Carla Humphries doesn’t want to be typecast in kontrabida roles

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by Napoleon Quintos | February 12, 2010 8:44 AM

ABS-CBN.com interviewed Carla Humphries during the pictorial for Precious Hearts Romances presents The Substitute Bride set to premiere on February 15, and she shared how happy she is to star in another PHR chapter. “Last year I was in Ang Lalaking Nagmahal Sa Akin with Toni Gonzaga and Derek Ramsay. Here in Substitute Bride I will play Kandra Dela Rosa. She’s an aspiring international model. Very driven siya na maabot ‘yung goals niya kaya nung may dumating na offer sa New York, umalis siya and hindi niya sinipot sa kasal ‘yung fiancé niya na si Brent, played by Rafael Rosell. Pero uuwi ako and I will discover na may Substitute Bride na pala, si Paw Diaz.”

In Ang Lalaking Nagmahal Sa Akin, Carla played the kontrabida opposite Toni, while in The Substitute Bride she will be the thorn in Rafael and Paw’s relationship. Carla said that playing the villain poses a big challenge but she doesn’t want to be typecast in kontrabida roles. “Happy naman ako sa mga ginagawa ko. They’re very good roles na hindi ko matanggihan. Pero sana may mga dumating din na roles na hindi kontrabida. I have no problem playing the villain pero ayoko kasi na puro ‘yun lang. Kahit sino namang artista gusto iba iba ‘yung ginagawa. Doing different roles will help me improve my acting pa.” She will also being taping for Kokey @ Ako where she will play the arch-nemesis of Angel Locsin.

Since PHR is a romance series, kissing scenes and love scene may be expected in some episodes. Carla said that she is comfortable with Rafael as her leading man since they have been friends for quite a long time now. However, the young actress-model still finds it hard to do love scenes. “Sa character ko parang walang love scene, more on kay Paw yata kasi sila ‘yung ikakasal. Pero hindi pa natin sure sa itatakbo ng story. I’ve done a couple of kissing scenes na, one was with Diether Ocampo sa Only You. Love scene wala pa talaga. Naiintindihan ko na bilang artista may mga kailangang gawin, dapat nagma-mature ka rin sa mga roles mo. Honestly medyo uncomfortable pa ako sa mga ganun pero kapag ma-explain naman sa akin nang maayos na kailangan talaga at in good taste naman, and my manager, si Tita Annabelle (Rama), assures me that’s it’s going to be okay, kakayanin ko naman.”

Carla remains single for now but that won’t stop her from having fun this Valentine’s Day. “Loveless ako ngayon e. But I don’t think that’s reason enough para hindi mag-celebrate. Plano namin ng mga single girl friends ko na manood nung movie na Valentine’s Day. Kami ang magkakasama, ‘All The Single Ladies!’ ang drama namin.”

Catch Precious Hearts Romances presents The Substitute Bride premiering this February 15 before Tanging Yaman. Log on to http://phrtv.multiply.com for more updates and exclusives.

Carla: Be Serious if You Want to Succeed

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Interview by Tinna S. Bonifacio

She was last seen in Bituing Walang Ningning as Rita, the younger sister of the series’ antagonist Lavinia Arguelles (Angelika dela Cruz). It was 18-year-old Carla Humphries’ biggest break. Introduced as part of Star Circle Batch 11 along with Pauleen Luna, Jill Yulo, actor and model Paolo Paraiso and the members of the all-male song-and-dance group Anime, Carla was just one among the many Star Magic talents until the reality dating show Qpids (where she and partner Janus del Prado placed among the top four love teams in the finals), followed by Bituing Walang Ningning, came along. Working alongside veteran actress Amy Austria who played her mother Barbara in Bituin, Carla’s acting improved, and this led to other assignments, notably a role in ABS-CBN’s newest youth-oriented show, Abt Ur Luv where she gets a new love team partner in Victor Basa.

Carla says she’s always dreamed of becoming an actress. “Ma-drama kasi akong tao,” she laughs.

Here, in her own words, is the story of how Carla Humphries made her dream come true.

You said you always wanted to be an actress?

Yes. Hilig ko talaga, ever since I was a child. When I was about 11 or 12 years old, I was referred to some people by Gretchen Barretto, who was a friend of my aunt. But the problem was, awkward age ako at that time—too old to be a child star, and too young for mature roles. They didn’t know where to put me. My other problem was that I had grown up speaking French (Carla’s father is French-American, while her mother is Filipina) so the language barrier was also a problem. I had to work really hard to overcome that.

