Actors are people too, and sometimes, tension can arise, especially on the set of a movie or television series. In many cases, stars haven't held back when it comes to the costars they didn't get along with.

Award-winning actress Janice de Belen revealed one particular star who played a lead role had an "attitude" while on the set of a television series.

"Ang hate na hate ko, super pet peeve ko, kapag mage-eksena tayo, huwag mong ilalagay yung cellphone sa bulsa mo. Huwag na huwag kasi makaka-apekto yan eh. Kaya nakalagay yan sa bulsa mo kasi may hinihintay kang tawag or text. Kapag yan nag-vibrate and magka-eksena tayo, kahit vibrate, makikita ko yan eh. Ma-de-destruct ka ng two seconds. Maapektuhan yung pag-arte mo, maapektuhan din ako," said Janice during an interview for her latest film "Sugat sa Dugo" held at the Bambbi Fuentes Salon in Timog, Quezon City on Sept. 12.

"May sinabihan na ako pero hindi ko na lang sasabihin ang pangalan. Sinabihan ko talaga. Sabi niya okay lang naman ito naka-silent lang naman. Sabi ko 'no!' Hanggang sa sinabi ko na lang na hindi ko ite-take ang eksena na ito hangga't hindi mo inaalis sa bulsa mo ang cellphone mo."

Asked about the gender of the lead star, Janice laughed and said: "Secret. Alien siya! Para walang gender."

Janice added: "In fact, nagpasalamat sa akin ang director. Nag-PM siya sa akin sabi niya thank you very much Ms. Janice." She said that cellphones should not be allowed even during rehearsals.

"Yung Instagram, okay lang naman mag Instagram kung wala pa talagang nangyayari sa set. Pero kapag nagre-rehearse na, ilayo mo na yan. You do your social media thing kapag wala kayo sa eksena. Basta kapag may malaking eksena at parang nakaka-abala ka na sa mga artista, I may say something. There's a possibility na may sasabihin ako. Pero direcho kong sasabihin yun sa'yo.

"Pero siyempre, bago mo yun gawin, kailangan nakapag-ipon ka ng enough stars para masabi mong may karapatan kang gawin yun. I still work hard, I still read my lines, and I still come prepared for work. We're here to work. Yung chika on the side na lang yan.

"Pag may attitude sila, attitude rin ako. Pero hindi ako nagagalit. Hindi ako nagagalit. I say what's on my mind. Hindi naman ako naninita na 'hoy!' Wala akong ganun. Sinasabi ko lang.

"Kunyari na-te-take five na tayo sa isang eksena. Sasabihan na kita, ganito yun. Gawin mo 'to try mo 'to. Baka mas madali para sa'yo," she said.

"Na-take 2 din ako noon ng ilang beses. Naramdaman ko rin yung mahiya sa ibang artista. Kapag na-te take 2 na, I just give them practical tips to get them through. After that, you're on your own.

In the movie "Sugat Sa Dugo," Janice said she finished her scenes in one day, and she just met her younger co-stars on the same day. "One day lang ako nag-taping. So on the day itself ko lang sila nakilala at naka-trabaho. So wala naman masyado. Ewan ko lang si Bambbi, baka tinatakot niya or nina-nag niya yung mga bata. Naramdaman ko kasi ninenerbyos sila."

• Secret to longevity

Janice, 53, is humbled by being called an award-winning actress, although she admitted she's not comfortable with the title.

"Oh my God! Don't call me that kasi everytime naririnig ko yan, nararamdaman ko yung cloud of pressure nakabantay sa may ulo ko," she said.

On her secret to longevity in showbiz, Janice answered: "I am true to myself. Kapag kausap n'yo ako, yan na ako mismo. Wala ng iba. Ano pa ba ang itatago ko? Alam n'yo na ang lahat ng nangyari sa buhay ko. I'm at my age where I am true to myself. Wala na akong pakialam kung may sasabihin ka sa akin. Kung ayaw mo sa akin e di wag. Huwag na tayong magbolahan kung ayaw mo talaga sa akin. Longevity is being true to yourself and knowing your best, and not expecting anything. Yun lang yun."

On being an actress, Janice said: "Para sa amin ni Gelli de Belen, ang pag-aartista, hindi ito buhay. Hindi ito tutoong buhay. Ang tutoong buhay is nagta-trabaho ka. Love your job and be passionate about it. Hindi ito laging gliterry or laging masaya at ito ang tutoong buhay."

At the 2021 International Film Festival Manhattan in New York, Janice won best actress for her role in the short film "Sugat Sa Dugo." In the heavy drama, Janice plays the role of a mother whose son is about to die of HIV/AIDS. The movie also won the Independent Achievement Award for Producing.

"Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala. Tutoo ba ito? Kasi naisip ko awards night, tapos papanik ka ng stage para maramdaman mo talaga na nanalo ka," she said.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Janice said that "Sugat Sa Dugo" is a relevant film.

"This movie is important because of the message we want to convey. We have to face the reality that everybody is still not familiar with AIDS or anything about AIDS. So with this movie, we have to get the message across: how you get this, how to protect yourself, and to be aware that there's AIDS," she said.

"Meron pa rin ibang sakit, aside from COVID-19. Parang nakalimutan na natin na may AIDS, may measles. Di ba yung polio parang bumabalik? There are a lot of things na puwede pa rin makuha ng mga tao. You still need to remind people about AIDS because it's deadly. The past three years lagi mo lang naririnig, health is wealth. Sinasabi yun sa lahat ng beauty pageant. Then after three years, you just realized health is wealth talaga."

"Sugat Sa Dugo" also stars Khai Flores, Mira Aquino, Christa Jocson, Shira Mae Tweg, Sharmaine Arnaiz, Ashley Carpio, Esteven Dayrit, Leone Adriano, Mosh Gerodias Emcel Abuso, and RJ Ariar.

Produced by Dragon Productions, the movie is directed by Danni Ugali, with a story concept by Bambbi Fuentes. The movie will be shown in theaters on Sept. 28.