Barbie Forteza opens up about her first no-script film ‘Until She Remembers’

No script, no problem: How Barbie Forteza embraced vulnerability and learned life lessons on set.

Barbie Forteza admits that filming “Until She Remembers” was unlike anything she’s done before, mostly because this dramatic piece by Brillante Ma. Mendoza didn’t come with a traditional script.

“It was challenging, for sure,” Barbie shared. “I hardly felt relaxed on set. Some people even thought I was being ‘supladita’ or snobbish, but really, I was just super focused.” Without a script, she explained, every word from the director became her guide. “Whenever he’s talking, I absorb everything. That’s already my script.”

Fans who know Barbie’s bubbly off-camera personality might have expected a drastic change, but she insisted it was simply about being present. “I don’t know what scene we’re shooting next—if it’s light or heavy. I just have to be on my toes all the time, ready to react. I want to be vulnerable and open to whatever Direk (Mendoza) wants me to do.”

The challenge of working without a script

It was her first time tackling a film with no script, and she called the experience “liberating.” “I really appreciate the lessons I learned, and I’ll definitely carry them to my next projects,” she said.

Even though the story is a layered, hardcore drama, Barbie says the collaborative environment made it easier to navigate. “My character does feel sad, and yes, it was heavy. But all of our actors and especially our director made it easy. They gave us just enough guidance to deliver what the story needed.”

On the film’s themes of same-sex love, Barbie reflected: “What I learned from characters Concha and Catherine is that love may be forgotten, love may be forbidden—but true, unconditional love will always stay.”

She considers it a privilege to have been part of the project. “This is one of those movies I’ll forever be grateful for, because it shows people trust me and take me seriously as an actress. I want to be in this for the long run, and this experience only strengthens that.”

In “Until She Remembers,” Barbie plays Angel, a 16-year-old girl deprived of her family’s care and affection. The film follows her journey to discover the true meaning of love, weaving themes of resilience, forgiveness, and the quiet strength of human connection.

Collaborating with industry icons and Brillante Mendoza

Working alongside industry icons Charo Santos-Concio and Boots Anson-Roa, Barbie said she learned invaluable lessons in professionalism and humanity. “Ma’am Charo and Ma’am Boots are full of grace and respect,” she shared. “They treat everyone kindly, and just witnessing their craft changes how you see the industry–that’s a huge reward for me.”

Barbie also credited the director and co-actors for nurturing her performance. “They really treated me like a kid, in the best way. Even when they spoke to me, they were friendly and patient. It made the experience so natural, so comfortable, that I forgot all my nerves.”

Her role required subtlety and age-appropriate nuances, which Barbie says were informed by her own journey in showbiz. “Starting as a child actor, I know what it’s like to be lost and searching for your place. I brought back those experiences to help Angel’s character feel real.”

Even small details mattered on set. When Barbie asked if her short hair worked for the character, she said her director encouraged her to keep it and suggested bangs for a younger look. “I said okay, no problem. It’s those little moments that helped me fully embody Angel.”

Barbie considers “Until She Remembers” a milestone. “This movie reminds me why I fell in love with acting, why stories matter, and why the trust people give me as an actress is something I will always cherish,” she said.

“Until She Remembers,” produced by Solar Pictures, hits cinemas nationwide on Feb. 25. 

 

 

Starting as a child actor, I know what it’s like to be lost and searching for your place. I brought back those experiences to help Angel’s character feel real.

Barbie Forteza

 

 

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