How Megan Young handled Katrina Halili's intimidating presence in ‘The Stepdaughters’

Actor Katrina Halili has had plenty of experience giving killer stares, usually playing a villain with a flaring temper, and her "primera kontrabida" personality can be intimidating — but fellow Kapuso actor Megan Young is trying to use that to her advantage as they work together for the first time. 

Megan and Katrina will star in GMA's newest Afternoon Prime series "The Stepdaughters", a story of two women — both beautiful and intelligent — destined to be rivals.

"I was honestly [intimidated by Katrina] at first because she is known to be a really intense kontrabida. I mean just the way she looks at you," Megan said during a press conference for the show Friday. 

"Nakakatakot talaga. Pero once you get to know her naman, you'll be at ease naman and she's a really sweet person, sobrang kaiba d'on sa character niya. Pero yes, na-intimidate ako n'ong una ko siyang makaharap," Megan added.

Like a true beauty queen, she used the negative feeling to draw out her strength from within.

"I actually used the intimidation in the scenes kasi it helps me. I'm happy because I can feed off of her energy. Mahirap naman kung hindi siya masyadong intimidating 'di ba? Eh siya 'yong kontrabida talaga," Megan explained, "So I'm happy that she has that sort of energy kasi I can use it with my emotions. And I can use it na 'Huh! Nakakatakot 'to pero tara let's do this!'"

Katrina, the main antagonist that she is, said she enjoys the rivalry.

"Lumalaban siya! 'Yong maganda dito sa character [ni Megan,] hindi siya talagang aping-api. Baklang babae siya rito eh. Tapos pala-answer siya. Kaya mas masarap siyang upakan," Katrina said. 

"Kaya mas matapang 'yung character ko rito kasi hindi lang siya basta inaapi, hindi. Lumalaban din siya. So talagang away talaga kami dito," Katrina continued.

The cast of GMA's upcoming Afternoon Prime series "The Stepdaughters." @gmanews pic.twitter.com/5Z4I5cX83e

— Jamil Santos (@Jamil_Santos02) February 2, 2018

Intense fight scenes

Katrina also revealed that the real slapping happened while they were shooting.

"Maraming pisikalan dito, pero hindi naman dumadating sa point na talagang nagkakasakitan kami. Before kaming nag-start nito, nag-workshop kami, nagkatanungan na nga kami, 'Paano 'pag sampalan?' Nag-usap na kami.

"Una sabi ko, 'Sanay ako [na] fake.' Tapos pagdating namin sa scene, may sampalan, sabi niya 'Cut, hindi ako sanay ng fake.' Tapos sabi ng iba 'Totoo na lang, kasi ang haba ng scene.' 'Pag namali, uulitin, ang haba-haba ng eksena.' 'Oh sige, totohanan na, sampalan kami! Pero okay naman," Katrina explained.

Katrina added that she's impressed with Megan's professionalism, as they seldom required a retake of their shoots. "One lang, hindi kami nagte-take two sa mga fight scenes namin."

Megan will be playing Mayumi Dela Rosa, a chemist who dreams of having her own cosmetic line.

Katrina, meanwhile, will be assuming the role of Isabelle Salvador, an only-child who grew up spoiled and self-centered, and would later manage her family's makeup line, Coco Bella.

In the story, Mayumi and Isabelle's conflict with each other only intensifies as Mayumi's mother Luisa and Isabelle's father Hernan fall for one another and get married, turning them into stepsisters.

Joining Megan and Katrina are Mikael Daez, Gary Estrada, Glydel Mercado, Allan Paule, Angelu De Leon, Sef Cadayona, Samantha Lopez, and Dion Ignacio. 

"The Stepdaughters" will premiere February 12 on GMA Afternoon Prime. — AT, GMA News