MANILA, Philippines – Former Miss World Megan Young spoke about her new take on playing MariMar in the second remake of the show set to air Monday, August 24. (READ: Megan Young is the new ‘Marimar’)

In an interview with reporters at the press conference last Monday, August 17, Megan said that she is very proud of the project. 

“Para sa akin more excitement siguro ang nararamdaman ko. I trust GMA, I trust the whole production, our directors and my fellow actors. Happy ako at kampante ako na all out naman dito ang GMA , lahat ng kasali dito,” Megan said.

(For me, it’s more of excitement that I’m feeling. Itrust GMA, I trust the whole production, our directors and my fellow actors. I’m happy and confident that GMA is out [with this project], those who are part of it.)

“So, itong Marimar, hindi lang ako ang may bigat dito, lahat kami. 

“Team effort talaga ‘to, itong proyektong ‘to,” she added. (So for Marimar, I’m not the only one who’s carrying it, all of us are. This is a team effort with this project.)

As for the pressure, Megan said that it will always be there. 

“I guess lagi kong sinasabi talaga na ang pressure dito sa Marimar katulad na din ng pressure nung nag-compete ako sa Miss World … (I guess I always said that the pressure here in Marimar is similar to the pressure when I competed in Miss World…)

“It’s a good project also, ibang level siya. (it’s a different level.)

“And for me this is my passion this my job, this is my life, it’s important to me,” she said. 

When it comes to being compared to the other actresses who played the iconic character, Megan said she is not even thinking about it because the show has a different story.

This is also the first project where Megan will be working with her sister Lauren. Lauren plays Antonia, the attention-seeking daughter of Angelika Santibañez (Jaclyn Jose) who will do anything to get Sergio’s attention. (READ: Lauren Young on acting opposite sister Megan Young in ‘MariMar’)

 MariMar 2015 and preparations

 Megan said that unlike the past storylines, her potrayal of Marimar is different as she represent today’s modern Filipina.

“Itong bagong Marimar na 2015, ibang story po siya. Nandidyan yung main characters natin na napapanood natin before at sinusundan katulad ni Marimar, katulad ni Sergio, ni Angelika ni Pulgoso. Pero ang kaibahan po na inaabangan mag eksena katulad nung unang pag-meet ni Marimar and Sergio, lahat iyan iba-iba.

(The new Marimar of 2015, the story is very different. The main characters are there that we watch before and follow like Marimar, Sergio, Angelika, Pulgoso. But what’s different that people must look forward are the scenes like the first time Sergio and Marimar met, all of it is very different.)

Fulgoso makes a grand entrance. #Marimar2015 pic.twitter.com/1IpgZMvoeM

— alexa villano (@alexavillano) August 17, 2015

“Pati si Marimar sabi ko nga iba nirerepresent niya ang makabagong Filipina – mas palaban na siya ngayon, mas ambitious siya na kumbaga kahit anong pagsubok ang itapon mo sa kanya hindi siya natatakot na harapin,” Megan explained.

(Also, Marimar as I said represents the modern Filipina – she’s now a fighter, ambitious, in other words, whatever challenge you throw at her, she’s not afraid to face it.)

In preparation for the show, Megan took many lessons from horseback riding to diving. She also took more acting workshops. As for the physical aspect, Megan said she continues to stay active by exercising and eating the right food.

Megan shared that in one of her diving lessons, she almost gave up after she nearly drowned. 

“Nung nag-diving lessons kami sa may 12 feet na pool, nasa ilalim nun may dalawa kaming scuba gear, so ang gagawin ko kukuha ako ng hangin mula sa dulo tapos im going to hold my breath, pupunta ako sa kabila.

(When we took diving lessons in the 12 feet pool, under the pool were two kinds of scuba gear, so what I’m going to do is I’ll get air from the edge and then hold my breathe and then go to the other one.)

“Eh pagpunta ko sa kabila, parang may nakaharang… So dapat hihigop ako ‘ay tubig! anong nangyari? Tapos gusto ko nang umakyat kasi mabilis lang pero yung trainer ko talagang hinawakan niya ako and sinabi ‘no, no stop.  Just take off the string and kaya iyan,” she said.

(But when I went to the other side, there was something blocking it… and I was suppose to get some [air] and then ‘water! what happened?’ And then I wanted to go up quickly but my trainer took me by the hand and said like ‘no, no, stop. Just take off the string and you can do it.)

As for working with Tom Rodriguez, her leading man, Megan said he is a gentleman and that she was very comfortable with him. 

Megan and Tom dancing the theme song #Marimar2015 pic.twitter.com/CMWaQ4gvlO

— alexa villano (@alexavillano) August 17, 2015

“It’s very easy working with Tom kasi napaka professional niya, napaka galante niya… he’s a gentleman. He thinks of the others around him bago siya,” she said.

(Tom is very professional, he’s a gentleman. He thinks of others around him before himself.).

First aired in the ’90s, MariMar was one of the most watched shows in the Philippines. In the 2015 MariMar directed by Dominic Zapanta, she is a pearl diver who meets Sergio Santibañez. They fall in love, but many are against their relationship. Will they have a happy ending?

In 2007, GMA brought to life MariMar starring real-life couple Marian Rivera and DIngdong Dantes in the roles of Marimar and Sergio. Dingdong and Marian are now expecting their first child this year. – Rappler.com