After Liza Soberano bowed out of the role of Darna due to health problems, the creative minds behind the latest Darna project once again needed to deliberate on the perfect actress for the role. After months of callbacks, director Jerrold Tarog presented his choice to the ABS-CBN management, after which the decision has been unanimous.
“We have found a new Darna and she is none other than Jane de Leon!” shares ABS-CBN Films’ managing director Olivia Lamasan in an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN News.
Jane de Leon is a relatively new name in the mainstream showbiz industry, so here are some quick facts about our new Darna.
Her full name is Jane Florence Benitez de Leon.
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She was supposed to be named Hyacinth. Then Amapola (nickname Apple). Then Jade. Then her parents settled with Jane. Her name Florence comes from her paternal aunt’s “Flor” and her dad’s “Florencio.” Whenever her parents scold her, they shout “Flordeliza!”
Her family calls her Chinese.
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She was baptized with the nickname Chinese (read as chee-nees) by her brother, because apparently, when she was a kid, it was like she was speaking in Chinese.
She’s a Sagittarius.
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Born in November 22, 1998, she’s 20 years old as she takes up the mantle of Darna.
She’s an animal lover.
She loves all kinds of animals and she’d love to have a pet, though a cat scratched her cheek when she was just five years old, leaving a faint scar.
She’s multi-talented.
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According to her Star Magic artist profile, in addition to acting and modeling, she sings, dances, and plays the drums and guitar. Talk about being gifted!
She was a member of the girl group GirlTrends.
ShowTime introduced GirlTrends as a counterpart of their boy group Hashtags, and de Leon was part of the girl group for a year along with fellow actresses Barbie Imperial and Loisa Andalio.
Her biggest break before Darna was her role in Halik.
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She most recently played the role of Maggie, the younger sister of Jericho Rosales’s Lino in the teleserye Halik. She also appeared in the teleseryes La Luna Sangre, Maalaala Mo Kaya, Wansapanataym, and the film The Debutantes.
If she wasn’t in the showbiz industry, she’d want to be a doctor or a soldier.
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Well, Darna could be considered a soldier somehow, not sure about being a doctor. But still. Dream come true? Playing the role of Darna definitely is!
What do you think of the new Darna? Share your thoughts with us below!
