Maris Racal Lands Lead Role— Here’s What Made Her Stand Out
MARIS RACAL – When Antoinette Jadaone set out to find the perfect lead for her film Sunshine, one name kept rising to the top—Maris Racal—and here’s why.
Acclaimed director Antoinette Jadaone recently opened up about her decision to cast Kapamilya actress Maris Racal as the lead in her upcoming film Sunshine. The announcement was made through a post by Project 8 Projects on their official social media accounts, where Jadaone detailed why Maris was the perfect fit for the titular role.
Sunshine follows the story of a young gymnast, played by Maris, who discovers she is pregnant during the same week she’s set to try out for the national gymnastics team. In her struggle, she meets a mysterious girl, portrayed by Annika Co, who challenges her choices, especially her plan to meet a dealer selling illegal abortion pills.
“Bakit si Maris? Kasi wala na talaga akong mahanap. Charing,” the Sunshine director quipped, showing both humor and sincerity in her statement.
Jadaone emphasized that Maris possessed the physicality required for the character. The actress’s petite and lean build, along with her background in dancing, gave her a natural grace that aligned with the demands of playing a gymnast.
“Meron siyang yung physique of a gymnast. So she’s petite, she’s lean, dancer din siya so meron na siyang gracefulness in her movement–– physicality ng isang gymnast na check niya na agad. Siguro yun yung hinahanap ko sa artista na magpla-play ng Sunshine,” Antoinette explained.
Beyond just the physical attributes, the director also highlighted Maris’s instincts and skill as an actress. Having previously collaborated with her on The Kangks Show and Simula sa Gitna, Antoinette saw firsthand how Maris approaches her scenes with authenticity.
“Yung someone na itre-treat yung scenes based on how she sees it instinctively as an actress,” she said. “Kadalasan, kapag ang isang artista nabibigyan ng isang role na out of her comfort zone may nabibigay siyang pag arte na masusurprise ka,” she added.
Sunshine is scheduled for release on July 23, exclusively in SM Cinemas across the Philippines. The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has rated the film R-16.
READ ALSO: Maris Racal Gets Emotional During ‘Sunshine’ Premiere at Far East Film Festival