Yasmien Kurdi says “The Missing Husband” is Netflix quality

“StarStruck 1” graduates Yasmien Kurdi and Nadine Samonte are working together again in the Kapuso afternoon series “The Missing Husband.”

Yasmien was their batch’s First Princess while Nadine was the last to be eliminated in the show. Jennylyn Mercado and Mark Herras were their batch’s ultimate survivors.

This is the first time that they are working again after GMA-7’s 2009 mini-series “SRO Cinemaserye presents Suspetsa,” and it also serves as Nadine’s comeback after 10 years.

Yasmien plays the lead character Millie while Nadine plays a mysterious kontrabida who will come into the story later on.

In a Zoom media conference for the upcoming show on August 22, FreebieMNL asked Yasmien and Nadine about their reaction to working again with each other.

Yasmien says it is an important reunion because it has been 20 years since their “StarStruck” batch first aired on TV.

Aside from Nadine, Mark is also part of “The Missing Husband” in a short role.

Yasmien says, “Si Nads kasi, at first, hindi ko alam na magiging part siya ng ‘The Missing Husband’ until noong nagsa-start na kami mag-taping. I don’t know kung kasama sa first first [taping], hindi ko maalala.

“Pero sobrang nae-excite ako kasi sabi ko, it’s very timely dahil this year marks our 20th anniversary sa showbiz and unang umere ang StarStruck ay September 6, 2003. So, this September 6 is our first anniversary.

“Sobrang nakaka-proud at di ba, kapag maaalala mo, 20 years na nating ginagawa pala ito. At first, dati, ‘Hala, 20 years sa ibang artista.’

“Pero nandito ka na pala ngayon, ang bilis ng panahon, hindi namin namamalayan na 20 years na pala yun na nakalipas.”

But what makes it more special is that even before “StarStruck,” Yasmien and Nadine have already known each other.

“Si Nadine kasi, bago pa mag-‘StarStruck,’ sa mga hindi nakakaalam, magkakilala na kami ni Nadine way back pa kasi lagi kaming nagkakasama sa VTRs.

“Lagi kaming nako-compare, minsan tinatawag akong Nadine, like the other day tinawag akong Nadine. I’m sure, Nadine, tinatawag kang Yasmien.

“So, may mga ganung scenario and excited ako sa mga eksena namin ni Nadine pero medyo nabibitin pa ako sa mga eksena.”

Of this, Yasmien is excited to celebrate the 20 years of “StarStruck,” hoping for a reunion project with their other batchmates soon like Jennylyn Mercado, Katrina Halili, and Cristine Reyes.

“Pero malay mo, someday, magkaroon kami ng show together at kasama pa sina Jennylyn, Katrina, Cristine Reyes, and everyone at magkaroon kami ng show altogether ‘StarStruck,’ para sa isang reunion. Hello, GMA! Malay mo, di ba, masaya yun!”

READ ALSO: Lead Kapuso Stunners At GMA Gala 2023

Nadine on saying yes to “The Missing Husband”

As for Nadine, working with Yasmien feels like she did not stop from showbiz.

She says, “Si Yasmien, parang hindi ako nawala ng ilang taon. Parang si Yasmien pa rin, yun hindi pa rin nagbabagong Yasmien yun.

“Nagka-anak lang, nagka-asawa, ganun. She’s still the same Yasmien na funny, ang kulit.

“Kasi nag-bonding na kami dati ni Yas sa Dubai, inampon niya ako doon for a week, yun yung hindi ko makakalimutang memory ko with Yas na talagang lahat ng nangyari sa Dubai, hindi ko makakalimutan.

“So, from there, naaalala ko talaga siya. Sobrang fresh sa memory ko yun kaya noong nasa taping kami sinasabi ko yun, ‘Yas, naalala mo ba sa Dubai?’

“Yung ganun, so, parang ang saya, ang saya ng feeling.”

But more than anything, Nadine is just happy to be back to her original home, GMA-7.

