Gretchen Barretto definitely enjoys working for her first major teledrama Magkaribal despite its heavy demand on her schedule. 

As Victoria Valera, Gretchen has to attend Magkaribal taping three times a week.  Most of the time, according to her, the taping finishes the following day. However, the lead actress doesn't mind the long hours, especially when viewers respond positively.

The 40-year-old actress said it's tiring but, "kapag nakuha namin ang reviews ng mga tao, nakikita namin na maraming natutuwa sa Magkaribal, nasasabi ko rin na it's all worth it.  Lahat ng pagod, lahat ng hirap, lahat ng puyat, it's worth it.  So, okay na rin, I can't complain."

Gretchen first did a TV series when she had a special appearance in ABS-CBN's defunct show Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan in 2001.  After that, most of the her projects were more on TV hosting.  It was only last year that she returned to acting on television via Maalaala Mo Kaya, which earned her an award from PMPC's Star Awards for TV.

So, when she was offered to do Magkaribal, Gretchen decided to focus on the show. 

"I'm just so thankful sa management ng ABS-CBN sa opportunity na 'to.  I don't only have a good teleserye but I'm also working with the most amazing cast, with the best director," she said about her major TV comeback.

That's why she doesn't want to think about a supposed movie yet. 

"I'm supposed to be shooting last quarter of this year.  Siyempre, ayaw ko munang isipin 'yong movie dahil mahirap," she said.

Gretchen explained, "You know, in the beginning, sabi ko nga kay Boy [Abunda, her talent manager], gusto kong tanggapin lahat ng movie offer, lahat gusto kong tanggapin.  But now na nagpupuyat and all, talagang kapag natatapos kami ng 4 or 5 in the morning, the whole day ng Tuesday wala na akong magawa, natutulog lang ako and aayusin ko 'yong things for the next day.  So, sabi ko, 'Oh my gosh, hindi ko na kaya mag-shoot ng movie.'  Parang I wanna give one hundred percent of myself to this project.  Then, kapag natapos ang Magkaribal, at saka naman ako gagawa ng movie para hindi naman ako super harassed."

TRUE EMOTIONS.  Gretchen also mentioned that she really prepared for her role on Magkaribal by taking an acting workshop under Laurice Guillen.  This helped her in getting the right emotion needed for her scenes.

She said, "I guess, [what I show on TV are] true emotions dahil nag-workshop ako under Laurice Guillen.  Ang akala ko 'yong mga kinalimutan ko nang mga emosyon, nahi-hit ko na ngayon.  So, lahat ng mga nakikita ninyo, totoong emosyon. 

"There was a time noong nag-tape kami, 'yong confrontation with Mark Gil, the next day, ano pa rin ako, down na down.  Sabi ko, 'Direk, hindi ko alam kung paano mag-switch off ng emotion.'  Parang it's so alive, 'yong feeling of sadness and abandonment."

Does she think about these emotions from her past experiences before acting?

She answered, "Hindi iniisip 'yon, e.  Kumbaga, nasa library ko na 'yong emotion, huhugutin ko na lang, masakit.  Mahirap ang trabaho namin in the sense that humuhugot ka sa totoong emosyon.  So, 'yon ang puhunan namin, 'yong emosyon talaga."

Concentrating on the scenes that she would be doing makes her portray her character more effectively, she says.