Jennylyn Mercado Reflects on Her Humble Beginnings W/ John Lloyd & Bea Alonzo
JENNYLYN MERCADO – Actress Jennylyn Mercado fondly looks back on her time as an ‘extra’ in John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo’s series, reminiscing about the humble beginnings of her journey in showbiz.
Did you know that Jennylyn Mercado began her career as an “extra” in a TV series featuring John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo? In a vlog by GMA Network, the Kapuso Ultimate Star reflected on her very first TV role in the ABS-CBN drama series Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay.
The show aired from 2002 to 2003, with a cast that included not only John Lloyd and Bea but also Lorna Tolentino, Edu Manzano, and Shaina Magdayao. Jennylyn revealed that her scene with John Lloyd marked her television debut, even before she joined StarStruck.
“‘Yung eksena namin ni John Lloyd, ito ‘yung pinakauna kong guest appearance sa TV. Wala pa ako sa StarStruck noon,” she shared. “So parang ang Tita Becky (Aguila, talent manager) ang sabi lang e, kailangan ng kaeksena ni John Lloyd.”
“Akala ko naman extra lang ako, maglalakad lang ako ganyan tapos mag-hi or nabangga lang. ‘Di ko naman alam na pagseselosan pala ako ni Bea dito with English lines,” she recalled with a laugh.
Jennylyn also remembered feeling anxious during the shoot. Little did she know that over a decade later, she would be working alongside John Lloyd again—this time as his co-star. In 2016, they were paired in Star Cinema’s romantic-comedy film Just The 3 Of Us.
According to the report, Jennylyn admitted she felt a lot of pressure during the project. “Hindi rin ako nagi-expect ng kahit ano pero siyempre ‘yung mga ginawa niyang pelikula puro blockbusters so nakakatakot baka hindi ko mapantayan,” she said.
She further shared that adapting to her role and the challenges of life wasn’t easy. “Medyo matagal po talaga akong nakakapag-adjust, hindi lang sa set, sa lahat ng nangyayari sa buhay ko.” she added.
Despite these challenges, Jennylyn Mercado has proven herself as one of the most accomplished actresses in the industry today. From her humble beginnings as an “extra” in John Lloyd and Bea’s series, she has shown why she deserves her title as the Ultimate Star.
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