Barbie Laforteza, a new GMAAC gem to watch for this 2010!

"I want to be famous."

This was the statement in Filipino of 12-year-old actress Barbie Laforteza when asked what drew her to show business.

One of the newer talents of GMA Artist Center, Barbie caught the eyes of televiewers as well as GMA-7 execs when she played the young Jodi in the network's Filipino version of the popular Korean soap opera "Stairway to Heaven." Her potential as an actress, especially in the realm of drama, exuded from her role's portrayal. What's surprising is that that was the first role she ever played!

She auditioned for the role as a young Jodi but didn't expect that she would be awarded such a role. She already knew how hard it was to get good roles or even just be a part of a TV series because she herself has failed once. According to her, she didn't make it when she auditioned for "Mari Mar." And when she got into "Darna," the network's highly rating primetime series, she was just one of the extras!

Working hard and giving her all in her role in "Stairway to Heaven" made her not just a "talent" anymore, but a "star material."

"'Stairway to Heaven' gave me so much success," she smiled. "It was a memorable and different experience for me. I wasn't just with big stars of GMA-7 but I also made new friends. I also had fun with my role even if I often got slapped on TV!"

A follow-up project was "My Christmas List" which was a special episode for "Dear Friend," one of GMA-7's weekend shows. She was reunited with her "Stairway to Heaven" young co-stars Joshua Dionisio and Jhake Vargas.

"I was very happy to have gotten another TV series after 'Stairway to Heaven.' I really feel honored because I'm just a newcomer... I hope I was able to do a good job," she remarked.

Barbie was also cast in Vic Sotto's "Ang Darling Kong Aswang," one of the box-office hit movies in the 2009 Metro Manila Film Festival. She plays one of the daughters of Vic Sotto in the film.

Before becoming an actress, Barbie was just a normal student at St. Michael's in Biñan, Laguna. But her beauty and charm caught the eyes of casting directors as she has appeared in numerous TV commercials already, like Nido, Red Ribbon, Coke, Jollibee and Isuzu.

"My mother wanted me to do just commercials. Acting was never in our minds. But when I started auditioning for roles, I became interested with acting. Everything happened so fast for me," she said.

If her acting was immediately noticed, Barbie attributed it to GMAAC's Summer Acting Workshop which she attended a year ago.

"I wasn't a talent then of GMAAC," she quipped. "The workshop really helped. You can never learn that kind of acting from anywhere even in your school. It also helped me build my confidence."

With projects coming in, did her parents worry that her showbiz career could affect her academic life?

"My parents are very supportive. My teachers as well are very understanding. I'm always in school whenever I don't have any tapings. School is also important to me," she replied.

As to what kind of actress she sees herself becoming someday, Barbie pointed out to Angelica Panganiban as her role model.

"I want to be like her. She grew up in showbiz. Now that she's a woman, she is still a big star. I want a career like hers. I want to grow up in showbiz and be somebody." She also idolizes Sharon Cuneta, Cherie Gil, and Anthony Hopkins.

And what's her wish this 2010?

"I want to be more successful in my career and I hope to get more support from GMA-7 and the public... I don't find it hard being an actress because I love acting. I want to try every role..." Barbie will be in the upcoming soap opera "First Luv."

She is indeed a young actress to watch out for because Barbie Laforteza is ON THE RISE!

Source: Manila Bulletin