3 weeks ago
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For many Filipinos who grew up in the '90s, Camille Prats will always be remembered as the kind-hearted Princess Sarah in "Sarah... Ang Munting Prinsesa." But the actress has since evolved from her iconic child star role into more mature and complex characters — including her latest role as a mother in the upcoming GMA Afternoon Prime drama series "Mommy Dearest."
Camille Prats has come a long way from playing Princess Sarah to taking on mother roles. PHOTO FROM INSTAGRAM/CAMILLEPRATS
During an interview for the said afternoon show, Prats acknowledged that shedding the image of Princess Sarah was a challenge early in her career.
Prats (second from right) with her ‘Mommy Dearest’ co-stars (from left) Katrina Halili, Shayne Sava and Dion Ignacio TMT PHOTO
"I'm so grateful that people still remember my character, Princess Sarah, even up to now. Before, I used to question it because my struggle growing up was to break free from that role. For a very long time, people saw me as Princess Sarah, especially when I had a child. They were like, 'Huh? Princess Sarah has a child?' So I made a lot of efforts to mature and did so many things to move away from being Princess Sarah," recalled Prats.
Despite the struggle to be seen beyond her childhood character, Prats now appreciates the lasting impact of that role on audiences.
"I truly see it as a blessing because that was the turning point of my career. And it's also something that's really nice to look back on. I think Sarah will always have a special place in the hearts of those who grew up in the '90s," she said.
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In "Mommy Dearest," Prats takes on her first-ever villain role as Olive, an overprotective mother whose love for her daughter Mookie (Shayne Sava) borders on obsession. The psychological drama delves into the complexities of motherhood and explores Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy — a disorder where a caregiver fabricates or induces illness in someone under their care.
The series also stars Katrina Halili, Dion Ignacio and Winwyn Marquez, among others, under the direction of Ralf Manuel Malabunga.
Prats, now a mother herself to four kids — two of them are teenagers — finds a deep connection to her new role in "Mommy Dearest."
"We all have good intentions for our children, even if sometimes they feel suffocated or hurt. Even if they don't always understand where our love is coming from, it always stems from good intentions. I think that's also the message of 'Mommy Dearest,'" shared Prats.
"Even if Olive is that way, it all comes from love — it's just that she doesn't know how to express it properly. And that's what motherhood is all about. No matter what decisions you make or what actions you've taken that others might see as wrong, in your heart, you know you did it out of love," she added.
With real-life experience guiding her performance, Prats understands the nuances of parenting.
"As a mother, values are very important to me. While they're still young, you can properly teach and instill in them the lessons you want them to carry. Eventually, as they grow older and become adults, you can no longer make decisions for them. They will choose their own paths, and you just have to be there — supporting and loving them no matter what happens," Prats finally said.
Premiering on Monday, Feb. 24, "Mommy Dearest" will air Mondays to Fridays at 3:20 p.m. on GMA Afternoon Prime and Kapuso Stream, with availability for global audiences through GMA Pinoy TV. IZA IGLESIAS