How did you do it?

My mother put me in school here so I would learn Tagalog. It would really have been difficult to succeed in showbiz if I didn’t know how to speak the language.

How did you get noticed by ABS-CBN?

I was enrolled in [the network’s] Distance Learning Center. It was Filipino week, and there was a presentation. I sang the Doxology, and after that, pinatawag ako ni Mr. M (Johnny Manahan, head of Star Magic). He put me in the artist training program. I was supposed to be launched as part of Star Circle Batch 10, but then, for some reason, hindi natuloy. Maybe it was because I was too young then.

Were you disappointed that happened?

A little disappointed, but it helped when my parents told me, ‘Siguro hindi mo pa talaga time.’ That’s one of the things I learned that has helped me in this business.

What other helpful career advice have you received from people?

First of all, to continue improving my Tagalog. Second, to really have the passion and drive for what you’re doing. Lastly, to be super-hardworking. You can’t look at what you do as a hobby. Hindi puwedeng laro-laro lang. You have to be serious about it if you really want to succeed. Sometimes people look at what we’re doing as a game—it’s just acting daw kaya hindi dapat sineseryoso—but for us, it’s work and we do take it seriously.

What have you learned about work that you can pass on to others?

You have to trust the people around you. You have to work with them, not against them. Like when [ABS-CBN] management gave me a new loveteam partner, si Victor Basa, I had to trust that they were making the right decision, that they knew what they were doing. I didn’t question their decision. Sila ang nag-aalaga ng career ko, and they know what’s good for me.

Who are the people who’ve helped or influenced you in your career?

Siyempre, si Mr. M. Given na ‘yon. At saka sa pag-improve ng Tagalog ko, si Direk Lauren (Dyogi). He suggested that I read Pilipinokomiks and books like Pugad Baboy, and to read romance novels written in Tagalog. In terms of acting, malaki ang naitulong sa akin ni Direk Jerome (Pobocan, one of her directors in Bituing Walang Ningning). He also told me to listen to radio dramas para mas gumaling ang Tagalog ko.

What would you consider your career highlights?

Definitely, Bituing Walang Ningning. Kasi doon talaga ako napansin ng mga tao. That’s where they first noticed I could act. But I would also have to consider Qpids a highlight. Although it wasn’t really a regular show, maganda yung naging exposure ko sa show, especially since doon ako nakita ng mga taga-Bituin.

Do you ever get tired of working?

Showbiz is a very tiring profession, lalo kapag may mga magdamagan na tapings. Nakakapagod din. But whenever that happens, I tell myself, this is my work and I have to do it. Siyempre, mahirap. Pero nagtitiyaga ako dahil ang dami ko pang pangarap na gustong matupad. Gusto kong maging ganap na drama actress. I also want to pursue my dream of going into music and releasing an album. As far as my career is concerned, my motto is, “Sky’s the limit!”

Carla in Training for 'Palos'

Carla Humphries will be part of the upcoming TV series PALOS, which is scheduled to start airing in January 2008!

Today's episode of Boy & Kris showed the cast of the TV show in training. The clip below is an excerpt.

The cast includes: Jake Cuenca, Roxanne Guinoo, Cesar Montano, Sunshine Cruz, Regine Angeles, Ron Morales, Redford White, Dennis Padilla, Wendy Valdez, and Julia Barretto.

Carla's character is STELLA, the childhood friend of Jake Cuenca's character, Fabio.


Carla -- in Training for Palos from CFan on Vimeo.

Random screenshots:

Celebrity Profile: Carla Humphries

Stardom is Hard Work!

These familiar faces show up on our TV screens, movie houses, and thousands of magazine covers. In the pantheon of modern-day gods, they’ve been idolized, immortalized, and become sources of inspiration to thousands of devoted fans.

But celebrity status did not come overnight. A life that sparkles with the glitz and glam was frequently earned by blood, sweat, and tears. Like the non-showbiz career people, the stars have paid their dues and keep on sharpening their skills. That’s how they can burn even brighter.

Once in a while, JobsDB.com will chat up-close and personal with these celebrities. Though not all of us have been bitten by the acting and concert bug, the values and lessons in their success story are pretty universal and can prove to be inspirational.

