Since her transfer, her showbiz career has flourished as she landed jobs in "Eat Bulaga," "Now and Forever," "SOP" and QTV11’s "My Guardian Abby." She has also finished a film under Regal Films, the controversial "Blue Moon," which remains to be a possible Metro Manila Film Festival entry.
Her most challenging role to date though is her character in GMA Network’s newest fantaserye "Etheria" where she reveals another facet of her acting craft, this time as a woman warrior.
In "Etheria," she plays Odessa from Hera Aega who guards the Olontre, a powerful flower that gives extraordinary strength. Aside from short sticks, Odessa is highly gifted with divine expertise when using a bow and arrow for her main weapon.
"Etheria," which is the fifth kingdom of Encantadia, focuses on the Sang’gres aventure back in time to uncover the Golden Hourglass and destroy it. The Golden Hourglass was said to have been eradicated when the kingdoms of Lireo, Sapiro, Adamya and Hatoria went to war against Etheria and won. The enchanted plot as witnessed in "Encantadia" revolved around the four Sang’gres: Pirena (Sunshine Dizon), the keeper of the gemstone of fire, Amihan (Iza Calsado) the keeper of the gemstone of wind, Danaya (Diana Zubiri) the keeper of the gemstone of earth and Alena (Karylle) the keeper of the gemstone of water. The four must succeed in destroying the Golden Hourglass to save "Encantadia."
Below are excerpts of a casual conversation with Pauleen Luna about her character Odessa and her career.
Q: Do you have regrets leaving your old network family?
A: Of course none. GMA Network has been giving me a lot of projects to show my capabilities and what I have.
Q: Why did you accept this role? Aren’t you afraid you’d lose your sweet image?
A: No. This role is another way of showing everybody that I’m versatile. In "Eat Bulaga" I do comedy. In "Now and Forever" I play dual roles, a tomboy and a pa-tweemtums. Here it’s a different role as a warrior and it’s very challenging.
Q: It looks like a tough role...
A: Mahirap kasi warrior ako. I trained in arnis already. But I didn’t have a hard time because I used to takeup Kung Fu.
Q: How challenging is your role?
A: It is very challenging because dito ginagamit namin ang strength namin dahil sa mga fight scenes. Dapat mabilis ka ring humugot ng emotions and ang speech namin, napaka-lalim ng mga salita na umiiyak na ako dahil hindi ko makuha.
Q: Where do you get your strength and courage to try to make it in local showbiz?
A: I get it from my passion kung ano mang meron ako. Kasi ilang months pa lang ako sa GMA and my dreams are in my face. And that’s where I get my strength. It’s not everyday that you’re given these projects.
Q: What’s you’re philosophy as an actress?
A: I always believe that every time you perform, you think of it as if it’s your last para you’d give your all.
Q: What’s your schedule now?
A: Wala na akong time. Monday to Saturday I do "Bulaga," Sunday I do "SOP," Monday, Wednesday, Friday I do "Etheria," I do "Now and Forever" every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and after "SOP" I do "My Guardian Abby."
Q: You’re very hardworking!
A: What’s really nice, like in "Etheria," kapag mas lalo kang nahihirapan, the more nakikita yung passion mo sa TV. Kapag pinaghirapan talaga, ang ganda ng effect sa TV. People would see how much we love our job!
Q: What’s your Christmas wish?
A: To be with my family and sleep on my bed kasi ang kama ko ngayon kotse ko.
