Pinky Amador on receiving hate for her kontrabida roles: 'Effective ako kaya sila galit'

When audiences are deeply moved by the story and hooked on the characters, they often forget that behind every role in movies or series is a real human being.  

Artists who play villain roles are commonly at the receiving end of hate comments, and Pinky Amador, who plays iconic kontrabida, knows very much how it feels.  

In an interview with TV host Aster Amoyo, the actress revealed the “most intense” encounter she had with stranger who instantly judged her on their random meeting.

“Ang pinaka-grabe na siguro (na) nangyari sa akin, nasa grocery ako. May kasalubong ako sa aisle, sabi (niya) ‘hmmp ayoko ko niyan, masama yan eh.’ Hanggang doon lang,” she recalled.  

When asked how she handles similar situations, she said she just looks at the brighter side of things. 

“Walang lang... anong magagawa ko? Ibig sabihin lang po nun, nadadala sila. At kung nadadala sila, siguro ibig sabihin lang po nun nagagampanan po natin ang ating role,” she said.  

“You cannot change the way people act or behave. Ang mababago mo lang is ‘yung kung papano mo tatanggapin ‘yung mga batikos na ‘yun. So ako, I choose na tanggapin siya in a positive way na ‘ah effective ako kaya sila galit,’” she added.  

Despite often getting the wrong impression from people, she said “it’s so much fun playing kontrabida roles.” 

WATCH: Grateful Pinky Amador reflects on 40 years in showbiz

For Pinky, the secret to being an “effective” kontrabida is understanding where your role is coming from. 

“Kailangan talaga kung ano man ang pinanghuhugutan niya, talagang totoo para sa'yo,” she said. 

“‘Yun din ang lagi kong sinasabi, kasi I also teach acting, ‘yun din ang sinasabi ko: ‘ang kontrabida ay may pinanghuhugutan.’ Hindi lang siya bad for the sake of being bad. Hindi lang siya masama dahil gusto lang niya mang-api. Meron siyang pinaghihigantihan, merong nangyari sa kanya, may backstory, may nangyari sa kanya kaya siya ganyan,” she added.  

Pinky, whose training ground was theater, said being a theater actress also worked on her advantage as a television actress.

“Siyempre galing tayong teatro, talagang trained po kami na kahit hindi nandoon sa script, mag-iimbento ka sa sarili mo ‘bakit ako ganito?’ Para lang ‘pag na-translate na po siya sa telebisyon, makikita mo ‘ay may hugot si madam.’ May laman yung mata niya, nasasaktan din siya, parang ganon,” she explained.  

In the same interview, Pinky recalled how her late aunt Zeneida Amador, founder of Repertory Philippines, influenced her acting career.  

“Siyempre sobrang laking influence,” she said. “Wala pong dumaan ng Repertory Philippines na hindi naimpluwensiyahan ng Tita Bibot ko or ng Tita Baby (Barredo) ko kasi they taught us by fear. Fear was their motivating factor. Nung mga araw kasi yun ang uso. Tatakutin yan hangga’t wala na yang choice except mag-deliver.”