CARLA Abellana is, no doubt, one of today’s more bankable actresses. Fans not only adore her for her beauty but for her acting prowess as well.
There seems to be no stopping Carla’s rise to fame since getting that acting break from Regal’s Lily and Roselle Monteverde via “Shake, Rattle & Roll’s” “Punerarya” episode.
She has, so far, been recognized by the Young Critics Circle for Best Performance and has been named the 27th Star Awards for Movies Best New Movie Actress.
Carla’s lead role in “Punerarya” was followed by another moving performance in the sex-drama “My Neighbor’s Wife,” where she pitted talents with Dennis Trillo, Lovi Poe and Jake Cuenca.
Her star shone even brighter when she was included in the ensemble cast of yet another Regal film, “Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow,” which earned for the actress several nominations as well.
This year, Carla returned to the Regal Entertainment, Inc. arena via the horror movie “Third Eye,” followed by her first-ever romantic pairing with Tom Rodriguez, the romantic-comedy “So It’s You.”
Carla and Tom’s team-up first became phenomenal in the hit TV drama series “My Husband’s Lover,” for which she was given the Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Drama Series award by the Golden Screen.
She and Tom topbill yet another Kapuso drama series, “My Destiny,” which is aired weeknights.
On the big screen, meanwhile, writer-director Joey Reyes has tapped Carla to play Sabrina Madrilejos, an ambitious and hardworking advertising creative director.
This time, the actress is paired with young showbiz hunk Matteo Guidicelli.
Observers who have seen Carla and Matteo’s scenes together say the young actor is obviously smitten by his leading lady’s charm every time they’re on the set.
In “Somebody to Love,” Carla, as Sabrina, is loveless. She only has long-time best friend Jason Abalos whose decision to leave the country to work abroad nips any chance of them ever becoming a couple.
Then comes Matteo, a rich young businessman looking for somebody he would fall madly in love with.
Carla and Matteo’s relationship, however, hardly takes off because of the guy’s occasional bed partner (played by Isabel Daza), a hotelier based abroad.
So, Sabrina’s character poses new challenges to Carla’s acting ability considering Direk Joey’s very real treatment of the modern romantic comedy.
Luckily for the young actress, the multi-award-winning writer-director only has nice words about her.
“Carla’s such a wonderful person to work with. Very cooperative and very charming! Ang galing niya,” Direk Joey says of Carla.
Aside from Carla, Matteo, Jason and Isabel, moviegoers must also watch out for the performances of the other cast members like Iza Calzado, Kiray Celis, Albie Casino, Ella Cruz, Maricar Reyes, David Chua, Jaclyn Jose, Jackie Lou Blanco and more.
“Somebody to Love,” which hits local screens August 20, setves as Mother Lily’s birthday presentation.
