Barbie Forteza may be taking on her first horror lead in the upcoming film “P77,” but she isn’t walking into the genre unprepared. Far from it. The 26-year-old actress is approaching the psychological thriller with the kind of thought, discipline, and emotional depth that’s rarely talked about in Philippine showbiz — and it’s this very approach that proves just how serious she is about her craft.
At the film’s grand media conference this week, Barbie didn’t just promote “P77.” In fielding a flurry of questions in the warm, respectful tone she’s come to be known for and admired, she effectively gave everyone in the room a masterclass in self-taught acting.
Still, she spoke not with pretense, but with steady conviction and a refreshing clarity not often heard in local entertainment circles. Listening to her describe her experience working under director Derick Cabrido, it was clear that her approach to playing Luna — a cruise ship chambermaid-turned-desperate-sister — was deliberate, focused, and deeply rooted. Even the smallest element of her preparation was chosen with care, including a particular ritual that awakened her instinct and connected her to the emotional landscape of her character.
“When I get to work, I try to make all my senses aware that I’m on the set of P77,” she shared, explaining how she wore a specific perfume just for the role. “When I smell it, I know I’m Luna.” It’s a technique she’s used before — a kind of sensory bookmark that allows her to step into character instantly. “Scent holds a different kind of significance for me. It really makes a lot of difference, especially when I’m getting into character. I think that’s one of the purposes of immersion — so you can truly take in the scent of the location, feel it beneath your feet, and connect with the space you’re acting in.”
To the unfamiliar, this kind of process might sound curious. But for actors trained in or drawn to deeper methodologies, what Barbie does is a variation of sensory-based technique — one closely tied to the principles of the Meisner approach.
“I’ve had to learn everything along the way, because I never had any formal acting workshops,” she humbly admitted. “But I watch interviews of my favorite actors — like Javier Bardem, Judi Dench, and Meryl Streep — and I learned that many of them use the Meisner technique. That made me curious, so I read up on it and researched what it was all about.”
Developed by Sanford Meisner, the method focuses on truthful behavior in imaginary circumstances. It trains actors to be fully present, to respond organically to their scene partners, and to rely on external stimuli instead of drawing from personal memories — making it distinct from method acting.
“That’s why Meisner works better in the Philippines,” Barbie added, “because we often shoot scenes out of sequence. Sometimes I’d be filming three projects at once so I need to do something that helps me to be present and truthful in the moment. And as actors, truth is always what we try to bring to everything we do.”
This pursuit of truth, however, proved especially challenging in “P77” — precisely because fear is such a difficult emotion to summon repeatedly. Barbie explained, “Fear is not something you usually allow yourself to feel in real life, but here — with a horror film — you have to make yourself scared on cue, over and over, from different angles, for different takes. Here, you have to call it up and live in it.”
Set for theatrical release on July 30, “P77” tells the story of Luna, who returns home from working on a cruise ship to care for her younger brother (played by award-winning child actor Euwenn Mikaell). She finds their mother (Rosanna Roces) missing and, in desperation, hides with her brother in a seemingly vacant condo unit — only to discover that Penthouse 77 is hiding something far more sinister.
Still, Barbie never appeared the least bit weighed down at the press event. She spoke with calm and confidence, brushing off praise with a smile, yet never diminishing the work she put into her performance. She shared how she reads the entire script before each shoot day — even if only a few scenes are scheduled — to orient herself with her character’s emotional journey. She listens to calming music to help set her tone. She studies the physical space around her to absorb its energy and use it as part of her performance. It’s all part of a careful, committed process.
That consistency and preparation — long a hallmark of Barbie’s work ethic across every project — did not go unnoticed by the production team. Nessa Valdellon of GMA Public Affairs said of Barbie: “She’s such a pro. Always early, always prepared. There are no tantrums, no drama. She just comes in and does the work — brilliantly.”
Director Cabrido echoed that confidence. “This is not the usual horror film. And Barbie is not your usual actress,” he said.
And she certainly isn’t. For all her charm and screen presence, Barbie speaks with the self-awareness of someone who knows her worth, yet remains grounded in her desire to keep learning.
“I didn’t enter showbiz to be famous,” she said. “I entered because I wanted to act. Acting is my work. I want to be respected not as a celebrity, but as an actor.”
With “P77,” it’s hard to imagine how she won’t be. Whether or not the film becomes a box office hit, one thing is certain: Barbie Forteza has long outgrown the labels of child star, teen sweetheart, or network gem. What she is now is a serious actress — deeply committed, thoroughly prepared, and unmistakably in her prime. And by all accounts, just getting started.
“P77” is production of GMA Pictures and GMA Public Affairs and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
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