When “Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre” creator Suzette Doctolero envisioned the powerful and enigmatic Mitena, she had one woman in mind—and only one. No auditions. No backups. Just Rhian Ramos.
The inspiration? Rhian’s gripping performance in the 2023 mystery-thriller “Royal Blood.”
“I couldn’t believe it,” Rhian said, still slightly wide-eyed from the casting curveball. “I was flattered—because it’s a role with such weight. I was actually steering clear of fantasy series. I wanted to dig deeper into drama. Cement myself in that lane.”
But fate—or in this case, Encantadia—had other plans. “When Suzette shared the story with me, I knew I couldn’t walk away. The journey of this character? Fully fleshed out, beginning to end. She’s the kind of role that just dares you to say yes.”
Say yes she did—nervously.
“It pressured me in all the right ways,” Rhian admitted. “I love the discomfort. That anxiety? That’s my fuel. That’s when I know I’m learning something real. That I still love the craft.”
Mitena, she teases, is deliciously flawed. “She’s evil—no spoilers there. But that’s the fun of it. I get to stretch my empathy and imagination. I like asking: What happened to this person to make them this way? Those questions push me as a performer… and oddly, make me a better human.”
And let’s talk about the look. Rhian showed up to the press con fully suited in Mitena’s regal get-up, looking like she could slay a dragon and a red carpet in one breath. “I helped piece parts of the costume together. It’s fantasy, sure, but also functional. There are fight scenes—comfort and movement are non-negotiable.”
But once the crown is on, the transformation is complete. “It changes everything. The moment I put on the full outfit, I am Mitena. It’s wild. Even just taking off the crown makes me feel like I’m Rhian again. Until then… better behave!”
“Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre” airs June 23 on GMA Telebabad.
