Barbie Forteza talks about positive response to 'Maria Clara at Ibarra': 'Nakakataba ng puso'

Barbie Forteza is among those people who never expected the overwhelmingly positive response to “Maria Clara at Ibarra.”

In an interview on the “Updated with Nelson Canlas” podcast, the Kapuso actress said she initially had some fear given that the period drama is on the first primetime slot.

“Diba usually pagka first slot, dapat yan romcom, light, family drama. Di ba 'yan talagang  nakakaano sa mga chikitings at sa mga mommies na galing work, sa mga daddies na galing work. So ito first slot tapos ang bigat agad, kasi ‘Noli Me Tangere’ agad e,” she said.

However, Barbie said that she knew from the start that MCI is a big project when she found out about the cast and plot.

“And then 'yung storyline — 'yung talagang bubusisiin namin ang 'Noli Me Tangere' —so siyempre inisip ko na agad 'yung setting, 'yung production design, lahat, costumes. So doon talagang unti-unti na-re-realize ko talaga na malaking project siya,” she said.

In the end, Barbie had nothing to worry about. The historical fantasy show, based on the works of Dr. Jose Rizal, has become a hit.

“Hindi ko in-expect na ganun kaganda at ka-warm 'yung reception ng mga tao sa aming show dahil minahal nila 'yung show eh," Barbie said.

Barbie plays the main character Klay, the Gen Z nursing student who went back in time and into the “Noli Me Tangere” universe.

She expressed delight over how people bought or reread “Noli Me Tangere” to catch up on what happens in the show.

“Para diba masundan nila si Klay, kung anong gagawin ni Klay, kung ano 'yung difference na gagawin ni Klay doon sa nobela,” she said.

“So ayun nakakatuwa lang talaga at nakakataba ng puso na part ako ng show na yun, napaka-importanteng project,” she added.

Listen to Barbie Forteza and Jak Roberto’s full interview on “Updated with Nelson Canlas” on Spotify. —Nika Roque/JCB, GMA Integrated News