Maja Salvador's career heats up

Updated 04:03pm (Mla time) Oct 29, 2004
By Jocelyn Valle
Inquirer News Service



Editor's Note: Published on page A4-2 of the October 30, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer


EVER since she got into a vehicular accident a few weeks ago, Maja Salvador would start to get panicky whenever her car would suddenly accelerate. "I was traumatized by that experience," she shares. "My knees and feet were badly bruised, so I couldn't walk for four days! Now, I don't even want to learn how to drive anymore."

There's one thing, though, that Maja is glad to be picking up speed these days: Her less-than-a-year-old career in show business. She's in the popular soap, "It Might Be You," and will soon move up to lead-star status in a new show on ABS-CBN.

The 16-year-old member of the illustrious Salvador show biz clan (her father went by the screen name, Ross Rival) is also in the cast of the reunion movie of director Joyce Bernal and comedian Vhong Navarro, the horror-comedy "D'Anothers."

Although Maja is a gifted singer and dancer, she wants to focus on acting for now.

"I'd like to be good in drama like my favorite actresses, Vilma Santos, Sharon Cuneta and Maricel Soriano," she shares.

Maja remembers entertaining houseguests with songs and dances when she was a child. "It's always been my dream to be an actress," she smiles.

She credits the workshops she's attended under Beverly Vergel for bringing out the actress in her. "I used to have a hard time expressing emotions in front of the camera, I couldn't cry," she recalls. "During one session at the workshop, I was asked to cry for 10 hours! I learned believability from that exercise."

She's also grateful for the support that she gets from the cast of "It Might Be You," especially John Prats, who's her love interest. "He was my first crush," she giggles. "I used to watch him on 'Ang TV,' and I told my cousins that we would be in a love team someday."

But, when Maja finally met John on the set of their soap, she didn't know how to relate to him. "So, I refrained from talking to him," she winces.

When the characters of John and Bea moved to Pampanga, the young stars had to tape scenes in Cavite. "John and I had nobody else to hang out with except each other, so we got very close."

But, no, there's nothing going on between them, says the pretty actress. Ditto for Igi Boy (Aga Muhlach and Janice de Belen's son), who's said to be courting her, and Railey Valeroso.

Maja has also found friendship with other ABS-CBN talents. She's closest to Roxanne Guinoo. "I rooted for her when she competed in 'SCQ.' But, I miss my school pals. I had to shift to distance learning because of my hectic schedule.

"On my last day in regular school, my classmates cried with me. Too bad, I can't join them on field trips and retreats anymore."