PEOPLE ASIA: GRETCHEN BARRETTO: MISS
UNDERSTOOD
MANILA, OCTOBER 1, 2012 (PHILSTAR) By Jose Paolo S. Dela Cruz -
From Cleopatra to English Queen Elizabeth I, all the way down to the peasant
healers of Europe (later dubbed as witches) — it's easy to see that the world
has not always been kind to women who oppose societal archetypes.
That is until history redeems them for what they truly are — women
with a strong voice, women of power.
I'll kill for my career," says actress Gretchen Barretto, before breaking
into laughter on the day of her cover shoot with PeopleAsia.
The statement (delivered in jest, of course) was her humorous way of
describing how she reacts to the dog-eat-dog world of show business. For all
it's worth, though, that simple quip seems to sum up a lot of things about this
woman of style and substance.
As many showbiz followers would know, Gretchen's image isn't all peaches and
cream. Unlike many actresses, she is a woman of very few words. She is succinct
as she is straightforward with her press statements.
She guards her privacy with the ferocity of a lioness. "I know I come from
the world of entertainment and it's brimming with 'plastic' people. I'm not one
of them. When I have something to say, I say it. I show it," says the outspoken
diva.
And like the powerful women of the past, Gretchen's strength of character
hasn't always earned approval from everyone. She has been called vicious names
in tabloids for being brutally frank, often being placed in the center of
innumerable intrigues that usually pit her against actresses of her caliber.
Yet, she takes all of these in stride.
Gretchen claims that she has long succumbed to the fact that her refusal to
fit into the mold of the spineless celebrity might land her into trouble.
All she cares about are the lessons these bring her. "I've learned to say no.
I don't play games. When I want, I want with all my heart. When I don't, that's
it. I believe in life and choices – it's one of the greatest gifts and I don't
intend to waste it."
Misunderstood
Gretchen's no-nonsense attitude and uncharacteristic transparency can easily
be misinterpreted by the world as haughtiness. But in person, one would realize
that it's actually a result of professionalism.
Having worked as a model since the tender age of 12, she values her time and
is in constant pursuit of excellence. When she walks into a room, she switches
into work mode.
She expects the same from everyone else. Gretchen is areglado to a fault.
Tell her what you expect from her and she'll deliver it in a snap of a finger.
It's all understood. That is, if you did your homework too.
The actress' public persona could also be the result of her onscreen
characters rubbing onto her, blurring the line between what a scriptwriter has
penned and what she has written for own life.
Whether it's her hit turn as Victoria Valera in the ABS-CBN fashion series
Magkaribal (Rivals), or her villainous character as Lady Behati Rinpoche in the
ongoing series Princess and I, Gretchen plays the role of a conflicted,
ambitious woman flawlessly and effectively.
You just want to slap her and wish her characters a slow, painful death by
the end of the series. But at the same time, you can't help but tune in. Even as
the embodiment of evil, Gretchen is ratings gold.
"My acting range has to be wide. With Princess and I for instance, I have to
be more subtle and regal, not just all out kontrabida. It's very different from
say, Magkaribal, where my character has a kinder side and my Maalaala Mo Kaya
(MMK) roles, which were anything but glam," she shares.
Speaking of which, her turns in MMK and Magkaribal have resulted in three
Best Actress awards from the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) Star Awards.
But not everything's roses for Gretchen and acting. While her comeback role
in MMK immediately earned praise, her turn as "Victoria" in Magkaribal didn't
immediately click – contrary to popular belief. "I remember reading some
write-ups where they said I was all clothes and no acting. That challenged me,"
she claims.
Now, Gretchen has a trophy – not to prove her critics wrong – but to prove
that she listens. "Like I told you, I'm tough. Pinch and poke me and I'll come
out stronger. I'll make you eat your words by striving to be better. Criticism
is actually better than empty praises, because the latter can put me in a
complacent place – which I hate."
When asked if critics should be afraid of her now that she has taken acting
to an all-new level, Gretchen answers gamely. "Maybe they are. Maybe they should
be!"
Too tough a cookie?
Not exactly. Gretchen admits that she, too, has a softer side, although she
tries to keep it out of sight. "I've become tough because of the rejections, a
lot of pain, sorrow and grief that I've been through. Even now, I'm not a tough
cookie 24 hours a day, but even my vulnerability, I have learned to embrace."
For starters, life didn't exactly give Gretchen everything she has on a
silver platter. Regardless of what other people may think, everything that she
owns was acquired through years of hard work, sweat, blood and all. Directors
have shouted at her and critics have deemed her talents no-good more than once.
But she never gives up.
"Everyone might think, 'Yeah, Gretchen lives a charmed life,' but what they
don't see is that I work hard for it. I stay up late until two in the morning. I
sacrifice sleep. It may be glamorous on TV, but it takes a lot of hard work to
get there," reveals Gretchen.
Strong will and determination are her best accessories in her journey, both
as an actress and a woman. "From the moment I started in showbiz, I always
dreamed of being this big. I always wanted it. I wanted a better life. Whether
it's through singing, acting or modeling I was focused on achieving the goals I
have set early on." Yes, it's hard to imagine that these thoughts have been
running in Gretchen's mind, even back when she was a young girl, turning heads
in the '80s with her ads for clothing store Cinderella and the popular orange
soda Mirinda.
[PHOTO -Gretchen Barretto is a Filipino actress from the
Philippines. She has two younger sisters, Marjorie Barretto and Claudine
Barretto, who are also actresses. Barretto released her second album entitled
"Complicated" WIKIPEDIA]
Red Carpet Royalty
These days, the only thing that rivals Gretchen's star on TV is her iconic
stature as red carpet royalty. Even naysayers would attest to this diva's
commanding presence when she walks down the crimson aisle with her armada of
couture gowns and accessories. She was one of the first local actresses to strut
a Lanvin in the Philippines, even before the famed French fashion house's
renaissance in Hollywood a few years back.
No matter how perfect her red carpet debuts are though, Gretchen is quick to
remind that taking fashion too seriously annoys her. "I only dress according to
how I feel. If I get a craving for comfort food in the middle of the night, I'll
step out in jeans and a polo. I can even step out of the house with my hair
soaking wet and with my pajamas on!"
True enough, Gretchen walked into PeopleAsia's set in her pajamas, with a
silken robe over them.
Despite her elegant style and impeccable bearing these days, Gretchen is
every bit a sport when it comes to her yesteryears' lookbook, particularly as
the big-haired, nose-lined, shoulder-padded girl who rose to fame in the '80s.
"I never regret that I wore this or that, specifically because it felt right at
that time. Whether it's a fashion decision, a relationship, a movie, a rumor or
a friendship I couldn't be in anymore – I don't regret. I only accept. I am
grateful that it's all been a part of my life."
The only thing that has changed, according to Gretchen, is her purchasing
power. "Ever since I could remember I've always dressed to please myself, not
anyone. Well, I guess the best part is that I can afford the things that I like
now because I've worked so hard!"
Feared and revered, Gretchen indeed epitomizes what it is to be a woman who
speaks her mind, a person unafraid of being herself despite the public's
discriminating eyes. Will she walk the plank for her boldness, or will history
celebrate her as a woman of power? Whatever it is, one thing's for sure. Just
like the fabled females of history, she won't go down without a fight. "I want
my place in the sun. I want many things. And at age 42, I'm just about to
start."
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
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