As Eula Valdes enters the compelling romantic-drama Walang Hanggan, she feels an inevitable pressure.

She joins the Kapamilya primetime teleserye’s powerhouse ensemble— Dawn Zulueta, Richard Gomez, Coco Martin, Susan Roces, Helen Gamboa, Julia Montes, Paulo Avelino— and she comes in at the height of the show when conflicts among characters are explosive and moving. That the soap is rating well, adds to the tension she feels.

She is unfazed to take on the role of Black Lily, nonetheless. The seasoned actress welcomes the new challenge. She promises to give it her best, meanwhile seeking the guidance of directors Jerry Sineneng and Trina Dayrit.

At a solo press conference held July 5, Thursday night, at the Patio Carlito Restaurant, Mother Ignacia Street, Quezon City, Eula expressed how seriously she takes acting.

“Ako naman po kasi, itong trabaho na ito, mula pagkabata pa lang, ito na talaga yung gusto ko.

“Hindi ko nafo-foresee yung sarili ko nung araw na doing office work or kung ano man. Ang masasabi ko lang, pinagbubutihan ko parati yung trabaho.

“Hindi ako nagpapabaya hanggang sa katapusan ng teleserye, hindi parang, ‘Patapos na tayo, e… Chicken-chicken na lang ito.’

“Hindi, hindi ako bumubitaw hangga’t hindi tapos yung kuwento.”

The 43-year-old actress has portrayed bida-kontrabida roles in the past, the most remarkable of which is the character of Amor Powers in the 2000 teleserye, Pangako Sa ‘yo. In the remake of Mula sa Puso, she played the wicked Celina.

How has she evolved as an actress who can play the protagonist in one soap and the antagonist in the next one?

Eula says, “Siguro mas nag-mature. Mas alam na… hindi tipikal na kontrabida ganito. Or kapag kawawa, ganito, iyak nang iyak.

“Tinatray [try] ko rin manood nang manood ng palabas. Pinapansin ko lang yung mga nuances, nago-obserba ako kung anong klaseng tao…

“Kapag merong mga role na binibigay sa akin, inaalam ko kung anong background niya, saan papunta yung istoriya. Parang sariling research na rin, kung puwede siya maiba.

Eula is still open to learning. “Yun din sinasabi ko, gusto ko mag-aral sana ng acting. Sa atin kasi ‘pag binigyan ka ng role, lahat iyak na lang nang iyak. Or kapag pina-iyak ka, lalaban ka ‘di ba?

“Gusto ko ring maging mas totoong tao yung karakter.”