Veteran actress Rio Locsin, who once portrayed Darna in a movie, agrees that the next actress to portray the Pinay superheroine in the big screen should be morena.
Rio donned the Darna costume in the 1979 film Bira, Darna, Bira, which also starred the young Romnick Sarmienta as Ding and actor Rez Cortez as her love interest.
LIZA ON BACKING OUT AS DARNA
The coveted role was originally offered to Liza Soberano, who had to back out of the project after she was injured while shooting the movie.
Rio, who got to work with Liza in the prime-time teleserye Dolce Amore (2016) and Bagani (2018), was saddened by what happened.
"Nakita ko siya na pinaghihirapan na niya iyon,” Rio told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) last May 16, Thursday.
"Grabe yung training nung nagba-Bagani kami, kasi nag-guest ako sa Bagani.
"Parang may mga panahon na may cut-off siya kasi mayroon siyang training for tomorrow o kaya medyo late siyang darating kasi galing sa training.
"Yung alam mong binigay naman niya ang lahat.
"Yun nga, nanghihinayang ako, yung preparation niya."
RIO EXCITED FOR THE NEXT DARNA
Like many others, Rio is also excited to know who the next Darna will be.
"Nae-excite din ako sinong mapipili nila. Gusto kong makuha nila, Pilipina talaga. Kasi Pilipino character, e, si Mars Ravelo naman ang vision niya ano…nung nag-Narda rin ako, probinsiyana, may saklay, pilantod.
"Kaya yung makukuha, Pilipinang-pilipina rin ang itsura niya para akma.”
Mars Ravelo, a Filipino comic book cartoonist and graphic novelist, created the first images of Darna in the late 1930s.
PEP.ph then asked Rio: Who among the actresses is perfect to portray Darna?
"Wala akong someone in mind," she quickly answered.
However, she mentioned how impressed she was when Angel Locsin brought life to the character in the 2005 teleserye.
"Ang masasabi ko lang nong panahon ni Angel Locsin, perfect siya. Kasi athletic, bumabaril, sporty pa siya, kaya parang yung galaw niya, yung tayo niya, bagay siya. Nung si Angel, bagay na bagay siya non."
RIO LOCSIN AS DARNA
Rio also recounted the time when she did the eponymous role 40 years ago
"Unang-una kasi talaga, yung Darna ko dati, napaka-low-tech, hindi siya hi-tech.
"Nung lumilipad nga ako, nakapatong lang ako sa table, e, may electric fan.
"'Tapos ang mga kalaban ko mga goons, mga sindikato. Hindi kagaya ng mga Valentina, wala akong ganon.
"Maliit lang ang budget ng aking pelikula."
But since Darna is a well-loved superheroine, whoever will be chosen to portray the role won't have to worry about getting the public's support.
"Kahit anong sabihin mo, kahit sinong ilagay mo, talagang papanoorin pa rin kasi curious ang mga tao, "Ano kaya ang bago?'
"Sa tagal ng dekada na pabalik-balik siya, bago nang bago ngayon, anlaki talaga ng pressure sa bagong Darna.
"Pero kahit sino pa ang pumapel na Darna, sigurado ako na papanoorin."