Becoming a star is not something that can be done overnight—it takes a lot of time, effort and perseverance. That has been the case for rookie actress Anji Salvacion who is under fire for her poor acting in the trending teleserye, Linlang.
Weeks after viewers expressed their not-so-good feedback on Anji's appearance on the show, the 21-year-old has chosen to speak up. In an exclusive chat with PEP.ph, Anji declared that she is a work in progress. She also described herself as someone who is not afraid to listen.
"I've read comments, and yes, I'm taking them seriously, especially the constructive ones, because I know they would really help improve my craft. I see myself as a work in progress, which is why I welcome comments on my acting, and I believe that learning is a continuous process," Anji said.
Anji plays alongside distinguished actors like Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino. She portrays the character Kate Alcantara, who is Kim's sister in the drama. Several comments online targetted Anji's performance, which appeared lacking compared to her co-stars. However, for Anji, some comments were frankly just to make fun of her.
"Some comments were just making fun of me, and they weren't helpful anyway. [...] That's why it's better to ignore them and focus on the helpful comments, and I want to emphasize once again that I am open to comments that I believe will help me improve my acting skills," she proclaimed.
Despite everything, the young celebrity is deadset on honing her craft as an actress. "Reading their messages will break you if you don’t know how to deal with them, kasi kung iisipin mo itong mga taong nanglalait sa akin, I don’t think they can act well either," Anji stated.
According to Anji, getting a role for Linlang surprised her. She revealed that she went through a five-day workshop to be able to act effectively in the drama. Apparently, it was her first teleserye.
"Yes, I was shocked by the intensity of every scene and deeply affected by it. During those times, I even found it difficult to let go of the emotions. My greatest problem is that I tend to dwell on the feeling, and I'm having difficulties letting go of the emotions that I've absorbed" she explained.
There's a lot to learn, she says, especially since she did not enter showbiz as an actress, but as a singer. ICDYK, Anji once joined Idol Philippines before becoming the big winner at the reality show, Pinoy Big Brother.
"And yes, it may not be the best for others, but I didn't stop learning and honing my acting skills. [...] I just felt honored to witness how the veterans do their jobs, and I really learned a lot from them," said Anji. It took a while for her to adjust, but Anji asserted that she would be a better actress with the help of constructive criticism from the audience.
TV personality, Ogie Diaz was among the viewers who commented about Anji's acting performance in Linlang. In a tweet, Ogie expressed his disappointment over Anji and another actor, Kice's story arc in the teleserye.
Meanwhile, Dirty Linen star Christian Bables conveyed his support for Anji. He tweeted, "Please never give up on learning your craft. Meron yan, Anji. I believe in you," a message welcomed by Anji's fans.
