Mika dela Cruz finally bagged a lead role in a teleserye two years after she transferred to GMA-7.
She has been chosen to play one of the lead actresses in the upcoming GMA-7 drama series, Kara Mia.
Formerly titled Dalawang Mukha ni GuadaLupe, Mika will top-bill the series along with Barbie Forteza.
In a recent interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), Mika opened up her new Kapuso show.
She said, "Sobrang saya ko and actually nagulat ako, nasa show ako na Pamilya Roces, di ba, tapos bigla akong sinabihan na may meeting for a new show.
"So di naman ako nag-expect pero nagulat ako na maganda yung role, sobrang ganda noong role na binigay sa akin."
According to Mika, the story is about twins who share one physical body. The plot is based on a real case abroad.
"Magshe-share kami ng one body at saka magshe-share kami sa mga love interests namin.
"It tackles yung mga folklore dito sa 'tin sa bansa and very timely yung kwento. Magsu-shooting kami sa Bacolod. Sobrang excited ako, sobrang malaman noong role na nabigay sa akin so paghahandaan ko siya."
Barbie's real-life boyfriend, Jak Roberto, was named as one of their love interests in the story.
At the time of the interview, Mika said that she doesn't have a leading man yet.
However, it was announced last December 5 that former ABS-CBN actor Paul Salas will play a major role in Kara Mia.
It has not been revealed yet if he will play Mika's partner, but the two of them already worked as love team in ABS-CBN's 2015 series, You're My Home.
COMPARISON WITH KAMBAL, KARIBAL
Mika is known for portraying kontrabida roles in her first two GMA-7 programs: Meant To Be (2017) and Pamilya Roces (2018). She also played a kontrabida in her previous ABS-CBN series, Mirabella (2014).
This time, however, the 19-year-old actress said that she won't play villain to Barbie.
"Hindi, actually mabait kaming dalawa, parehas kami.
"Magkapatid kami pero ang highlight ng kwento, kahit mabait na tao, nahahati sa mga life decisions, sa good or bad.
"May mga time na nagkakamali tayo na nagiging masama tayo, pero it doesn't mean na masama tayo as a person.
"So, hindi ako masama dito. May mga point lang sa buhay ko na may lumalabas na mga hinanakit pero dahil may feelings ako."
Since Kara Mia tackles a story about sisters with a rare medical condition, the show might receive comments comparing it to GMA-7's defunct prime-time series, Kambal, Karibal.
Kambal, Karibal, which had a successful run from November 2017 to August 2018, was top-billed by Bianca Umali, Pauline Mendoza, and Kyline Alcantara.
When PEP.ph brought this up, Mika quickly pointed out the difference between the two shows.
She said that Kara Mia is based on a real case abroad in India, where a set of twins was born sharing one body.
This is different from conjoined twins who have separate bodies.
Mika said, "Ang pinagka-parehas niya lang is dalawang magkapatid pero the story is very very different.
"May sariling twist ito, and it's actually a true story. Kasi yung Kambal, Karibal, based on fiction lang talaga.
"This project, may basis siya na nangyari sa totoong buhay, meron talagang taong pinanganak na dalawa ang ulo and ang tendency nila, hindi sila tumatagal pag ganun yung sakit nila.
"So yun yung pinagkaiba niya sa Kambal, Karibal, and the values na ipupush ng show na ito, very different."
Kara Mia is set to premiere in 2019 on GMA-7's Telebabad block.
The project also stars John Estrada, Carmina Villarroel, Glydel Mercado, Alicia Alonzo, and returning Kapuso Gina Pareno.