Diana Zubiri delves into drama

Diana Zubiri has come a long way since she incited the ire of a Metro Manila mayor by posing half-naked in a public bridge. From a sexy starlet, she is now a true actress—about to conquer the afternoon drama slot by storm. When iGMA caught up with Diana Zubiri on the set of her show, Babangon Ako at Dudurugin Kita, she was excitedly waiting for her favorite meal—spicy fried chicken from a fast food place. Watching her eat with such relish is enough to make anyone hungry too. While eating, she looks like a kid—complete with oily fingers and a satisfied smile. She paid no mind to her make-up or her dress. How can anyone not love her? After eating, she quickly cleaned up and donned her professional actor hat, ready to cry, laugh or receive a slap at a moments notice. Diana has been getting more and more projects as a drama actress these days. And she has not disappointed anyone yet! Does this mean that she is turning her back on sultry roles? “‘Di ko sinasara ang pinto ko sa pagpapasexy kasi doon ako nagsimula. Kung bibigyan ako ng offer na magpapasexy ako, ‘di ko tatanggihan as long as may limitation ako na kung ano man ang nasa kontrata ko under GMA," she answers. Diana realizes that she has been entrusted with a larger market with her primetime roles in shows such as Encantadia, Asian Treasures and Zaido. She considers these factors whenever a sexy project comes along. In Babangon, she is the unassuming Julie who, later on, plays a more active role in the fight against the bad guys. Just as she loves the strong sexy characters she has portrayed, she enjoys playing her current role. But it is her next project, Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan that is really giving her a challenge. On Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan “Napanood ko na po. Medyo, na-ppressure ako kasi ang galing ni Ms. Hilda doon eh, siya ‘yung nag-linya ng gaano kadalas ang minsan," she replies when asked if she has seen the film. “Sana nga ‘di ko na pinanood para kung ano pagawa sa akin ni direk, on the spot, gagawin ko. Siyempre ‘di pa tayo ganun kagaling, naghahasa pa tayo." She considers this her most tasking project to date. Not just because she will play a character once flawlessly brought to life by the immortal Hilda Koronel, but because Diana knows that playing the wife who willingly gave her husband to another woman requires more than the usual drama. “Try ko talagang galingan, gusto kong galingan pero ‘di ko mahihigitan iyun," she humbly states but adds, “pero sa generation ko, maganda naman kung masabi ko na maganda ang pagkaka-gawa ko [sa character]." She continues, “napaka-ganda ng storya. ‘Yun nga po iniiwasan ko--ayaw ko na isipin ng tao na ‘di ko kayang gawin." Diana promises her loyal fans that she will try her best to give the classic role the dignity it deserves. She is determined to show that she deserves to be called a drama actor. - iGMA.tv