Link to original article on JobsDb.com

Carla Humphries: "Be Serious if You Want to Succeed"
Interview by Tinna S. Bonifacio
JobsDB.com January 2007 issue

She was last seen in Bituing Walang Ningning as Rita, the younger sister of the series’ antagonist Lavinia Arguelles (Angelika dela Cruz). It was 18-year-old Carla Humphries’ biggest break. Introduced as part of Star Circle Batch 11 along with Pauleen Luna, Jill Yulo, actor and model Paolo Paraiso and the members of the all-male song-and-dance group Anime, Carla was just one among the many Star Magic talents until the reality dating show Qpids (where she and partner Janus del Prado placed among the top four love teams in the finals), followed by Bituing Walang Ningning, came along. Working alongside veteran actress Amy Austria who played her mother Barbara in Bituin, Carla’s acting improved, and this led to other assignments, notably a role in ABS-CBN’s newest youth-oriented show, Abt Ur Luv where she gets a new love team partner in Victor Basa.

Carla says she’s always dreamed of becoming an actress. “Ma-drama kasi akong tao,” she laughs.

Here, in her own words, is the story of how Carla Humphries made her dream come true.

You said you always wanted to be an actress?

Yes. Hilig ko talaga, ever since I was a child. When I was about 11 or 12 years old, I was referred to some people by Gretchen Barretto, who was a friend of my aunt. But the problem was, awkward age ako at that time—too old to be a child star, and too young for mature roles. They didn’t know where to put me. My other problem was that I had grown up speaking French (Carla’s father is French-American, while her mother is Filipina) so the language barrier was also a problem. I had to work really hard to overcome that.

How did you do it?

My mother put me in school here so I would learn Tagalog. It would really have been difficult to succeed in showbiz if I didn’t know how to speak the language.

How did you get noticed by ABS-CBN?

I was enrolled in [the network’s] Distance Learning Center. It was Filipino week, and there was a presentation. I sang the Doxology, and after that, pinatawag ako ni Mr. M (Johnny Manahan, head of Star Magic). He put me in the artist training program. I was supposed to be launched as part of Star Circle Batch 10, but then, for some reason, hindi natuloy. Maybe it was because I was too young then.

Were you disappointed that happened?

A little disappointed, but it helped when my parents told me, ‘Siguro hindi mo pa talaga time.’ That’s one of the things I learned that has helped me in this business.

What other helpful career advice have you received from people?

First of all, to continue improving my Tagalog. Second, to really have the passion and drive for what you’re doing. Lastly, to be super hardworking. You can’t look at what you do as a hobby. Hindi puwedeng laro-laro lang. You have to be serious about it if you really want to succeed. Sometimes people look at what we’re doing as a game — it’s just acting daw kaya hindi dapat sineseryoso — but for us, it’s work and we do take it seriously.

What have you learned about work that you can pass on to others?

You have to trust the people around you. You have to work with them, not against them. Like when [ABS-CBN] management gave me a new loveteam partner, si Victor Basa, I had to trust that they were making the right decision, that they knew what they were doing. I didn’t question their decision. Sila ang nag-aalaga ng career ko, and they know what’s good for me.

Who are the people who’ve helped or influenced you in your career?

Siyempre, si Mr. M. Given na ‘yon. At saka sa pag-improve ng Tagalog ko, si Direk Lauren (Dyogi). He suggested that I read Pilipino komiks and books like Pugad Baboy, and to read romance novels written in Tagalog. In terms of acting, malaki ang naitulong sa akin ni Direk Jerome (Pobocan, one of her directors in Bituing Walang Ningning). He also told me to listen to radio dramas para mas gumaling ang Tagalog ko.

What would you consider your career highlights?

Definitely, Bituing Walang Ningning. Kasi doon talaga ako napansin ng mga tao. That’s where they first noticed I could act. But I would also have to consider Qpids a highlight. Although it wasn’t really a regular show, maganda yung naging exposure ko sa show, especially since doon ako nakita ng mga taga-Bituin.

Do you ever get tired of working?

Showbiz is a very tiring profession, lalo kapag may mga magdamagan na tapings. Nakakapagod din. But whenever that happens, I tell myself, this is my work and I have to do it. Siyempre, mahirap. Pero nagtitiyaga ako dahil ang dami ko pang pangarap na gustong matupad. Gusto kong maging ganap na drama actress. I also want to pursue my dream of going into music and releasing an album. As far as my career is concerned, my motto is, “Sky’s the limit!”