Joyce Ching and her "unexpected friendship" with Lauren Young

Joyce Ching and Lauren Young's Dormitoryo characters may be “frenemies” on TV, but the two young actresses are close friends behind the camera.

In an interview on the set of the said suspenserye last November 7, Joyce shared about playing the role of Airiz, her closeness with Lauren, and what viewers can expect from Dormitoryo.

The former tween star has portrayed various kontrabida roles in the past. Does playing the role of Airiz still pose a challenge for her?

"Ngayon po medyo nasasanay na rin kasi nakailang tapings na rin kami. At saka, siguro nakatulong na rin kasi dahil medyo matagal na kaming nagte-taping, mas naging comfortable na ako sa co-actors ko so hindi na ako masyadong nagho-hold back. Hindi na ako masyadong nahihiya sa kung ano ba 'yung gusto kong gawin sa eksena. Nagagawa ko na siya," she explains.

A lot of developments and new twists have been introduced in the show, and Joyce says there are still a lot of things to watch out for. "Mas marami na silang malalaman tungkol kay Maika, kung ano ang nangyari sa kanya noon, kung ano ba talaga si Maika, mabait ba siya o killer din ba siya o nag-suicide ba siya. At si Rose, marami rin siyang revelations na ibibigay. Si Airiz naman, nagpapakabait pero hindi natin alam kung nagpapakabait ba talaga."

When asked about her relationship with her co-stars, especially Lauren Young, this is what Joyce had to say: "Sobrang okay po namin ni Lauren. Actually hindi ko rin talaga ine-expect na na magiging ka-close ko siya kasi ang first impression ko sa kanya parang masungit na very sosyal lang na hindi namamansin, very formal. Tapos nung nagkasama na kami, nag-start na kami mag-taping, ay, sobrang kabaliktaran. Nagiging prim and proper lang siya kapag kailangan, kung may events. Pero off-cam, sobrang labo-labo lang, kaya masaya."

She further reveals how they both help each other in their scenes. "Saka sobrang okay niya po katrabaho bilang artista kasi binabantayan niya rin talaga pati 'yung mga ginagawa ko, 'yung itsura ko. Minsan kapag magte-take na kami, kapag nakita niyang parang oily na 'yung balat ko, sasabihin niya, 'Uy mag-retouch ka.' Tapos nagbabantayan kami ng acting, lalo na minsan kung madaling araw na, may times na bagong gising, medyo tamad-tamad acting, parang. 'Uy ayusin mo'."

Catch Joyce Ching as Airiz in Dormitoryo, Sundays after Sunday All Stars, and in Bubble Gang, Friday nights after GMA Telebabad. -- Text by Michelle Caligan, Photo by Bochic Estrada, GMANetwork.com