For The Killer Bride lead star Maja Salvador, her previous portrayals in a similar revenge drama, the immensely successful Wildflower, should not be compared to her current character.
“Ayokong pressure-in ‘yung Killer Bride, ‘yung character ko na Camilla dela Torre. Kasi kung mangyayari, mangyayari,” Maja tells Entertainment.ABS-CBN.com in an exclusive interview.
“Kasi mahirap talagang tapatan ‘yung Wildflower and ako, may sariling kwento si Camilla dela Torre, may sariling pasabog ang The Killer Bride,” Maja noted. “So I hope na sana magustuhan at kung paano nila natanggap ang Wildflower ay ganoon din yung pagtanggap ng mga Kapamilya natin.”
Different revenge drama
Camilla, Maja’s character in The Killer Bride seeks revenge on those who wronged her. But this time, their transgressions led to her demise, as her spirit would carry on a vengeful curse to the townsfolk of Las Espadas behind her death, particularly the dela Cuestas.
The dela Cuesta scion, Vito, played by Geoff Eigenmann is Camilla’s beloved yet the main trigger that led to her tragic end. And she would possess a young mortuary cosmetologist Emma Bonaobra, portrayed by Janella Salvador, who will serve as her medium to exact her revenge.
“Ang hirap talaga ang pinagdaanan ni Camilla. She’s just 19 years old nung pinaglalaban niya ‘yung pag-ibig niya. So she’s too young para humarap sa ganoon,” Maja pointed out.
If there’s a need to compare, what’s glaring is Camilla’s far worse travails.
“Mas painful ‘yung pinagdaanan ni Camilla dela Torre. The revenge is wilder,” Maja said, as teasers abound that show how her love affair with the rival family’s heir would lead to a murder she was charged with yet know nothing of. And as she was imprisoned for a crime she seemingly did not commit, the correctional facility was razed, claiming her life.
“Basta kailangan ang mga eksenang ‘yon para mabuo ang kwento ni Camilla at maintindihan n’yo kung bakit ganoon ‘yung naging kwento namin. Bakit papuntang revenge,” Maja noted.
Ruthless soul
Quite a standout and distinct narrative arc is that her wrath went beyond her ashes, seeking justice and retribution as a ruthless soul.
This is something Maja has never done before—a chilling gothic romance drama, moreso as a mere ghost wrecking havoc.
“Ibang atake ng revenge. Ayaw na ayaw ko na kasi ‘yung mga eksena o minsan may napapanood ako na parang ano ba ‘yan, lagi na lang umiiyak,” Maja said.
And in The Killer Bride, she is really doing something about the evil done to her, even in the afterlife.
“We’re giving our Kapamilyas another new and different concept na teleserye. It’s a gothic romance na family drama na later sasabihin n’yo, ‘di pala kami matatakot. Parang mare-realize na ‘Oo, love talaga really happens kundi isa ‘yon magtatraydor din sa buhay mo. Isa ‘yon sa magki-kill talaga sa’yo,” Maja stressed.
“Surprise me”
Portraying the difficult character, Maja said she would push herself to her thespic limits.
“Na-cha-challenge ako kay Camilla dela Torre… Eto ‘yung china-challenge ko ang sarili ko na ano pa ang kaya mong ibigay. So pati ako may questions din. Tinatanong ko ‘yung sarili ko. Hindi ko pa masagot kung ano pa,” Maja emphasized.
Thus she said she would tell herself: “Sige Maja, surprise me.”
Catch Maja in another extraordinary, unforgettable performance in the riveting tale about love, betrayal and revenge in the highly anticipated The Killer Bride, premiering Monday, August on Primetime Bida.