In the recent weeks, Francine Diaz has been the talk of the town after two actors of the hit Korean zombie apocalypse horror series “All Of Us Are Dead” followed and even interacted with her on Instagram!
Even though she already shared a bit about her interactions with them on social media, she further explained the context of those in her latest guesting on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s Hotspot on Thursday, February 10.
She started off by recalling how she manifested being followed back and receiving replies from the stars of the series after she messaged them. The first one to respond was Yoon Chan-young (as Lee Cheong-san), who sent him a “wave” as a response to her “Hi” on his IG Stories – which extremely shocked and thrilled her.
And recently, it was Ham Sung-min who followed her back and even talked to her. Then she divulged for the first time how their conversation went, with him telling her that he loves the Philippines after visiting Cebu a few years ago and how delighted he is that she’s a celebrity. He even asked her help to double check one of his posts as he’s dubious with how a foreign friend of him translated it.
Sung-min thanked and asked how he could repay her, to which she responded by requesting for video greetings for her birthday from the cast including him. But he apologized that he may not be able to do it since they were all busy and he is seemingly at a place where the use of camera isn’t allowed.
Thus, she just simply told him about her plan of going to South Korea this year and he accepted her invitation for them to meet or have lunch together. In return, he also told her that he’s going to message her if he’ll visit the Philippines again.
When asked if she’s been a fan of Korean dramas and movies, the teen actress divulged that she and her mom have been avid viewers ever since she was little. One of the series they binge-watched were “Legend of the Blue Sea,” which was broadcast on ABS-CBN in 2017, and recently, she’s among “Squid Game” and looking forward to the coming-of-age drama “Twenty Five Twenty One” starred by Nam Joo-hyuk, Kim Tae-ri, Bona, and Lee Joo-myung.
In light of this, DJ Jhai Ho asked Francine if she’s ready to be part of an international project and what genre she would want to do if given a chance.
“Sobrang sarap mapasama sa isang international movie, ‘di ba?” she started off. “Pero hindi ko alam kung ready ba ako sa gano’n kasi ibang level ‘yong aktingan nila e. Iba rin kung paano sila umacting, iba rin ‘yong pagbigay ng instructions sa kanila. For sure, maninibago ako and [since] international, mano-nosebleed ako. So, paano na lang? Baka umiyak lang ako all the time kasi ‘di ko alam kung ano ‘yong sinasabi nila.”
But if she’ll be given a chance, the The Gold Squad member would want to do an action and horror movie.
The host then veered their conversation to her highly talked about whimsical dreamland-themed pre-debut photoshoot that she shared on IG on her birthday last January 27 and a day before it. According to her, it was supposedly Filipiniana-themed since she loves anything vintage, but they decided to just align it with the motif of her upcoming party, where DJ Jhai Ho will be the host. Thus, she just made her childhood fantasy of becoming a “modern princess” come true.
And now that she’s already 18, DJ Jhai Ho asked if she’s going to show a more mature version of herself or if she will stay as the same sweet and bubbly girl that she is.
“Parang wala namang nagbago, gano’n pa rin ako. And I think, for me, gusto ko kung magma-mature man ako, sa isip at sa gawa. Huwag naman sa mga bagay-bagay na pang-mature talaga. Take it slow,” she stated.
With regards to her birthday wishes, she divulged that those would be genuine happiness, more projects, and good health for herself and her family. With regards to her upcoming ganaps, she disclosed that they’re about to begin with their lock-in taping for the upcoming series “Bola-Bola” and teased her fans that they should watch out for it since it’s going be her first time to portray that kind of character. She will be joined by Arlene Muhlach, Allan Paule, Analain Salvador, Danica Ongtengco, Ashton Salvador, KD Estrada, and Akira Morishita of BGYO.
The host wrapped up the interview with the “Throwback Challenge”, wherein Francine had to share the story behind the old photos of her, which were of her childhood, as well as her selfies with Piolo Pascual and Dimples Romana, who she later on had the opportunity to work with in Kadenang Ginto and Huwag Kang Mangamba.