that her voice was a bit hoarse, so she explained. "Sa kaka-taping, walang tulog, tapos nahahamugan. Sa lamig, tapos kahit pagod, naliligo." Nonetheless, she was given some suggestions on how to avoid making it worse by no less than Asia's Songbird Regine Velasquez herself, "Binigyan niya ako ng gamot, tapos binigyan niya ako ng advice [na] masama daw pala yung calamansi juice pagka-walang boses," she recalls. This also brought up the topic of the video sequence Sheena did in Kim Samsoon and she revealed that we can expect more, "Meron na po kaming video [ulit], promise, dalawa po yata yun, ite-tape pa namin sa last taping day." From Monica to Cynthia When asked how she can compare her character with her previous character in Marimar she explains, "Magkaiba naman kasi yung character ko dito [compared] sa Marimar, pero at least masaya ako kasi nabibigyan ko sila ng pagkakaiba. Nagawa ko yung character ni Monica (in Marimar), at the same time, dito sa show naman na ito nagawa ko naman yung character ni Cynthia, acheivement yun sa akin. "Mami-miss ko si Cynthia, hinihingi ko na nga 'tong yung uniform sa production. Sabi ko, 'Puede ba sa akin nalang ito after ng taping kasi sobrang na-attach na ako rito?'" she adds. It seemed quite an effortless transition though for Sheena as she has something in common with Cynthia. And when asked what it would be, she simply answered, "Yung pagiging kikay." Witty Exchanges And, of course the chemistry she has established with her co-star, Eugene Domingo, seems to have helped her comedy a lot. "Dito nakakatuwa kami ni Ate Uge (Eugene Domingo's nickname). Yung mga away naming dalawa,[kasi] madami kaming ina-adlib eh," she explains. "Natutunan ko sa show na ito, kahit comedy ka, kailangan pag eksena seryoso ka. Kahit nagpapatawa ka seryoso kang magpatawa," she further states. This is proof that with her veteran co-stars, many of whom are excellent comedians, Sheena has also shown signs of perfecting the craft herself. More to Expect As for any twists or surprises in Kim Samsoon, Sheena gives us some indication that we have a lot to look forward to in the weeks to follow. "Kasi bad ako dito so siguro tingnan nila kung magiging bad ba ako forever hanggang matapos; or magiging friend ko din si Kim; or papayag na ba akong ile-let go na ba si Cyrus? Kasi super dead na dead ako sa kanya," she says. In parting, she had to express her thanks for all her blessings to those who matter the most. "Gusto ko magpasalamat sa mga fans, lalo na yung mga regular na nagpopost sa iGMA, sa PEP [at] sa text. 'Tsaka yung mga fans ko na nagpupunta sa taping ko. Meron kasi akong mga fans na recently lang sila na na-meet ko pero gusto ko rin magpasalamat dun sa mga fans ko mula nung Starstruck [pa]." Find out more about Ako si Kim Samsoon and her other projects direct from Sheena herself! Text SHEENA [Your Message] Send to 4627 for Globe, TM, Sun, Smart and Talk ‘N Text.Each Fanatxt message costs PhP2.50 for Globe, TM, Smart, and Talk 'N Text, and PhP2.00 for Sun subscribers. (This service is only available in the Philippines) Know and discuss more of Sheena by logging on to the iGMAForums! Not yet a member? Register here!