Why did Nadine say yes to doing “The Missing Husband?”

Nadine answers, “Siyempre, first of all, na-miss ko ang GMA, sa totoo lang. Kasi yun naman ang original na tahanan ko, e, and pangalawa, before ‘The Missing Husband,’ may mga offer na.

“Pero kasi ito yung masasabi kong mas alam mo yung… kasi ten years akong nawala, so, parang ito yung mangangapa ka, mahihiya ka kasi parang nag-umpisa ako ulit sa umpisa.

“So, noong nalaman kong si Direk Mark [Reyes] yung magiging director, ‘Okay, good ito, good sign.’

“‘Tapos noong nalaman ko pang si Yasmien, ‘Oh, okay ito, okay, sige na.’

“Ganun lang ka-simple pero nandoon siyempre yung nag-isip ako if I will accept, if I’m ready na ba talaga kasi ayokong pumasok sa isang sitwasyon or ayokong tanggapin ang isang show na hindi ako 100% ready.

“So, I really have to talk to my husband and I’m thankful kasi sobrang supportive siya sa akin, sa gusto kong gawin which is I really want to go back.”

READ ALSO: “Abot-Kamay Na Pangarap” Cast And Other Kapuso Teleserye Stars At GMA Gala 2023 Red Carpet

Yasmien and Nadine’s comeback on GMA Afternoon Prime

Aside from being “StarStruck” batchmates, Yasmien and Nadine are two of GMA-7’s original drama princesses in the afternoon slot wayback when GMA Afternoon Prime was called Dramarama sa Hapon.

Both of them used to headline installments of GMA-7 afternoon umbrella series “Now and Forever” and “Sine Novela,” which would rate high in its timeslot.

Years later, Yasmien and Nadine are back in the afternoon slot with a show that depicts a different theme from the usual afternoon drama.

“The Missing Husband” tackles the story of a wife (Yasmien) looking for her husband (Rocco Nacino) who went missing after he was tagged as a scammer.

But aside from the story, what makes Yasmien proud of their new afternoon drama is its technical aspects.

The show is helmed by Mark Reyes, the director of hit GMA-7 primetime shows “Encantadia and “Voltes V: Legacy,” as well as afternoon dramas “The Half Sisters” and “Inagaw na Bituin.”

“I think it’s very modern kasi nakakita na ako ng kaunting pakita ng aming pilot episode and para siyang pang-Netflix, international ang gawa.

“In fairness, hindi mo na nga malalaman ano ang pang-hapon at ano ang panggabi dahil sa pareho ng quality, pareho ng lahat. I mean, Direk Mark Reyes yan, yun talaga yung nagpapayag sa akin, e. It’s Direk Mark Reyes.

“Dadalhin niya talaga yung quality sa hapon and makikita talaga yun sa show namin. Gusto ko yung execution, para siyang K-Drama na Filipino pero ang linis linis ng lahat, pero nandun yung emotions and everything.

“It’s different for Dramarama sa Hapon kasi parang Telebabad ang pinapanood mo at hindi Afternoon Prime.”

Nadine also points out that “The Missing Husband” also showcases action sequences and not just the usual dramatic scenes.

“It’s more on action also, so marami siyang emotions, action, drama, suspense and higit sa lahat kasi, yung nangyayari sa panahon ngayon, yung reality na maraming naii-scam and all.

“So, pumasok siya doon, e. Yun yung nangyayari ngayon, ang ganda ng story, ang gandang ipakita sa mga tao na ito yung reality hindi ito parang kunya-kunyari lang. Yun yung masasabi kong kakaiba sa lahat ng nagawa ko.“

“The Missing Husband,” which premieres on August 28, is also headlined by Rocco Nacino, Joross Gamboa, Sophie Albert, and Jak Roberto.

Banner Art Paulo Correa

The post “StarStruck 1” Girls Yasmien Kurdi, Nadine Samonte Reunite In “The Missing Husband” appeared first on FreebieMNL.