As Barbie Forteza takes on the challenge of her first solo horror lead, she is not only giving life to the delicately nuanced character of Luna. Through "P77," she is also relishing the opportunity to take a scary leap into the unfamiliar genre of fear and terror, which considers a dream come true.

Barbie has worked on movies with similar vibes in the past, having had a minor role in “Shake, Rattle, and Roll 9” (2007), and a secondary lead with the late and great Nora Aunor in “Tuos” (2016). 

But for the Kapuso Primetime Princess, nothing is quite like GMA Pictures’ “P77,” which premieres on July 30.

“Ang showbiz man pakinggan, pero being part of P77 is a dream come true for me,” she told the press during an intimate media conference held on a rainy Tuesday, July 22. 

As a “big horror fan” herself, Barbie feels accomplished to be at the forefront of such an ensemble cast, and for a movie she personally admires. 

“I am a huge moviegoer and this is the type of film I’d want to see in theaters, to share the experience with the rest of the audience– it’s that type of film,” Barbie said. 

“To be able to do another project with direk Derrick (Cabrido)... ngayon kasama ko ulit siya at wala pa ring kupas ang husay. At yung tiwala ng GMA, ng Warner Brothers, GMA Public Affairs, GMA Pictures, na ako lang together with this great, brilliant ensemble cast para mas maging maganda at makabuluhan ang kwento namin,” she added. 

The 27-year-old Kapuso star also gushed over the sense of fulfillment in being chosen– handpicked, as it was revealed by director Derrick Cabrido during the conference – to play the character of Luna.

“Sobrang fulfillment sakin yun bilang isang aktor dahil challenging sa ating film industry today, so para magtiwala sila sa akin nang ganto, grabe yung gratitude and pressure. But I am very confident with our material kaya proud ako na i-promote sya,” she explained. 

In the upcoming psychological horror-thriller, Barbie plays the role of a family breadwinner whose traumas get subjected to the devilish elements of Penthouse 77, where she works as the owners’ replacement helper after her mother (played by Rosanna Roces) disappears into thin air. 

“This is a very beautiful project. It is an alternative narrative horror film– maraming mga layers ang storya namin, hindi straightforward lang na pelikula. But for me, it's a very heartwarming film about family, pagiging panganay na nagmamahal sa bunsong kapatid– kahit horror sya it’s very relatable and a movie for everyone,” said Barbie. 

Asked about the challenges of starring in her first ever solo horror lead, Barbie could not help but admit feeling some pressure and having “mixed emotions.”

“Sa lahat naman ng bagay na hindi mo laging ginagawa, challenging sya pag gagawin mo kasi it's not something na comfortable kang gawin, that you do all the time. Kaya mixed emotions talaga yung nararamdaman ko– pressuring, challenging but fulfilling as an artist,” shared Barbie.

The mind-bending horror-thriller assembles a powerhouse cast that features the ‘Queen of Philippine Melodrama’ Gina Pareño, talented and seasoned actors Jackie Lou Blanco and Rosanna Roces, Sparkle child star Euwenn Mikaell, veteran director-actor Carlos Siguion-Reyna, and rising leading man JC Alcantara.

P77 is a GMA Pictures and GMA Public Affairs offering, helmed by award-winning filmmaker Derrick Cabrido, and written by Enrico Santos based on an original concept by Anj Atienza and Kristian Julao. 

It is set to hit the big screen starting July 30, and will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.

“Hindi ko pa man napapanood, I am confident sa ginawa namin, kung paano namin sya ginawa. We owe it to the audience, since there is a challenge in theaters right now, we are catering to something new and something worth buying… This is something worth buying and watching,” said Barbie.