MANILA - Actress Claudine Barretto has talked about her return to showbiz and the reasons behind her hiatus.
In an exclusive interview with Metro Style, the 40-year-old Barretto said she is happy to return to showbiz.
"I just wanted to go back. I feel safe and happy here," she said.
Barretto made her television comeback in April in an episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya, wherein she played the role of a loving and supportive mother to a son suffering from Guillain-Barre syndrome.
Despite a three-year hiatus from showbiz, Barretto proved she hasn't lost her touch.
She is also working on a movie with Piolo Pascual, under the direction of Cathy Garcia-Molina.
Barretto's last movie project was Etiquette for Mistresses in 2015. At that time, she returned from a four-year-hiatus.
However, she had to go on another break due to her health.
Barretto hopes that this time, she can continue with her showbiz career.
“Now, I’m okay. Hopefully this time talaga, tuloy-tuloy na. My children are very supportive of my work.” she said.
“This is the phase in my life where, parang siguro, sabi ni God, sobrang dami na ng pinagdaanan mo, this time, I will give you the desires of your heart,” Barretto added.
Barretto also said she is ready to do another soap opera, hopefully after she wraps up with her movie.
"Hopefully after nitong movie, soap opera na. I’m so thankful sa Claudinians because they’re so patient and you know, everyday, they inspire me. Kahit ilang years na ang nakalipas, they still believe in me. They’re my inspiration also, aside from my family," she said.
She is also thankful that her children, especially Sabina and Santino, are supportive of her showbiz comeback.
“Kasi before when I wasn’t working yet, they told me, ‘Mom, it’s okay if you want to work.’ So ngayon, alam na nila that Mama’s going to Florence for, like, 2 to 3 weeks. They’re actually excited," she shared.
According to Barretto, she wants her movie with Pascual to be something people will remember for a long time.
"I want it to be a movie na matatandaan ng lahat ng tao at maipagmamalaki ng kids ko at ma-a-appreciate ng generations to come," she said.
Photo from Metro Style
Reconciliation with Gretchen
Barretto also talked about her reconciliation with her sister Gretchen, with whom she had a public feud in the past.
“The way we met, ayaw na naming pag-usapan, kasi para sa’min, kung ano ’yung past, we don’t really want to go back to it kasi negative. Basta anything na negative na marinig namin ng ate ko, ayaw na namin. Tapos na ’yun. It was God’s perfect timing, ’yun ang sinasabi namin talaga, kung paano nangyari ’yun. Oras na talaga para mangyari ’yun. Our parents are very happy," she said.
She also said her sister has played a big role in raising her children.
"For the longest time, I was doing it single-handedly, but thank God, I have Gretchen in my life now and Dada (Gretchen’s partner, Tonyboy Cojuangco) and her family and her friends to help me raise my children. Hindi ako nahihiya magsabi na she’s helping me raise my children," Barretto said.
It was only last March when the two first revealed that they ended their bitter feud with just a simple hug.
Their feud began in 2013 because Gretchen shared allegations about Claudine's mental health and drug problems.