Darna, in all its previous versions on television and in the movies, is an example of a project that entails a long-drawn casting process.
After all, it is based on the classic comic strip created by the renowned cartoonist Mars Ravelo—such that the success of any film or television adaptation of Darna rests on the actress portraying the iconic superheroine.
Jane de Leon as Darna in ABS-CBN’s 2022 TV adaptation certainly has big shoes to fill.
The role landed on Jane out of some 300 actresses who auditioned for the much-coveted project.
Looking back, an audition for a TV adaptation of Darna first happened 18 years ago, in 2004, when GMA-7 produced its own version of the hit comics serial, which began airing in 2005.
Many Kapuso and Kapamilya talents expressed interest and showed up for the auditions.
In the end, Angel Locsin did not only bag the role; it was also her big break on television after her forays in Click (2002-2004), Ang Iibigin Ay Ikaw Pa Rin (2003), and Mulawin (2004).
For a bit of nostalgia and tidbits about the making of Darna in 2005, PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) has dug up the seven big-name actresses who recalled in various interviews what it was like to audition for the title role.
IZA CALZADO
Iza Calzado, who started her career as a Kapuso in 2002 via the drama series Kung Mawawala Ka, revealed in a 2017 interview that she was first “asked to be Darna” for the 2005 version of GMA-7.
Iza decided to turn down the project because her body was “not perfect” for the role back then.
She related, “That’s my story. I was asked to be Darna even before Angel was asked.
“Let us not forget that I have lost a hundred pounds, my body is not a conventional body.
“Alam mo iyon, it’s not perfect, and Darna has to be perfect. She has to be like an Angel Locsin and an Anjanette Abayari [Darna: The Return (Darna Ang Pagbabalik) in 1994].
"And I cannot and will not be able to give that.”
In an interview with Boy Abunda in his show The Bottomline in 2014, Iza said she underwent a series of operations literally to get her body chiseled into the ideal shape of Darna.
She told Boy, "When I was younger, ha, parang they expected me… I looked like I could be Darna, but hindi talaga puwede.
“Tinap po ako para sa isang malaking role na kinakailangang mag-two piece.
“They sat me down. So, minadali and I went through operations because I had to lose skin.
“Hindi naman nabago noon iyong ibang imperfections na meron ako and, to be perfectly honest with you, it caused even more imperfections.”
Forward to today, 16 years later, Iza is again tapped to be part of yet another Darna adaptation,
She is playing Leonor, the mother of Narda/Darna, in the 2022 Kapuso version of Darna starring Jane de Leon.
Leonor is the original keeper of the stone who will pass it to her daughter.
According to Iza in an October 2021 interview, she was already tapped to play the role since the time of Liza Soberano, who was supposed to top-bill the movie in 2017 that was eventually scrapped.
She said, “Finally, I can claim to be part of the Pinoy superhero history! I almost had the chance in the past, but God had other plans.
“I was not meant to be that Darna, but He surely prepared me to play this Darna. Everything always happens in His perfect time. I call it Divine Timing.
“Being a hero during these challenging times is exciting and female one at that just means so much more.
"Of course, I do recognize that with great power comes great responsibility. As cliché as it sounds, there is truth to this.”
RICA PERALEJO
Rica Peralejo reportedly was one of the actresses who auditioned for GMA-7's Darna in 2004.
It was controversial because, at that time, Rica was a contract star of ABS-CBN.
Although she did not get the role, Rica continued doing big projects in ABS-CBN until she decided to leave showbiz in 2008.
When Rica did a guest appearance on PEP Live in March 2021, Rica confirmed via a text message from her mother that she, indeed, auditioned for Darna.
Rica also clarified that she never auditioned for GMA-7 project, MariMar.
She related, "Iyon iyong naalala ko, nag-audition ako for Darna.
"Ako kasi, parang meron akong vague memory na nag-audition ako for something pero I don't remember na MariMar. So iyon nga, Darna pala iyon."
Rica, however, could not recall anymore the details of her audition.
At present, Rica enjoys her life outside showbiz, and continues to be seen on social media and through her vlogs by her followers.
CHYNNA ORTALEZA
GMA-7 actress Chynna Ortaleza had just finished her stint in the hit youth-oriented series Click when she auditioned for the role of Darna.
In a September 2004 interview with Pilipino Star Ngayon, Chynna expressed her excitement about the project.
She also mentioned seeing Rica Peralejo, Nadine Samonte, Karylle, and Diana Zubiri during the auditions.
According to Chynna, the auditionees were asked to do action scenes, including flying—one of Darna’s main powers.
Chynna was not only interested in the Darna role, but also in portraying Valentina, the nemesis of Darna.
It was not clear if Chynna also auditioned for the role of Valentina.
Both roles were eventually given to her Click co-stars: Angel Locsin for Darna and Alessandra de Rossi for Valentina.
Chynna, on the other hand, has reinvented herself to become a character actress, portraying mostly kontrabida roles in the Kapuso teleseryes.
JENNYLYN MERCADO
It was revealed in a 2008 PEP.ph article Jennylyn Mercado also auditioned for Darna in 2005.
However, based on the report, Jennylyn cried and backed out of the audition when she was asked to wear a two-piece suit—the style of Darna’s costume.
In 2008, Jennylyn's fans petitioned GMA-7 to give her the Darna role for its supposed Captain Barbell Meets Darna project.
But even before the project was started, Jennylyn became pregnant, her child with ex-partner Patrick Garcia.
Jennylyn's fans ceased petitioning the network, which eventually shelved Captain Barbell Meets Darna anyway.
Instead, GMA-7 did the second adaptation of Darna in 2009 with Marian Rivera in the lead.
Although she was not able to portray the role of Darna in both versions, Jennylyn starred in other big original projects and adaptations of the network, such as My Love From the Star and Descendants of the Sun.
The StarStruck season one Ultimate Female Survivor was also in the cast of Encantadia, GMA-7's original telefantasya that proved to be a hit back to back with Darna in 2005.
NADINE SAMONTE
Nadine Samonte was also one of the names mentioned by Chynna who auditioned for Darna.
Nadine did not get the role, but she was groomed by GMA-7 as a drama princess for its afternoon block, headlining top-rating dramas such as Ikaw sa Puso Ko (2004) and Ganti (2005).
In 2009, Nadine became part of GMA-7’s second Darna adaptation as Babaeng Impakta, one of the show’s kontrabidas.
KARYLLE AND DIANA ZUBIRI
Karylle and Diana Zubiri were included in the names of those who auditioned for Darna.
Darna was not meant for them, but another big Kapuso project would make them household names.
They were tapped to play the lead roles in Encantadia, with Sunshine Dizon and Iza Calzado.
The two shows premiered a month apart from each other, Darna on April 4, 2005 and Encantadia on May 2, 2005.
Putting the two shows together became the perfect formula for GMA Telebabad to lead the ratings game at that time, with both shows now considered a classic over time.