Actress and singer Janella Salvador reaffirmed her support for the LGBTQIA+ community as she emphasized the importance of accurate representation in film and television during the recent Star Magic Spotlight event.
Janella shared that she is grateful to have been given opportunities to portray queer characters, particularly in her latest Cinemalaya entry, Open Endings, where she plays Charlie.
“I enjoy my interactions with the community. And not just that, of course, to be able to have a voice, to be able to represent. I’m very grateful for that,” she said, adding that she has been receiving offers for queer films following Open Endings.
The 27-year-old star said she carefully chooses projects that align with her advocacy.
“I always make sure that the representation is done right. I don’t want to just accept a project for the sake of it. I’m also fighting for proper representation,” she said.
The Open Endings star described the Cinemalaya film as “a queer, sapphic story about four exes turned friends.” Unlike most coming-out or romantic comedy plots, she said the film focuses on women’s perspectives and the dynamics of female friendship.
“This project is truly a dream come true for me. I’ve long been vocal about wanting to take on a role like this, a queer project, and to have it be part of Cinemalaya makes it even more special,” Janella shared.
Open Endings screens at Cinemalaya at Red Carpet Cinemas in Shangri-La Plaza, the festival’s new main venue.
Meanwhile, apart from promoting her latest indie film, Janella is preparing for the ABS-CBN series What Lies Beneath, a murder mystery starring Charlie Dizon, Sue Ramirez, Kaila Estrada, Jake Cuenca, and JM de Guzman. She takes on the role of a mother in the upcoming show.
“I’m excited about this project because it’s my first time working with Charlie, Sue, and Kaila. They’re all great actresses, and it’s really nice to work with talented people. We feed off each other’s energy on set,” she said.
She is also working on a new album, saying that music remains her “first love.”
“It’s been a long process, it’s taking a bit of time because I’m balancing it with my acting project, but I’m hopeful that I can do both well,” she said.
