Young actress Francine Diaz happily welcomed the new role she’s playing in her latest soap opera, “Huwag Kang Mangamba.”

Diaz is taking on the role of Joy, a rebellious daughter who has completely lost faith due to her personal pains and longing for her family’s love. The character is the complete opposite of her Cassandra “Cassie” Andrada-Mondragon persona in the hit teleserye “Kadenang Ginto.”

“Para po sa akin, ‘yung na-feel ko nu’ng malaman ko na ako ‘yung kabaliktaran ni Cassie, na ako naman dito ‘yung bida-kontrabida ay sobrang thankful po ako and sobrang natutuwa ako kasi isa po ito sa dream roles ko rin na gusto kong magawa talaga,” she said during the online press conference for the new series last March 15.

(For me, what I felt when I learned that I would be the opposite of Cassie, that I would be a lead and villain, was extreme gratefulness and happiness because this is one of the dream roles that I really wanted to do.)

“Nakakatuwa po kasi nakakapag-explore ako bilang artista and nalalaman ko at nakikilala ko pa nang mas maige ang sarili ko bilang artista, kung hanggang saan ang kaya ko at ‘yung hindi ko kaya,” she said about her new character.

(I am happy that I am able to explore as an artist, and I get to know myself as an artist, up to what I can do and what I can’t do.)

To effectively play her Joy character in the new series, Diaz studies it hard, especially after getting used to playing Cassie before.

“Ang tagal ko ring ginampanan si Cassie at gusto ko ring ipakita talaga na si Joy ay iba kay Cassy,” she stressed.

(I played Cassie for a long time and I want to show that Joy is different from Cassie.)

francine diaz ig — Francine Diaz. Image: Instagram/@francinesdiaz

Diaz considers herself lucky to have been given good opportunities one after the other, although she’s still new in the industry. She also recognizes the huge improvement she has undergone since her “Kadenang Ginto” days.

The series also features Diaz’s fellow Gold Squad stars composed of Seth Fedelin, Kyle Echarri and Andrea Brillantes. It had its pilot March 20 on the iWantTFC app and website, and it airs on TV5 and A2Z channels as free TV. It is available via digital TV boxes such as ABS-CBN TV Plus. JB

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