Katrina Halili: Making It Big in Showbiz

September 11, 2007

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She made her mark in the hit talent search StarStruck and was later voted as the country’s sexiest woman for two consecutive years (2006-2007) according to FHM magazine. For someone who was a reluctant star, Katrina Halili has made a big leap to showbiz.

While it might be a dizzying turn for her — from being a nobody to being one of the most desired sexy young actresses today — Katrina is taking everything in stride. Fame is something that was incidental for her. She never even imagined herself being a showbiz star.

“I was eating in a restaurant. I was approached by someone from GMA 7 and I was asked if I wanted to join StarStruck,” Katrina shares. “I gave it a try, but I didn’t know there was no turning back for me. I didn’t regret what I did. I’m happy with the way things turned out for me.”

The self-confessed mahiyain entered showbiz with a bang. Her instant success paved the way for her to appear on billboards, magazine covers, primetime TV and print. To date, she even clinched product endorsements. Yet, the public couldn’t seem to get enough of Katrina.

She has become the fantasy of half of the male population; the object of desire even of older men. She has even gotten indecent propositions.

Originally from Quezon City, Katrina spent her memorable childhood years in El Nido in Palawan. Being an introvert, Katrina professes that she’s really a shy person. Contrary to her image as one of the hottest young ladies in the local entertainment scene, she prefers to be a homebody instead of going out.

Her credits as an actress include the Quark Henares film Super Noypi, as well as Gigil and Sablay Ka Na, Pasaway Pa. She also has several popular primetime TV appearances like Darna, Majika, Ang Ganda ng Lola Ko and Atlantika.

More recently, she played Ashley, the partner-in-crime of Lupin in the recently-concluded Richard Gutierrez primetime starrer, Lupin. To add to the list of her contravida roles, Katrina plays Angelika on GMA 7’s hit revival of the Mexican telenovela, Marimar, where she gets to display her body-to-die-for.

Her Marimar exposure has created a lot of buzz for her particularly her steamy kissing scene with Richard Gomez. But Katrina dismisses it as purely work. She insists Richard’s wife, Lucy Torres, has nothing to worry about because Katrina respects Richard as a co-actor.

She was also pitted against another sexy actress, Ehra Madrigal, her co-star on Lupin. Purveyors of intrigue tried to make a rivalry between the two sexy stars in an effort to make them fight. But Katrina insists everything is purely work-based, thus avoiding any clash with Ehra.

Katrina has had her share of negative publicity and some of the write-ups affected her emotionally. After nearly four years in showbiz, she still has to learn to take the criticism with a grain of salt. “I get easily affected when something bad is said about me,” Katrina admits. “I have yet to learn how to play the showbiz game. I have yet to learn to accept that I can’t please everybody.”

When she’s not busy with her showbiz commitments, Katrina loves to surf the Net and answer her fan mail, listen to sentimental rock music, play volleyball, badminton and go swimming.

“Simple lang ang gusto ko,” she asserts. “Mababaw lang ako. I’m trying to make the most out of what I have now. I also save up for my future. Kapag nawala na ko sa showbiz even next year, I can always return to my simple life in Palawan, where I grew up. That won’t be too hard for me to do.”

To keep her body in shape and to maintain that FHM sexiest woman look, 21-year-old Katrina regularly goes to Belo for body treatments and procedures. Weekly, she gets a whole body scrub (a combination of sea salt, honey and almond which removes dead, dry and rough skin leaving it baby soft and smooth).

She also does Lipo Lite to contour the skin’s surface and body shape. Monthly, she goes to Belo for a laser tenor treatment to tone her back and tummy area. The non-surgical procedure also tightens her skin.

“Since you are in showbiz, you might as well look good,” Katrina grants. “I’m very happy with the treatments and procedures I get from Belo. Malaking tulong sa career ko. Pinapaganda nila ako.”

Katrina cannot be thankful enough for every good project after another coming her way. However, she will not mind bowing out from showbiz in case the offers have stopped coming. “Hindi ko ipipilit ang sarili ko kung ayaw na sa akin ng tao,” Katrina maintains. “But right now na pinapanood pa nila ako at marami pang naniniwala sa akin, sobrang thankful ako sa lahat ng supporters ko. I know showbiz is temporary. You just have to give your best in everything that you do.”

SOURCE: Leah Salterio on philstar.com

Posted in Katrina Halili, Kapuso