MANILA -- Actress Jodi Sta. Maria on Tuesday expressed her excitement over her upcoming series "Lavender Fields," which will join the Primetime Bida lineup beginning this September.

In an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN News, Sta. Maria shared her happiness watching the drama's official trailer released online by show producer Dreamscape Entertainment.

The 2022 Asian Academy Creative Awards’ Best Actress boasted that aside from complex tale of love, duality and redemption, one of the drama's strengths is its stellar cast.

"It's a complex love story as well, I'd say it's a redemption story too. So ang daming nangyayari. Isa 'yon sa magiging strength I believe ng 'Lavender Fields' siyempre contrary to what others believe na 'ah ano lang 'yan typical revenge story.' But no, it's not. Of course, it's from Dreamscape Entertainment. I mean this is you know a credible source of beautiful seryes," Sta. Maria said.

"Also the cast, stellar, superb cast 'yung makakasama. So isa rin 'yon sa strength ng 'Lavender Fields' kasi napakahuhusay ng mga aktor, hindi ba? Powerhouse talaga," Sta. Maria added.

Sta. Maria was all smile when she shared how she always looks forward to go to set to work with her co-stars.

Joining Sta. Maria in the drama are Jericho Rosales, Janine Gutierrez, Jolina Magdangal and Maricel Soriano. Edu Manzano, and Albert Martinez. Young stars Krystal Mejes, Marc Santiago, Jana Agoncillo and Miguel Vergara are also part of the show. 

Krystal Mejes, Marc Santiago, Jana Agoncillo and Miguel Vergara join 'Lavender Fields'

"I always look forward to the set knowing that I'm working with them. I work with Inay (Soriano) before. I worked with Echo (Rosales) that was like ages ako. And it's my first time working with Janine (Gutierrez.). I'm also working with Tito Edu, working with Albert Martinez, Kuya A, na ang sarap-sarap lang to be working with them. Kasi napaka-professional. Parang minsan, pwedeng huwag na ako sumali, papanoorin ko na lang kayo, kasi ang galing. Ang galing parang there's such a joy to watch," Sta. Maria said.

Jodi's first action drama 

Sta. Maria will once again prove her versatility as she is also set to do action scenes for the first time in "Lavender Fields."

The Kapamilya actress admitted that doing action scenes is not easy, stressing that it requires a lot of preparation and training.  

"Maraming pag-iingat, hindi lang para sa sarili kung hindi para sa mga ka-eksena at stunt people. We usually allot one day to rehearse the fight scenes before namin siya i-shoot, let's say the following week pa or maybe the following day or maybe three days later, ganoon. Hindi siya 'yung nire-rehearse sa set tapos sa set iti-take, hindi siya ganoon," Sta. Maria said.

Sta. Maria said they called the action scenes "cinematic Filipino martial arts."

"The intention really is not to hit, the intention is ipakita na nandoon 'yung galaw, nandoon 'yung movement without actually striking your opponent because you are using it for television," Sta. Maria said.

"Maraming hand sometimes may mga acessories na ginagamit, 'yung basic sa boxing tinuruan din nila ako. We also did a lot of strength and conditioning to avoid injuries," Sta. Maria shared.

Sta. Maria's last TV series was the groundbreaking and historic drama 'Unbreak My Heart," the first collaboration between ABS-CBN and GMA, which concluded in November last year.  

Jodi Sta. Maria coming back to primetime in 'Lavender Fields'

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