Meet Valentina: Janella Salvador to play serpent nemesis in 'Darna: The TV Series'
Janella Salvador will portray the Darna supervillain Valentina in the upcoming Darna: The TV Series opposite Jane De Leon.
The news was shared during ABS-CBN's #TheValentinaReveal live-stream event, formally introducing Janella as lawyer-vlogger Regina/ Valentina who has been cursed with venomous snakes for hair. Series director Chito S. Roño chose Janella from the pool of artists who auditioned for the role.
Past portrayals of Valentina include Alessandra De Rossi, Iwa Motto, Pilita Corrales, Pilar Pilapil, and Cristina Aragon.
Darna serves as the star's TV comeback after the ABS-CBN series The Killer Bride opposite Maja Salvador. Her portrayal of Emma in the thriller series won her the Princess of Philippines Television award during the 2020 Box Office Entertainment Awards.
Janella took time off from showbiz after giving birth to her son, Jude Trevor Peterson, in October of 2020.
The actress has long been planning a showbiz comeback, telling Erich Gonzales in an August vlog that, “I can still act, I can still sing. All I have to do is lose more weight. Basically, I just want to prove not just to others but also to myself na kayang-kaya. Motherhood doesn’t stop someone from achieving their dreams.”
Darna: The TV Series will also star Iza Calzado in a mentor role for Jane De Leon's Darna and Joshua Garcia as the leading man. Other Kapamilya stars include Zaijian Jaranilla, Rio Locsin, and Kiko Estrada, among others.
The show started filming this week and is slated for a 2022 release.
