Meryll Soriano praises Will Ashley’s acting: ‘Magiging all-around actor si Will’
With her latest QCinema Film Festival entry Sana’y Nandito Ka set to open this weekend, Meryll Soriano shared her experience working with director Clister Ramos on the animated film. The talented actress plays the role of Zaijian Jaranilla’s character’s mother in the film which is based on the real-life of their director and his mother.
“This is a story about our director Clister Santos and his mom. After six years pa sila nagkita ulit. And yung story na pag may distance sa mga magulang natin, usually meron tayong mga distance and papaano pag nagkita kayo ulit, kung and yung intentions niyo and all that. Kasama ko si Zaijian dito. And malaking factor na tinanggap ko Ito dahil first, maganda yung story and second, it’s animation. So it’s nice to give knowledge sa mag tao about Philippine animation. Kaya nag we’re so happy na and mag-o-opening film sa QCinema is an animation film din. So para mabigyan ng awareness din na melon tayong mga Filipino animators,” she told PUSH ABS-CBN in an exclusive interview.
Having done voice acting in the past, Meryll admitted it was a different kind of challenge.
“I thought mag-vo-voice acting lang kami. But big surprise, shinoot din nila kami sa recording studio. Shinoot nila yung actions gamin for reference. And I think isa yun sa mga exciting na ginawa ko. And also because I’ve never done an animation or to be in that kind of process na shinoot din kami. So it was very exciting. Nag-dub ako ng mag nimation dati, yung mag Japanese animation and then nag-voice acting din ako with ABS-CBN sa Miss No Good na Taiwanese naman. So I’ve never had a problem with that kasi na-train na ako dun. Kasi yung mag kaibigan ko mga voice actors, sabi ko, ‘Uy, pa-try naman ako!’ Hanggang sa naging work ko na din siya for a time. Hindi siya kasing lake (ng kita)… quantity eh over everything else. Like for example, nakaka-ilang episodes sila sa isang araw, so malaki talaga yung kikitain,” she explained.
Currently busy with her new series where she makes her small screen comeback as the mom of Pinoy Big Brother alumni Will Ashley, Meryll had nothing but high praises for his acting potential in different genres.
“Busy ako dun ngayon kasi nag-te-taping. Tumanggap na ako ng labada guys (laughs). So masaya naman ako na madami akong ginagawa na talagang mahal ko, ang films and of course ang pagbabalik ko sa TV. And just I’m just very happy to be doing comedy. Magaling yung bata. Definitely, nakita ko siya mag-drama and magaling talaga sa drama. Surprisingly, talagang he really, really works hard to bond with us. (Nahahasa) namin siya sa comedy kaya natutuwa kami kasi ngayon mas kenkoy na siya. Siguro dati nahihiya lang talaga siya nung mga una, nung mga storycon. Pero nung nasa set na, okay naman. And I think yung potential ng bata pagdating niya sa drama, talagang na-master naya itong comedy. Magiging all-around actor is Will!” she said.
Not new to doing mother roles, the 43-year-old actress admitted she had been playing older roles onscreen even before she had her own children.
“Kasi sa MMK pa lang nag-start na ako. Hindi pa ako nanay, nag-mother roles na ako. Mukha ba kong nanay? (laughs). Losyang na losyang ba ako? Lagi akong may mother roles. Pero mas madali yun kasi walang makeup, maluluwag ang mga damit. Hindi ba mas madali sa set yun? Kesa try ko na maging mayaman, diyosko ang daning mga continuity ng buhok, continuity ng makeup. Sabi ko, okay na ako sa mahirap, okay na ako sa losyang, yung tali tali lang ng buhok (laughs),” she said.
The 14th QCinema International Film Festival runs from November 13 to 22, 2026, with screenings at Gateway Cineplex 18, Robinsons Movieworld Galleria, Ayala Malls Cinemas TriNoma, Fisher Box Office, and SM Cinema – SM City Fairview. All festival screenings are priced at a discounted ticket rate of ₱200 each.