According to Richard, he saw Marian’s photos even before copies of the magazine became available in stores. He even quipped that he was one of those who stamped the final seal of approval for its publication.
“Yung sa FHM nakita ko yung photo niya bago pa man lumabas yung magazine. Pinakita niya sa akin – ang ganda!,” said Richard.
The actor also admitted that even before their first movie team-up, he has always been attracted to Marian’s beauty.
“Dati nga bago pa siya mag-Marimar, nakasalubong ko si Marian sa S.O.P. pa yata nun sa back stage tapos sabi ko sa kanya, ‘Ang blooming mo ngayon ah!’ So, dati pa, napapansin ko na talaga yung ganda ni Marian,” he said.
After their successful movie tie-up in 2008 (“My Best Friend’s Girlfriend”), Richard and Marian are again working together for their next big project set to hit silver screens nationwide within the first quarter of the year — “My Lady Boss.”
The movie is a joint production of GMA Films and Regal Films and is directed by Jade Castro, director of “My Kontrabida Girl” and the highly-acclaimed independent film, “Zombadings,” which became so successful that it effortlessly made its way to the mainstream market.
Richard feels lucky to be working with Marian once again and to be given a chance to collaborate with a young director, who makes the atmosphere in the set so convivial.
“It feels good that even after five years, ‘yong chemistry and rapport namin ni Marian ay hindi nagbago. Ang sarap sa set. Tawanan lang kami nang tawanan. Tapos maganda ang relationship namin with our director Jade Castro. So it’s really a collaboration,” shared Richard.
It is the first time for Richard to work with Jade Castro as his director, although their paths have crossed before.
“I’ve worked with him when he was starting pa lang daw,” shared Richard. “He [Jade Castro] was in charge script continuity para sa movie na ‘Bakit, Papa?’ which I starred in with the Sexbomb Girls. I was only 19 or 20 years old then.”
With regard to his working relationship with Marian, Richard said that their friendship has blossomed a lot more since the “My Best Friend’s Girlfriend” days. In fact, both actors have become very comfortable with each other that it didn’t feel awkward when they did their kissing scenes in “My Lady Boss.”
“Dati kasi nung ginawa namin ‘yong ‘My BFGF,’ parang kakastart lang ng ‘Marimar’ so I can say na medyo bago pa si Marian nung mga time na ‘yon. Ngayon, makikita mo talaga na malaki na ‘yong growth niya as an actress; mas confident siya, yung comic timing niya pasok na pasok talaga,” Richard explained.
Apart from the intimate kissing scenes, the two will also do a bed scene, which is a quite a giant leap from their “teeny-bopper” roles in their previous film.
“Romantic-comedy film pa rin [ang “My Lady Boss”] pero mas mature na ‘yong characters at ‘yong kuwento. Sa ‘My BFGF’ kasi yung kiss namin doon smack lang, this time mas intimate na. Marami kaming intimate scenes pero may comedy pa rin,” the actor said.
Before working on “My Lady Boss,” Richard did “Seduction,” which is a sexy-drama film.
“It’s very refreshing to do another rom-com after ‘Seduction,’ which is really intense, mabigat, deep into the character. Ito [My Lady Boss], it’s entertaining, it’s light. Ang sarap na makagawa ng isang ganitong movie ulit. I was looking forward to this movie. Dito kasi enjoy lang kami, nagpapatawa kami. Although seryoso pa rin yung acting pero it’s lighter,” he said.
In “My Lady Boss,” Richard’s character, Zack, will fall in love with his female boss, Evelyn (Marian), who is detested by every one in the office because of her bad temper. Eventually, their illicit office romance will put their careers in jeopardy eventually forcing them to make a choice between career and love. Which one would they choose?
We will soon find out the answer when “My Lady Boss” hits theatres nationwide this April.
