Barbie missed a casting opportunity in three of Marian Rivera’s shows!

“Kapuso Primetime Princess” Barbie Forteza has recalled the reasons why she was never picked as young Marian Rivera for the actress’s titular roles: “MariMar,” “Darna,” and “Dyesebel.”

Barbie has detailed these hilariously failed auditions, together with David Licauco, during an interview in “Fast Talk With Boy Abunda” on Monday, February 12, 2024.

Before Barbie became a household name of GMA-7, there was a point in time when she missed landing on several roles due to some tiny lapses.

Barbie Forteza
IMAGE: janra_ on Instagram

When asked about it, Barbie says, “Yung tatlong unang teleserye po ni Miss Marian Rivera, nag-audition po ako as young—yung ‘Marimar,’ ‘Dyesebel,’ saka ‘Darna.’”

With a little laugh, Barbie recalls further, “So, siyempre, yung una, ‘Marimar,’ hindi po ako natanggap kasi takot ako sa aso noon. E, ‘di po ba, may Pulgoso,” which refers to Marimar’s loyal guard dog in the series.

Such was also the case when she auditioned as young Dyesebel, mainly because “Hindi ako marunong lumangoy.” 

Taking this particular attempt in a humorous manner, Barbie quips, “Ganda lang siya. Ganda lang ambag ni girl. E, medyo yun yung point nung show, medyo dapat marunong kang lumangoy.”

Drawing laughs from both David and Boy, Barbie continues, “And then, last, nung ‘Darna’ naman po, takot naman ako sa heights. Hindi naman pwedeng lumipad.

“Hindi ko rin sure ba’t din ako nag-audition pero yun po,” Barbie finishes.

Barbie’s claim to fame would eventually become another young role, as young Rhian Ramos in the 2009 adaptation of the K-Drama series “Stairway To Heaven.”