Actress Glaiza de Castro recently shared a personal health scare related to her preparation for her role in the 2016 remake of “Encantadia.” During her appearance on the TV show “Sarap, ‘Di Ba?” de Castro recounted how the pressure to fit into her warrior costume led her to adopt an extreme diet, which ultimately resulted in her hospitalization.
De Castro, known for her dedication to her roles, faced significant pressure to embody Pirena, a character that had left a lasting impression on viewers when originally portrayed by Sunshine Dizon in 2005. In her efforts to prepare, de Castro limited her diet to eggs, bananas, and quinoa, significantly reducing her carbohydrate intake to the point of nutritional imbalance.
“I was so pressured at that time because the warrior costume and the roles we were playing were really impactful to the viewers,” she explained. This intense regimen led to a nutrient deficiency, landing her in the hospital.
Reflecting on her experience, de Castro did not delve into the specifics of her hospital stay but emphasized the dangers of unbalanced diets, especially when under the stress of physical and aesthetic expectations for a role.
Glaiza de Castro will revisit her role as Pirena in the upcoming “Encantadia” spin-off series “Sang’gre,” where she will be joined by new keepers of the “brilyante” played by Bianca Umali, Kelvin Miranda, Angel Guardian, and Faith Da Silva. This return is highly anticipated by fans of the original series.