Kiray Celis says Marian Rivera is the opposite of her ‘intimidating’ image

Kiray Celis has nothing but praises for her “My Guardian Alien” co-star Marian Rivera.

At the media conference of the upcoming family-fantasy series, Kiray said that it was her first time working with the Kapuso Primetime Queen. When people around her learned about the new project, they made various comments and assumptions.

“Ako na ‘yung magsasabi. Syempre ‘pag sinabi mong Marian Rivera, ang daming magsasabi sa ‘yo, ‘Nako, makakatrabaho mo si Marian. Good luck sa ‘yo,’” Kiray said. “May mga ganun diba? Tatakutin ka, aanuhin ka, sasabihin sa ‘yo lahat ng hindi magaganda.”

“Pero sa totoong buhay po, lahat ng nagsabi sa ‘kin nun, gusto kong balikan isa isa kasi lahat po ‘yun mali,” she added. “Lahat po ‘yun, kabaligtaran sa lahat ng sinasabi nila.”

Although she admitted that Marian may seem “intimidating” to the public, Kiray said that she has a genuine and loving personality.

“Kung gano nila sinasabing nakakatakot, sobrang nakakatawa. Kung gano sinasabi nila maldita, sobrang kulit,” she said. “Ayain mo dun sa gilid, hindi maarte. Sasabihin lang maarte, kabaligtaran po ‘yun sa lahat ng nakikita niyo.”

Kiray added, “Lahat kami nararamdaman ‘yun and very thankful kami na naka-work namin si Ate Yan.”

The two have formed a friendship on set, with Kiray even giving Marian a fruit arrangement for Valentine’s Day.

“My Guardian Alien” revolves around an alien named 11-1-20-8-5-22-9-12-5, played by Marian. She is contained in a pod, and lands on planet Earth after an accidental crash from outer space.

The alien takes the form of a deceased woman named Katherine.

The lives of Katherine’s husband, Carlos (Gabby Concepcion), and their son, Doy (Raphael Landicho) will turn upside down because of the alien.

Award-winning director Zig Dulay is at the helm of the series, which is also Marian’s comeback TV project after five years. More cast members include Max Collins, Gabby Eigenmann, Arnold Reyes, Tanya Gomez, Caitlyn Stave, Josh Ford, Sean Lucas, Tart Carlos, Christian Antolin, Kirst Viray, and Marissa Delgado.

Turning the series into a children’s book with important life lessons is also in the works.

“My Guardian Alien” premieres on April 1 on GMA Prime. —JCB, GMA Integrated News