Shaira Diaz plays an assassin on upcoming action-adventure series ‘Lolong’

Shaira Diaz will be taking on extreme action scenes as an assassin on the upcoming biggest action-adventure series titled “Lolong” on GMA.

In an interview with GMA News Online, Shaira said she would play Ria, the series’ leading lady, alongside Ruru Madrid who will take on the role of Lolong.

“Ma-aksyon talaga siya, strong woman siya at maabilidad siya, kasi si Rea ay isang trained assassin. So nakaka-excite kasi first time kong makakagawa ng full action-packed talaga na character,” Shaira told GMA News Online.

The actress said the show would feature extreme action scenes that she planned to execute without a double if possible.

“Nagka-idea na po ako nung ito lang Saturday, nag-taping ako ng ‘Wish Ko Lang’ with Direk Rommel, so siya rin ’yung direktor namin for ‘Lolong.’ Nakwento niya sa ’kin na ‘sobrang na-excite na ako sa role mo kasi sobrang ganda ng mga action kakaiba,’ sabi niya,” she said.

According to Shaira, some of the daring action scenes will be shot on a helicopter, building, underwater, and many more.

“Nabanggit niya rin sa ’kin na merong tatalon sa building, so sabi niya sa ’kin, ‘’nak papatalunin kita sa building,’” she said.

“May ganoon siyang sinabi na sakin and sabi niya may underwater fighting scene din ako, so doon pa lang nagulat na ako wala pa akong nakikita na show sa GMA na gumagawa ng mga ganon,” she added.

Being aware that this would be GMA’s first action-packed series, Shaira said, “sabi ko talagang wow gagalingin ko talaga ’to, ka-career-in ko talaga ’to.”

Shaira said she had watched a couple of behind-the-scenes of action shows that she would use as peg for her portrayal of an assassin.

“Nanood na ako ng mga action movies, actually more on ’yung mga behind the scenes ng mga action [movies] na gusto ko talagang i-peg dito sa ‘Lolong,’ ’yung ‘The Old Guard.’ ’Yun ’yung isa kong pine-peg talaga, ’yun ’yung priority ko na pine-peg ko,” Shaira said.

Shaira said she loved the action scenes of Hollywood actress Charlize Theron.

“Kakaiba yung galawan nila doon eh. Ang daming inarte ni Charlize Theron, madami siyang trinain na iba’t ibang klaseng martial arts,” she said.

Shaira said she would also undergo training for her role as an assassin.

“Ang alam ko kasi magte-train din ako and ’yung ‘Wanted,’ ’yung kay Angelina Jolie, kasi parang mga assasin din sila doon, so ’yun  ‘yung mga peg kong ginagawa,” she said.

While she’s waiting to start the trainings, Shaira said she would start her diet and workout routines to physically prepare for the role.

“And of course diet, nagsa-start na po akong mag-diet siguro after po ng week na ’to. Kasi prelim po namin ngayon, magsa-start na po ako mag-workout-workout dito sa labas ng bahay naming. Baka magtatakbo ako, jogging more on sariling sikap na lang muna, kasi natatakot po akong lumabas sa gym kaya dito na lang po muna sa bahay,” she said.

Just last week, Shaira broke into tears when she learned she was cast as leading lady for “Lolong.”

Shaira starred on “Love You Two” in 2019 and “Pamilya Roces” in 2018. – RC, GMA News