There are no small roles for award-winning actress Ara Mina, be it a character in a mainstream or independent film. Her treatment remains the same – giving 110 percent to her every role!

In “Marino,” for instance, the actress was able to shine anew as the lonely wife of a seafarer. The movie is from CDP Events Entertainment Production and ATD Entertainment Productions.

Though her role may sound simple for some, she breathed new life on a wife coping up with loneliness and shunning temptation of adultery while her husband is working abroad. Her integrity as an actress was witnessed, according to the producers, by moviegoers who came and watched “Marino’s” advanced screening at SM Pampanga recently. She was even compared to renowned and multi-awarded dramatic actress Lorna Tolentino in terms of her dramatic prowess in her subtlety.

Like in her previous interviews, she said she is always challenged by any role given her because she always look for ways to bring it out differently. There are no simple roles for her as she always explores the best possible way to offer something new as an actress.

“When I was just starting as an actress, I made sure that I learn from every project I accepted. And luckily, I was blessed to have worked with almost all the best directors in the industry. And I learned a lot from their different styles as well as working with different co-actors,” she explained.

She also admitted that it was a conscious effort on her part to be recognized as an actress because she was then doing “sexy roles.” She felt that earning acting awards would vindicate her as a respected actress and not just a “sexy figure” in Philippine Cinema.

“I have proven that I could go beyond sexy roles and I will continue to do so in my future projects,” she quipped.

In her acting resumé are the following movies which won her accolades as an actress, Chito Roño’s “Curacha: Ang Babaeng Walang Pahinga,” Jose Javier Reyes’ “Phone Sex,” Maryo J. Delos Reyes’ “Pahiram Kahit Sandali,” and Carlitos Siguion Reyna’s “Kahapon May Dalawang Bata” and Joel Lamangan’s “Mano Po” and “Huling Birhen Sa Lupa” where she won Best Actress in the Metro Manila Film Festival and three more awards – from Famas, Star Awards and Golden Screen Awards respectively. “Every award is the labor of hard work. I always do my homework and I prepare for whatever role I get… I often make use of my own personal experiences as sources for my emotions,” described Ara who plans of doing a movie as a serial psycho killer which she believes she would enjoy portraying.

With regards to “Marino,” Ara’s delighted to have worked with Allen Dizon whom she also admires as a good and effective actor.

“He’s really affecting in the film which is good because the story is told from our point of view as a couple who got separated by the sea, their own sacrifices and loneliness,” Ara said.

So far, Ara continued to win raves from the special screenings of “Marino” last Sept. 10 at SM Manila by the Asian Institute of Maritime Studies (AIMS), Sept.11 at SM Bacoor, and Sept. 14 to 17 for PAMMA (Pangasinan Merchant Marine Academy). While screening for seafarers groups will be on the last week of September.

Also in the cast are Emilio Garcia, Marco Alcaraz, Bangs Garcia, Victor Basa, Mike Tan, Rico Barrera, Jan Nieto and Krista Ranillo. Allen’s six-year-old daughter Nella Marie Dizon has a special participation in the movie.

Ninety percent sure

With regards to her future plans of running for Councilor for the 2nd District of Quezon City, Ara Mina declared, as of press time, that she is 90 percent sure of filing her candidacy. She said that she still had to meet with “important people” and seek guidance if she would really run in 2010.

“I still have a lot of things to set-up with regards to my campaign. For me this is the right time for me to run because there’s a lot of councilors ‘graduating.’ I’m really interested in becoming a public servant and helping the people of Quezon City,” she expressed.