Anna Marie Lukban

Inside Liezel: Kolette Madelo on her lovable yet complicated character in “What Lies Beneath”

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Rianna Mae Santiago

Butterflies aren’t foreign to “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/what-lies-beneath" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">What Lies Beneath</a>.” Beyond its prevailing thriller elements, the show captures the magic of true love through its characters—particularly the young Liezel, played by Kolette Madelo, who unexpectedly finds herself falling for Louisa (Mutya Orquia). This sapphic romance became one of the show’s highlights, celebrating a diverse love that embodies the feeling of being accepted for who you truly are. For Kolette, she certainly adores Liezel’s capacity to love which deeply stems from her inherently kind-hearted nature, a trait she carries into adulthood (portrayed by Mary Joy Apostol). This is especially evident when she saves Bianca Seropon from the trauma inflicted by her spiteful mother and sexually abusive stepfather. Beyond that, Liezel chooses to keep Bianca’s secret about loving a girl, for the reason that she sees herself in Bianca and hopes she won’t endure the same torment she faced fourteen years earlier—alongside Louisa.When discussing what she dislikes most about Liezel, Kolette points to the moment her character refused to admit that she was Louisa’s “bana,” or secret lover, while Beth (Charlie Dizon), Erica (Kaila Estrada), Mel (Sue Ramirez), and Alice (Janella Salvador) were desperately seeking for clear answers. Beyond this, Liezel’s tendency to hide the truth proves frustrating, as it can hurt those around her—including Angelo (Marlo Mortel), who spent years feeling that Liezel’s love for Louisa outweighed her love for him.  See more of Liezel’s newfound bravery in “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/what-lies-beneath" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">What Lies Beneath</a>,” airing weeknights on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Channel sa ALLTV2, A2Z, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), and <a href="https://app.iwanttfc.com/dFR6MWHAcVb" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">iWant</a>.

In this exclusive interview, “What Lies Beneath” star Kolette Madelo reveals the loving and distressing side of her character, Liezel Basa.

In this exclusive interview, “What Lies Beneath” star Kolette Madelo reveals the loving and distressing side of her character, Liezel Basa.

Inside Liezel: Kolette Madelo on her lovable yet complicated character in “What Lies Beneath”

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Inside Liezel: Kolette Madelo on her lovable yet complicated character in “What Lies Beneath”

Rianna Santiago

Published Jan 22, 2026 02:26 AM PHT

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Updated Jan 22, 2026 08:29 AM PHT

Read More:

What Lies Beneath

Kolette Madelo

Liezel Basa

What Lies Beneath Liezel

Mary Joy Apostol

Mutya Orquia

Louisa Soria

Marlo Mortel

Angelo Basa

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