YOUNG actress Carla Abellana has what it takes to win every man’s heart – beauty, brains and gentle character.

[Regal Films]

But beneath that fragile image, she’s also got what it takes to succeed in a topsy-turvy world like show business. And so, she got all the right breaks as a showbiz newbie via two popular TV series, Rosalinda and Basahang Ginto.

These vibrant traits didn’t escape the eyes of Regal matriarch Lily Monteverde and her daughter Roselle Monteverde-Teo, who instantly signed her up as a full-fledged Regal Baby.

From her contract comes Carla’s biggest movie break, the Funeraria episode in the horror trilogy, Shake, Rattle & Roll XII, which is one of Regal’s entries in this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival.

From doing plain drama on TV, Carla shifts gears on the big screen and takes on a part that would definitely give moviegoers goosebumps and send them screaming at wit’s end.

Shooting Funeraria proved to be a breeze save for some minor incidents that left the young actress literally holding on to dear life.

Recounts a cast member, “Napasabak nga siya sa matitinding katatakutang eksena sa movie. Nariyang mapilayan siya habang tumatakbo sa isang eksena sa movie. Gusto kasi niyang tuklasin ang sikreto ng pamilya ni Sid Lucero na may-ari ng misteryosong punerarya kaya sari-saring panganib ang sinuong ng karakter ni Carla para
mabunyag ang lihim ng pamilya.

”Sa totoo lang, hindi alintana ni Carla ang hirap habang sinu-shoot
ang mapaghamong eksena niya sa ’SR&R.’ Tutal naman, laging nakaalalay sa kanya si Sid sa matitinding scenes na ginagawa niya.

”‘Yun nga lang, marami ang nakakapansing sobrang malapit si Sid kay
Carla. Kaya naman hindi maiwasang mapansin ito ng mga kasamahan nila sa episode.

“Parang hindi na kasi normal ‘yung pagki-care ni Sid kay Carla lalo
na kapag mahirap ang ipinagagawa sa kanya ni Direk Jerrold (Tarog).

”Nang mapilayan nga si Carla sa isang eksenang tumakbo ito ng makita ang ga halimaw, aba, agad umalalay si Sid at siya pa ang nagbuhat kay Carla nang hirap na siya lumakad. Siguradong na-attract din siya sa maamong mukha ni Carla.

“Kaya naman pala kapag dumadalaw si Geoff (Eigenmann) sa shooting,
iwas si Sid na lumapit kay Carla. Kasi naman si Geoff, never din namang
pinapansin masyado ang kanyang pinsan. Nakarating siguro sa kanya ang tsismis na sobrang mag-care ang pinsan niya kay Carla.”

Well, who can blame Sid? Carla is beauty and brains combined. And that makes her a perfect catch.

Discover more about this unique Carla-Sid chemistry when “Shake, Rattle & Roll XII” opens in theaters come Christmas Day as part of this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival.

Watch the full trailer of “SRR12” here: