SELF-CONFESSED fan ni Imelda Marcos si Ruffa Gutierrez na gaganap sa karakter ng dating First Lady sa Viva Films movie na Maid in Malacañang.

Sa virtual mediacon para sa pelikula na ididirehe ni Darryl Yap, inamin ni Ruffa na isa iyon sa mga rason kung bakit niya tinanggap ang proyekto.

Gaya ng una nang napabalita, si Ruffa ang first and only choice para gumanap sa papel ng dating Unang Ginang.

Kwento niya, “Well, I first met Madame Imelda Marcos when I was only 18 years old. It was her birthday party at the Manila Hotel and they asked us to dress as Imelda Marcos. So, siyempre, du’n pa lang nagpa-picture na ’ko and I’ve always been such a fan of hers because she’s a woman of glamor, a woman of substance and she has a golden heart.

“She has a pure golden heart and I can see that she knows how to practice grace under pressure. So, for me, if I were to see her again, I would ask what is her beauty secret. Because she still looks so young and fresh at her age. And I’d also ask her another thing, of course, how does it feel that she was able to live and watch her son, her favorite son, President Bongbong Marcos, who’s going to be the next president of our country, so, ano kayang feelings niya about that.”

Aminado rin ang aktres na marami pa siyang kakaining bigas para ma-portray si Madame Imelda.

Pero handa raw siyang i-embrace ang challenge nu’n para maipakita kung sino talaga ito sa publiko.

Maraming pagkakapareho sina Madame Imelda at Ruffa, gaya na lang ng pareho silang Cancerian (birthday ni Ruffa, June 24 at si Madame Imelda ay July 2).

“Her birthday is coming up,” paalala ni Ruffa.

Bukod du’n pareho rin silang naging beauty queens.

“Miss Manila, Miss Philippines, Miss World runner-up. She loves to sing, she loves to dance. I do, too. The problem is, I don’t have a voice like hers, so, I have to take up singing lessons, but marami, ’yon. I’m just very honored to be playing Madame Imelda,” pag-iisa-isa pa ni Ruffa sa press.

Bago pa man daw ialok sa kanya ang Maid in Malacañang, nakapanood na siya ng iba’t ibang dokumentaryo tungkol kay Madame Imelda.

Paliwanag niya, “Because she is one of the world’s most glamorous women and she’s truly an icon. The setting is in 1986 but it doesn’t stop me from also just watching everything about her. You know, from the time she gave birth, from the time she was born to her love story until today.”

May natutunan din si Ruffa sa co-star na si Cesar (Montano, gumaganap naman bilang si former Pres. Ferdinand Marcos) nang gawin nila ang look test.

Kwento niya, “Sabi niya, ‘naku, ayan lahat ng pictures, Ruffa, kailangan ipa-print mo na, kailangan matulog ka na nasa isip mo si Imelda, nasa brain mo si Imelda. Kasi ’yun daw ang ginawa niya nu’ng ginawa niya ’yung Jose Rizal movie. Natulog daw siya na katabi niya si Jose Rizal. So I will be sleeping with Imelda on my mind until this movie is shown.”

Maliban kina Ruffa at Cesar, nasa cast din ng movie na may target playdate na July 20 sina Diego Loyzaga, Cristine Reyes, Ella Cruz, Karla Estrada, Beverly Salviejo, Elizabeth Oropesa, atbp.