EXCLUSIVE | Jodi Sta. Maria talks about taking on first action-drama show ‘Lavender Fields’

September 6, 2024 , 04:20 PM

By Alyssa Maula, TV5 Digital

Jodi Sta. Maria was not awarded the 2022 Asian Academy Creative Awards Best Actress for nothing.

From a simple and provincial nanny, Maya dela Rosa in “Be Careful with My Heart,” to a vengeful lady boss, Amor Powers in “Pangako Sayo,” and the trusting-turned-scorned wife Dra. Jill Victorino in “The Broken Marriage Vow,” Jodi undoubtedly possesses what it takes to make her main roles iconic and skillfully served. Now to add to the variety of characters she has brought to life from diverse genres, Jodi Sta. Maria is back on primetime television with “Lavender Fields,” her first drama-action teleserye, where she takes on the dual roles of Jasmin Flores and the titular character, Lavender Fields.

In an interview with TV5 Digital, Jodi expressed her thoughts about taking on this new challenge.

“I guess this is the very first time na mag-e-embark ako sa isang bagong journey. Isang bagong yugto bilang isang aktor and ‘yun ‘yung gumawa ako ng action drama na genre. So, very physical ‘yung character ni Jasmin Flores,” Jodi said.

From her other interviews, ikinuwento ni Jodi na kinailangan niyang mag-train ng basic boxing at “cinematic Filipino martial arts” para sa role niya at mga eksena sa serye. Para naman maiwasan ang injuries, meron naman siyang strength and conditioning training para dito.

As Jodi portrays both Jasmin Flores and Lavender Fields, ipinaliwanag niya na ang title ng serye ay hango mula sa buhay ng karakter niyang si Lavender. Pero tungkol saan nga ba ito? From her very own words: “It’s a story of love, it’s a story of duality, and (you know) pretension, why people wear masks.”

In the serye’s first episode, which aired on Monday, September 2, naipakita na nagsimula ang pag-iibigan nina Jasmin at Arthur (played by Jericho Rosales) noong nagkakilala sila sa isang unexpected scenario–nakita kasi ni Jasmin na duguan at walang malay si Arthur sa kanyang pinagtatrabahuhan sa Bloomfields farm. In a short amount of time, at sa palaging pagbisita ni Arthur kay Jasmin, nalaman nilang marami pala silang pagkakaparehas, isa na rito ang love for managing businesses and crunching numbers. Dahil dito, madaling nagkamabutihan ang dalawa.

WATCH | Arthur at Jasmin, nagkakamabutihan na

But like any other parent na ang hangad ay ang makabubuti para sa kanyang anak–hindi boto ang nanay ni Jasmin na si Rosita (Lotlot de Leon), kay Arthur dahil pinagdududahan niya ang binata.

WATCH | Ang kinatatakutan ng nanay ni Jasmin

Tama naman siguro ang pinaghugutan ng nanay ni Jasmin, dahil si Arthur ay may iba pa palang katauhan! In a world outside the farm, si Arthur ay kilala bilang si Tyrone at siya ay unhappily married to a powerful woman named Iris (Janine Gutierrez).

WATCH | Arthur Pelaez, may asawa pala!

However, ‘di lang umiikot ang tema ng serye sa pagbabalat-kayo. “Also, a story of atonement and redemption. So, ang daming nangyayari, it’s not your typical revenge plot,” Jodi added.

Without spoiling too much about her character, sinabi ni Jodi na ang dalawang bagay na kalaunang tutubusin ni Lavender na kukuhain mula sa kanya ay ang kanyang pangalan at ang kanyang anak.

“‘Yun yung naging central sa buhay ni Jasmin Flores, ‘yun din ‘yung reason kung bakit siya naging si Lavender Fields,” saad ni Jodi.

Like many other actors na nagsasabuhay ng mga karakter, tinanong namin siya kung ano ba ang nakikita niyang similarities at differences niya kay Jasmin Flores / Lavender Fields.

“I’d say siguro in terms of similarities, kasi si Jasmin a.k.a. Lavender, parang siya yung tipo ng tao na ‘pag ka sin-et niya yung mind niya onto something, sisiguraduhin niya na gagawin niya ‘yun. In a way, parang ganoon din ako. Nakaka-relate ako sa kanya,” Jodi explained.

In 2021, the actress finished college with a degree in Psychology at the age of 39 years old. Saad niya sa kanyang Instagram post, pangarap niyang makapagtapos ng kolehiyo ever since she entered showbusiness, and a decade after finishing high school in 2011, natupad niya ito, at nakatanggap pa siya ng Dean’s Merit from her college. Meanwhile, her dedication and talent as an actor have also been well-applauded. Her most recent milestone was her win as Best Actress at the 2022 Asian Academy Creative Awards, for her performance in “The Broken Marriage Vow.”

On her latest role, masasabi niyang wala siyang kinaaayawan sa karakter niya, mapa-Jasmin o Lavender man. “Maaaring may mga pagkakataon na, at this point, sasabihin ko na ‘Ay, hindi ko gagawin ‘yun,’ but what if malagay ka doon sa sitwasyon na kinalalagyan niya? Minsan napapaisip ako. Aabot din kaya ako sa puntong ganoon, na gagawin ko rin ‘yung mga ginagawa niya?”

“I really try to understand the role that I portray na hindi ko iju-judge ‘yung mga choices na ginagawa niya,” Jodi explained.

Mapapanood ang kabuuan ng kwentuhan na ‘yan with Jodi Sta. Maria herself, dito:

WATCH | Kwentuhan with Jodi Sta. Maria

Check out this week’s HIGHLIGHTS, and watch Lavender Fields WEEKNIGHTS, 8:45PM on Todo Max Primetime Singko.

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