Andrea Brillantes is set to play the iconic role Dyesebel in upcoming ABS-CBN teleserye
Andrea Brillantes is set to star as Dyesebel, the iconic mermaid on Philippine television.
TV host and talent manager Ogie Diaz revealed the news in a recent YouTube vlog, adding that the local show is set to replace ABS-CBN's television adaptation of Mars Ravelo's Darna. Diaz said that the Kapamilya actress is currently training for the role, noting that the latter's mom is also a diver.
"Andrea, good luck sa pagiging Dyesebel mo 'no? Kasi yung iba, nagtatanong kung marunong bang mag-swim si Andrea. Yes, marunong mag-swim," he said.
Further details on the upcoming series are yet to be announced, including her leading man, but Diaz expressed his hope that it will be Brillantes' boyfriend, basketball star Ricci Rivero.
A comic book character also created by Ravelo, Dyesebel is a "mermaid who eventually transforms into a human through a deal she forged with a sea witch," according to ABS-CBN. Here are the actresses who have portrayed the iconic role in the past.
Edna Luna
Edna Luna was the first-ever actress to play the role of Dyesebel on the big screen. It was released in 1953, the same year the comics was published. The movie was followed by a sequel dubbed Ang Anak ni Dyesebel, which came out in March 1964, focusing on Dyesebel's daughter Alona (Eva Montes).
Vilma Santos
Vilma Santos played the role in June 1973 for Dyesebel at ang Mahiwagang Kabibe, a film produced by Tagalog Ilang-Ilang Productions and directed by veteran filmmaker Emmanuel Borlaza. With Romeo Miranda as her love interest, this project made her the first actress to play both Ravelo masterpieces following Darna.
Alma Moreno
Alma Moreno played Dyesebel in another spin-off titled Sisid, Dyesebel, Sisid (1978) by Sampaguita Pictures. Matt Ranillo III played her love interest, Fredo.
Alice Dixson
Alice Dixson starred in Dyesebel in 1990 with actor and now politician Richard Gomez as Edward. In this movie directed by Director Mel Chionglo, though, the plot focused more on Dyesebel's love interest.
Charlene Gonzales
Charlene Gonzales starred as Dyesebel in the 1996 movie produced by Viva Films. She was paired with Matthew Mendoza who portrayed Fredo.
Marian Rivera
Maria Rivera-Dantes was the first actress to play Dyesebel in a television series adaptation, alongside actor and now-husband Dingdong Dantes.
Mars Ravelo's Dyesebel was broadcasted on GMA Network in 2008 and
had 126 episodes. It was also aired internationally on GMA Pinoy TV, gathering huge success locally and internationally. It bagged the Most Popular Television Program and Most Popular TV Director: Joyce Bernal in Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation (GMMSF) Box Office Entertainment Awards in 2009.
Anne Curtis
In 2014, Anne Curtis-Heusaff starred in the second television series adaptation of Dyesebel with Gerald Anderson and Sam Milby. It was directed by Don M. Cuaresma and Francis E. Pasion.
In an interview with Tapatan Ni Tunying in 2014, the host said she just had to say yes to the iconic role.
"I wasn’t sure I could still do another fantaserye after Dyosa. Fantaseryes are challenging because of the costume changes and the prosthetics. But Dyesebel is an iconic character. It is a huge part of Philippine literature. So I took back what I said and agreed to do the project, because it’s Dyesebel,” she said.
