Isa nga sa mga underrated actresses natin ngayon sa local film industry ay ang stage-film-TV actress na si Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino. Umaani nga ng papuri si Shamaine ngayon dahil sa pagganap niya bilang domineering stage mother ni Lovi Poe sa afternoon drama series ng GMA-7 na Little Star.
Ipinanganak noong February 28, 1965 sa Naga City si Shamaine Centenera. Honor student na siya since high school sa Philippine High School for the Arts kunsaan nakatanggap siya ng Maria Scholarship para sa kanyang pagpasok sa University of the Philippines. Nagtapos siya sa UP, cum laude sa kursong Theater Arts (major in acting).
Noong 1985 ay nanalo si Sharmaine sa British Council Shakespeare Competition at doon na nagsimula ang kanyang successful career as a theater actress. Kabilang nga sa mga ginamapanan niyang roles sa entablado ay Troyanas, Hudhud, Oedipus Rex, The Crucible, Cyrano de Bergerac, Three Sisters, Batang Pro, Noli Me Tangere, Memorandum, Atang at ang award-winning role niya in Madonna Brava: Mother Full of Courage.
Tumawid sa paggawa ng pelikula si Shamaine at kabilang sa mga nagawa niya ay ang The Dolzura Cortez Story, Kung Ako'y Iiwan Mo, Hiling, Nag-iisang Bituin, Kiss Mo 'Ko, Kahit Isang Saglit, Crying Ladies, Mga Munting Tinig, In My Life, One More Chance, Ang Cute ng Ina Mo, Babe I Love You at Cinco.
Marami siyang ginawang mga indie films—Astigmatism, Laspongols, Mga Anak ni Brocka, Biyaheng Lupa, Concerto, Agaton & Mindy, Hubad, Tukso, Huling Pasada, Prinsesa, Sandalang Bahay, Rotonda, Ang Pamana, Sisa, Motorcycle, Tsardyer at ang kontrobersyal na Ang Lihim ni Antonio.
Sa TV naman, bukod sa mga commercials na kanyang mga nagawa (pinaka-memorable ay ang Clusivol Adult Vitamins kunsaan kasama niya ang kanyang husband na si Nonie Buencamino), naging suki rin siya ng ilang drama shows, tulad ng Maalaala Mo Kaya, Star Drama Theater, Saan Ka Man Naroroon, Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan, SineSerye Presents Hiram na Mukha, Precious Hearts Romance, Love Spell, Prinsesa ng Banyera at Pepeng Agimat sa ABS-CBN 2.
Sa bakuran naman ng GMA-7 ay napasama si Shamaine sa Majika, Ang Mahiwagang Baul, Magpakailanman, Obra, Pilyang Kerubin at ang umeere ngayon na Little Star.
Sa pamamagitan ng manager ni Shamaine na si Ricky Gallardo ay nagawa naming makapanayam ang mahusay na aktres via the social network site na Facebook. Heto ang ilang sagot niya sa aming mga pinadalang tanong.
How did you get started in acting?
"I started acting in grade 3 in Olongapo's St. Joseph School when I joined declamation contests. When I went back to my hometown Naga, to finish grade school. I joined the drama club and represented Colegio de Sta. Isabel in competitions.
"When I won in the Naga interschool competition, they sent my name to Philippine High School for the Arts in Mt. Makiling for a possible scholarship. I auditioned, passed and majored in Theater Arts.
"I continued with the academic training in college at the UP Diliman where I graduated Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts, cum laude. As an undergraduate I already started performing in professional theater (Bulwagang Gantimpala) as well as guesting in TV soaps and independent films. I consider Tony Mabesa of UP as my theater mentor."
Is it hard to shift from theater to acting in the movies and TV?
"It is not hard to shift from theater to movies and television when it comes to acting because I really love the craft.
"The technical difficulties imposed by the camera as opposed to the live audience in theater continue to challenge me until now but I love learning as I go from project to project.
"I continue to watch video playbacks to adjust facial expressions as well as to get used to favor camera. It is the therapeutic quality of theater that I miss though—the continuous constant work on a role for a month and a half during rehearsals, the immersion, the transformation, the creation of this soul on stage every night in every show before viewers that respond to your every action.
"They have a saying in TV/Film work—that we are paid to wait because it's the hardest part—the acting comes easy. But the acting can become very tricky too when you have a dramatic scene at 5 in the morning without sleep—at that time, you have to have technique. A technique that hopefully doesn't show!"
How is it like being married to an actor like Noni Buencamino? How did the romance start?
"I met Nonie in CCP's Tanghalang Pilipino's Tagalog production of A Man for All Seasons where we played husband and wife. He was still an undergrad taking up Interdisciplinary Studies in Ateneo de Manila University while I was a new teacher in UP.
"Our romance didn't start until our next production though, Tanghalang Pilipino's Florante at Laura, which was the Philippine's entry to the first ASEAN Theater festival.
"Festivals involve long bus drives and countless talks and performances to attend. The relationship blossomed when we both became pioneer company members of Tanghalang Pilipino right after that.
"Being married to Nonie is fun. He is childlike and will continue to be a child at heart! He is likewise passionate about his acting caft so we have a very lively discussion when it comes to our work.
"He is my personal acting coach, as well as my inspiration. I am very lucky to be married to a man I truly love. He is a very dedicated father as well.
"Nonie brings me closer to God—when I met him I started going to Sunday mass again; and now that we are married with four kids, I need to pray every day for strength and wisdom and the grace to forgive always."
Are there roles (theater, movie, TV) that you regretted doing? Are there roles that you wished you did but had to turn down for some valid reason?
"When I became pregnant with our first child, we were still company members and TP was starting to tour internationally. I had to give up roles and stay home while Nonie toured. That was a bummer!
"I don't regret a single role that I have done. Every role was a learning source, especially those which I didn't do well."
Do you have a favorite role that you did on stage, TV and movie?
"I don't have favorites. What stays with me are roles that I would like to do again because I would still like to continue work on them—one of which is Queen Elizabeth from the play Mary Stuart. Another is Masha of Three Sisters.
"I would like to finally one day play the leading role in a film! That would be a dream come true."
Have you thought about directing for a change?
"I have directed a few plays and I teach acting so I have given directions to actors. I have also worked as an assistant director for TV commercials for more than ten years.
"However, directing is such an intellectual process that doesn't fulfill me as much as acting does. There is that magic that I experience when I lose myself in a role and even I can't predict where I'm going. Flying on earth!"
You give a fabulous performance as a stage mother in Little Star. Who was your inspiration? Was the accent part of the character or did you just make that up?
"Thank you for the compliment! My role as Cecil Cordova in Little Star, the stage mother, is fun to do!
"Director Maryo de los Reyes asked for a Visayan accent, but I think I am using a combination of accents from past theater roles.
"The production patterned the physical look from Ms. Annabelle Rama. But there was never really a conscious effort to copy her, not in the story, nor in the way does she act."
You've worked with so many young actors today, how do you see them work as compared to the way you work before?
"Young actors are as passionate in mastering the craft and giving their best. It is a very competitive world. However, they don't study their scripts, they only memorize their lines.
"So they end up showing the same personality in different roles. I know that scripts are given late and their schedules hardly give them time to rest, so they have no time to study—but preparation really makes the difference."
How long do you see yourself acting?
"FOREVER! I will continue to act as long as God will allow me!"