‘Ang tagal kong naghintay’: Yam Concepcion on being the lead star for ‘Init sa Magdamag’

After 10 years in showbiz, Yam Concepcion is grateful for her first lead role in a series, the actress said on Monday, April 4 during the media launch of Init sa Magdamag. 

“Fulfilling ‘yung pakiramdam. After 10 years, ngayon lang ako nagkaroon ng lead role, ang tagal kong naghintay,” she said. (It’s so fulfilling. I was only offered a lead role after 10 years. I’ve waited for so long).

In playing “Rita,” a politician who finds herself entangled in a love triangle, Yam said that never in her “wildest dreams” did she imagine that she’ll be given a project like this. The 32-year old actress also stressed that her character has more depth than the sexy and racy themes of the series. 

“Yung mga ginagawa kong roles noong nag-start ako sa showbiz, lahat sexy, laging ganoon ang image ko. Pero with this teleserye, more than just being sexy, na-test ‘yung vulnerability ko. Bilang actor din, napush ako sa kung anong pwede kong ibigay na emotions. Na-experience ko ‘yung mga emotions na hindi ko na-eexperience dati,” she said. 

(Ever since I started showbiz, most of my characters are sexy, that has always been my image. But with this series, aside from being sexy, my vulnerability was tested. As an actress, I was pushed to give more. I felt emotions I haven’t felt before.) 

Yam, who rose to fame for roles as “Jade Flores” in Halik and “Dana Wong” in Love Thy Woman, also admitted that easing into her new character was hard. “Nahirapan nga ako eh, for two years, pino-portray ko laging kontrabida,” she said. (It was hard because my roles for these past two years, I was always the antagonist.). 

Init sa Magdamag will star Yam Concepcion, Gerald Anderson and JM de Guzman and is set to air on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, and TV5 on April 19. – Rappler.com