‘Awesome ensemble’ behind Janine’s latest TV series

By marinel Cruz Inquirer.net

THIS is a team effort all the way,” declared Janine Gutierrez, lead star of ABS-CBN’s latest series “Dirty Linen,” adding that she refuses to think that the show’s success relies solely on how effective she portrays her role and would rather attribute this to the fact that she is part of an “awesome ensemble.”

“I refuse to think that I carry the entire weight of the show on my shoulders. The idea will most likely kill me,” Janine said when asked to react to director Onat Diaz’s comment that her character, Alexa Salvacion, “is the driver of the story.”

“One of the things that is special about this show is its awesome ensemble. The stories of these characters are all interesting enough for you to take time to follow them. Each of them has dirty linen in the closet but at the same time, each has goodness to share.”

Janine said she prefers to think that it was Dolly de Leon’s character, Olivia Salvacion, that acted as catalyst for a series of unfortunate events. Dolly plays Alexa’s mother whose death Alexa is determined to avenge.

Keeping with the theme

“For me, she is the reason the story moves in the direction that it is taking. Personally, I rely on the help of my coactors, directors, writers and staff in order to fulfill the task given to me,” Janine insisted.

“In keeping with the theme, I always have to keep that anger deep inside. I’m lucky that I was able to watch the pilot episode, where Alexa’s mother got killed. Whenever I am asked to express that anger within me, I go back to that scene again and again,” Janine pointed out.

The actress also said she was thankful that Zanjoe Marudo was her leading man in this project. Zanjoe is Aidan Fiero, whose father, Carlos, is blamed by Alexa for Olivia’s death.

“Dirty Linen” is Janine and Zanjoe’s first project together. She said they never took any effort to work on their onscreen chemistry. “The story starts with us not knowing each other, so it helped that we hadn’t had the chance to bond