Andrea Brillantes has always been an open book. The Gen Z actress is not one to shy away from opening up about her life, whether it's her previous relationships or past life experiences. Case in point: The 20-year-old got candid about being bullied when she was younger during the press conference of her latest show, Senior High.
READ: Andrea Brillantes Opens Up on How She Used to Be Bullied by Her Old Friend Group
When asked if she related to her character Luna who always gets bullied in the show, the young star replied that she did, noting however that she related to Luna as Blythe, and not as Andrea, the celebrity. "I relate to Luna as Blythe... not as Andrea na artista na laging bina-bash. Ano kasi, wala na kasi akong magagawa dun," she answered.
Opening up about her younger years, Andrea shared: "There was a point in my life na parang napasok din ako sa friend group tapos akala ko friends ko sila hanggang sa nare-realize ko na, 'Oh my God, unti-unti na akong ginagawang alila or yaya nila.'"
"Tapos hanggang sa 'yung friends ko parang nabu-bully na pala ako, and 'yung mga friends ko na 'to ha," she added.
Andrea shared that she felt hurt with what she was experiencing at the time because she really loved her friend group. "Galing din po sila sa prestigious schools. Tapos sobrang mga below the belt na din 'yung mga ginagawa nila sa akin. Tapos dun po ako nakaka-relate with Luna kasi minahal ko 'tong friend group na ‘to."
Her mental health took a dip due to what she was going through—to the point that she didn't even recognize herself anymore. "Hindi naging maganda 'yung mental health ko. I was at my lowest," she shared. "I was so young, hindi ko nakilala ang sarili ko. Sobrang napunta ako sa friend group na bad influence po talaga."
"But luckily, thank you sa Diyos nakawala ako dun and nahanap ko naman na 'yung sarili ko. And pag tinitingnan ko na lang siya na [parang] kinailangang mangyari 'yun sa buhay ko," she concluded.
Andrea currently stars as Luna in Senior High, ABS-CBN's latest primetime series alongside fellow Gen Z actors Kyle Echarri, Elijah Canlas, Zaijian Jaranilla, and Xyriel Manabat.
*This story originally appeared on Cosmo.ph. Minor edits have been made by the Preview.ph editors.
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