They may be clashing wives in “House of Lies,” but behind the cameras, seasoned actresses Beauty Gonzalez and Kris Bernal have found an unexpected chemistry that neither rivalry nor high drama can ruin.
Premiering January 19 on GMA Afternoon Prime, “House of Lies” sets the stage for Beauty and Kris to bring to life two headstrong women caught in a tangled web of ambition and deception.
Beauty plays Marjorie, a devoted wife and mother married to Paolo (Mike Tan). Her character’s seemingly peaceful life is turned upside down when Althea — played by Kris — enters the picture.
Althea, the perfectionist and insecure wife of Paolo’s brother Edward (Martin del Rosario), carries deep-seated resentment and an eye on Marjorie that’s anything but friendly.
The family dynamic grows more volatile by the minute, especially since Paolo and Edward are already locked in a bitter rivalry to prove who deserves to inherit the family empire. Add to that Althea’s envy of Marjorie’s poise and presence, and you get a powder keg ready to explode.
But off-screen? It’s a different story altogether.
In fact, Beauty and Kris’ very first collaboration has led both seasoned actresses to admire each other’s craft and character.
During the “House of Lies” media conference held Monday at GMA’s Studio 6, Beauty was the first to share her newfound respect for her co-star.
“She comes to the set fully prepared, not even carrying a script,” she said of Kris. “You should really be proud of that. I want to get into that habit of being able to leave my script behind.”
Beauty humbly admitted she has to bring hers every taping day since she’s still worried the Visayan in her might mess up her Tagalog lines.
“Sometimes I get so insecure,” she said. “I just want to be sure I have my dialogue right, so I always keep my script with me.”
Beauty’s praises for Kris didn’t stop there, though. She even lit up when talking about Kris’ effortless grace while wearing sky-high heels — particularly her enviable collection of Louboutins.
“She wears them with such ease,” Beauty said with admiration. “I would die in those shoes, but Kris just carries herself so well.”
For her part, Kris gave credit right back. “The feeling is mutual,” she said, in earnest. “It’s easy to work with someone who’s studied her scenes so well like Beauty.”
Incidentally, “House of Lies” marks Kris’ big comeback to primetime drama. After nearly two decades in the industry, she stepped away in 2021 to focus on life with her businessman husband Perry Choi. She gave birth to a baby girl named Hailee last year, and while she has flourished in her new role as a mother, she also welcomed the chance to return to the craft she missed.
As for Beauty, the series adds yet another bold and emotionally textured role to her growing body of work. There’s no doubt about it — this prolific actress just keeps getting better and better all the time.
Directed by Jerry Lopez Sineneng with associate director Carlo Antonio Cannu, “House of Lies” is produced by the GMA Entertainment Group and boasts a formidable supporting cast. Familiar faces like Jackie Lou Blanco, Lito Pimentel, Snooky Serna, and Tanya Gomez bring the gravitas, while younger actors like Kayla Davies, Angel Cadao, and Kokoy de Santos promise freshness and fire.
Still, it’s the face-off between Marjorie and Althea that will likely steal the spotlight. And while the onscreen tension will undoubtedly be thick, it’s nice to know that off camera, these actresses are building not just a house of lies — but a genuine foundation of mutual respect.
Catch “House of Lies” weekdays at 3:20 p.m. on GMA Afternoon Prime starting January 19. For viewers abroad, the series will also air on GMA Pinoy TV.