Marife Necesito (Photo by Jude Bautista)

MANILA, Philippines -- Filipino actress Marife Necesito snatched a key role in the Hollywood film “Mammoth,” co-starring Mexican heartthrob Gael Garcia Bernal (“Letters to Juliet”) and Michelle Williams (“Blue Valentine”).

In “Mammoth” directed by Lucas Moodysson, Necesito plays a Filipina named Gloria, a mother of two sons who leaves the Philippines to work as nanny of the daughter (Sophie Nyweide) of an American couple played by Bernal and Williams.

The film was among several outstanding films screened during the 14th Cine Europa film festival held at Greenbelt in Makati.

“Mammoth” has also been nominated for the Golden Berlin Bear at the Berlin film fest while the part earned for the Pinay actress a Best Supporting Actress nomination from the Cinemanila film fest.

In an interview with Bulletin Entertainment, Necesito shared how it felt to land her “biggest break so far” after having portrayed several obscure roles in the past.

“My director (Moodysson) trusted me to play a very important role that I will treasure forever. She made me play the role of the Filipina that represents the third world. My character in the movie is a lone mother, who works abroad as a nanny to support her children back home. A lot of things break down when you force to make such sacrifice especially to the children who will be left behind. I think a lot of Filipino can relate to that. And the fact that I was able to speak our native language (Tagalog) in the movie is really amazing,” the actress, who is also a painter and prose writer, said.

Working with international actors like Bernal and Williams is life-changing, Necesito recounted. “Before the film’s shooting starts in Sweden and New York, we did some rehearsals. We talked a lot about our characters. We had dinner and lunch together with the director and producers. They are both very helpful for me. They are so humble and they make me feel comfortable around them.”

Known as a stage actress, going mainstream (and international) is way more than Necesito expected. Before “Mammoth,” Necesito starred in another international film, “Going Back,” directed by Canadian Sidney Furie.

Necesito has been cast in several international films among them: “Graceland” by New York-based Pinoy director Ron Morales, “Lileth Never Happened” by Jacco Groen, and “Darkest Night” written by Russ Williams and directed by a Filipino, Noel Tan.

In the local scene, she has starred in “Ka Oryang” by Sari Dalena, “Taxi Cab” by Archie Del Mundo, “Sponsor” by Shandi Bacolod and “Brod” by Ray Gibraltar.

For Marife, “Acting is a continuous learning process.” That’s why up to this day, she continues to broaden her talent with theater performances which she still continues to this day. The most recent play she did was “Awit Kay Ana” under Encore Philippines.

Directed by Noel Miralles and written by Diosdado Anzures, “Awit Kay Ana” is an adaptation of a William Somerset Maugham short story set in France amidst the death and destruction brought about by World War II. The play’s setting shifts to the Philippines wherein a family’s idyllic existence is disrupted by war.

Married to an Italian and mother to son Leondro, Necesito related to her “Mammoth” character because she has been an OFW before.

“Actually I’m more curious sa reaction ni Leondro. Yung time na nag-abroad ako, ganun din yung naramdaman niya. Nag-abroad ako for three months, OFW ako. Yung character ko (Gloria) ganun, tawag-tawag din lang ako sa kanya,” she related.

Sharing what she has learned from “Mammoth,” Necesito has this to say. “Hindi lang bola ng basketball ang ine-export kundi pagmamahal.”