Kim Chiu is done playing it safe.
At the blue carpet premiere and media conference of The Alibi held Nov. 4 at Trinoma Mall in Quezon City, the actress spoke about taking on a more grown-up and emotionally layered role in the new mystery-thriller series opposite Paulo Avelino.
In The Alibi, Kim plays Stella, a headstrong woman who makes a choice for her family and becomes tied to Vincent, played by Paulo, just as he faces a murder accusation—leaving them bound to a deal neither can simply walk away from.
of ‘The Alibi’ in TriNoma
The project marks another reunion for the pair, but Kim said this one pushed her to reveal a side of herself she hadn’t shown on screen before.
“At 35, I’m done with 16-year-old, teeny-teeny roles,” Kim said. She shared that taking on Stella felt like the right moment to move toward something daring and heavier. “I just want to show that I can do it,” she said, adding, “I want to prove that I can do more than what they know.”
in ‘The Alibi’
Paulo noted that the role isn’t about being bold for the sake of it—it reflects Kim’s growth and her readiness for mature material.
“It’s not about showing skin,” he said. “It comes with the maturity of the role and what the story needs. We’re both dedicated to our characters.”
According to Kim, portraying her character required clear communication and a sense of trust.
“I really trust Dreamscape. And of course, Paulo—I can see the respect he has for me,” she said. “That made the more sensitive scenes easier to approach, because I knew he wouldn’t let me feel uncomfortable or unsupported.”
Paulo said he felt the same way. “When you have scenes that are delicate, you really think about whether your co-actor is comfortable,” he said, explaining that he always checks in before filming intense takes.
Kim acknowledged that some scenes can still feel awkward at first. “What we do varies. The intensity [of the scenes] is different every time,” she said. “But we’re both professionals, so we’re able to handle it well,” she added.
While The Alibi leans into heavier emotional territory, Director Onat Diaz said the chemistry between Kim and Paulo remains effortless.
“The kind of kilig from Kim and Paulo is very innate and organic,” Onat said. “It’s not forced. Even before I do anything, you can already feel there’s something there.”
He explained that the romantic pull in the show isn’t fan service. “Everything is done in the service of the story. So, you’ll still root for them—it’s really built into the two,” he said.
“Even with the drama, the action, the tension, you’ll still look for reasons why they should end up together. And I think that’s the most rewarding kind of kilig we can offer.”
Rounding out the all-star cast of The Alibi with Kim and Paulo are John Arcilla, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Sofia Andres, Sam Milby, Rafael Rosell, Robbie Jaworski, and Angelina Cruz.
The series is now available for streaming on Prime Video.
