EXCLUSIVE: Janine Gutierrez Will Make You Fall In Love with the Villain

From her wardrobe to her commanding presence, Janine Gutierrez is irresistible as a villain in Lavender Fields

When you hear the name Janine Gutierrez, you probably think of the charming, doe-eyed actor in roles that make her seem like the girl next door without any dirty laundry. But toss those perceptions out the window, because she’s heading into flowery territory in her latest project, Lavender Fields—and this time, she’s bringing out the claws.

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^{Janine Gutierrez}

Intimidation Turns to Intrigue

“Oh my God, I was intrigued!” Janine exclaims when asked about her first reaction to landing the role of Iris Buenavidez, the show’s unrelenting kontrabida. “Actually, wait—maybe ‘intimidated’ is the better word,” she admits with a laugh, the kind that says she’s about to embark on something that might just scare her, in the best way possible. 

^{The actor was intimidated when it came to her first villain role}

“It’s something I’ve never done before, and it seems challenging right from the get-go. I always thought that the kontrabida role was the most tiring to play in any series or film. So I was like, ‘Why did they choose me?’”

But if you think Janine’s intimidation lasted long, think again. Iris is the kind of character who doesn’t take no for an answer—an alpha CEO, a betrayed wife with a taste for martial arts, gun ranges, and a wardrobe to die for. In short, she’s the sort of woman who commands a room and leaves her adversaries quaking in their designer heels.

^{Fishnet dress by DION LEE, jewelry by MILADY}

“She likes fashion,” Janine says with a sly grin. “When they told me all these things about her, I was like, ‘Oh wow, she seems like a whole person.’ It’s always interesting with so-called villains because there’s always an origin story. Every villain is a hero in their own story. Look at Joker or Maleficent—they’ve had their own films! So one of the challenges for me was to show the humanity in someone who’s portrayed as bad.”

Into the Mind of a Villain

Getting into the mindset of a character like Iris wasn’t a walk in the fields. Janine dives deep, almost as if she’s mining for gold in a mine of emotions. “I always get nervous before starting a new role because I don’t want to disappoint the people who trusted me with it,” she confesses. “So I combat my anxiety and fear with preparation—acting workshops, lots of conversations with the directors and writers, and really trying to understand the core of the character.”

^{With a challenging role, Janine revealed she curates a different personality while filming}

When it comes to Iris, that core is a sense of privilege and narcissism that’s foreign to Janine’s own personality. “It’s the feeling that no matter what you do, you won’t fail because you have the money and the power for it,” she explains. “It was a far jump emotionally and mentally, but it helped that the directors and writers were so patient. They even invited me to dinner to explain the character.”

One might think playing a character so far removed from her own personality would be isolating, but Janine has her rituals. “I always have a different perfume for each character I play,” she shares. For Iris, it’s Wind Flowers by Creed, a scent that’s as sharp and intoxicating as the woman herself. “I also make a playlist for each character. For Iris, it’s all hip hop—Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion. That kind of energy helps me step into her.”

^{Red suit set by MATERIAL, jewelry by TIFFANY & CO.}

And then there’s the wardrobe. “The wardrobe really helped me get into character. We invested a lot of time making sure her looks were authentic and that they gave her the power she needs to command the space she’s in,” she says. “I may not have much in common with Iris, but fashion? That, I understand.”

True to Herself

Stepping onto the set of Lavender Fields has been a learning experience for Janine, who finds herself working alongside industry veterans like Jericho Rosales and Jodi Sta. Maria. “I feel so lucky because I’m probably the most inexperienced person on that set, which is a good place to be,” she says, her eyes lighting up with excitement. “They have decades of experience ahead of me, and I have the most to learn and gain. I’m just so grateful they’re all so generous and amazing to work with.”

^{Through her relationships with her co-actors and the various characters she portrayed, Janine learned it’s okay to not please everyone}

But it’s not just about learning; it’s about the layers each character brings to the table. “Everyone is kind of a gray character,” Janine notes. “No one is completely good, and no one is completely bad. That’s what makes it exciting for the audience—they’ll have different favorites.”

How does Janine balance playing a morally ambiguous character with her own life? “It’s just like in real life,” she says. “You could be the best person to your friends and family, but there’s always going to be someone who thinks you’re horrible. That’s okay. You can’t please everyone. Iris, though—she doesn’t care what others think. And that’s something I’ve had to learn too—not to be a people pleaser and to stay true to myself.”

^{Sheer archival piece by RAJO LAUREL and jewelry by TIFFANY & CO.}

As for how fans will react to her new role, Janine Gutierrez is hopeful. “I love a good villain, and sometimes, you catch yourself rooting for the villain,” she says confidently. “I hope that’s what they feel when they see Iris.”

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Photographed by ANDREA BELDUA. Creative Direction by ANDREW ENCAPAS and SEAN CASTELO III. Styled by J.RO ALARCIO, assisted by JIA TORATO of QURATOR STUDIO. Makeup by JUSTINE NAVATO, assisted by ROSALINA PALMA. Hair by JA FELICIANO. Editorial Assistant JOANA FERNANDO. Sittings Editor MIA CASTRO. Special thanks to DREAMSCAPE ENTERTAINMENT

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EXCLUSIVE: Janine Gutierrez Will Make You Fall In Love with the Villain
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