Amidst the countless teselerye tropes in local soap operas, the evil stepsister is probably one of the most well-loved character archetypes out there. Filipinos love to hate on a family antagonist who bullies the oh-so-perfect leading lady, especially when the villainess is played by a talented actress like Maris Racal.
In case you don't know, Maris recently took on a kontrabida role in the trending Netflix series Can't Buy Me Love. The show revolves around a persistent and thrifty seller named Bingo (Donny Pangilinan), who saves Caroline (Belle Mariano) from kidnappers who tried to drown her. As the black sheep of the family, Caroline constantly butts heads with her feisty stepsister, Maris' Irene, due to the latter's manipulative scheming.
LOOK: Netizens React to Maris Racal's Performance in Can't Buy Me Love
With the recent release of new episodes earlier this week, Maris' latest scenes made waves on social media thanks to her jaw-dropping kontrabida prowess. Her name even climbed up on the trending charts of X as many netizens expressed awe at her stellar portrayal of Irene.
Netizens lauded Maris' attention to detail, from her sharp line delivery to her subtle yet recognizable facial expressions. One even called her a "bida-kontrabida star!"
Some were pleasantly surprised by Maris' believable performance as a villainess, especially because she's typically known for her comedic roles.
Meanwhile, her long-time supporters pointed out that this actually isn't the first serious role that Maris has played. They shared some of Maris' scenes in Pamilya Ko and Ipaglaban Mo!, acknowledging that Maris has always been a versatile artist.
Fans encouraged Maris to pursue more lead roles next time, with a few likening her to veteran actresses like Jodi Sta. Maria and Angelica Panganiban.
Many also admitted they can't help but root for Irene because Maris made the complex character so likeable.
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