FHM’s December 2012 cover girl in ‘Menor de Edad’ remake
Just as 19-year-old stunner Meg Imperial ended 2012 with a bomb as cover girl for sexy men’s magazine FHM in December, she begins the New Year in the same way with her daring debut movie Menor de Edad, produced by Viva Films.

A remake of the 1979 Ishmael Bernal film that starred Amy Austria, Chona Castillo and Ana Marin, the remake is helmed by multi-awarded director Joel Lamangan, who has successfully transformed Meg’s teenybopper image on TV into a sexy starlet for the big screen.

A mainstay on several youth-oriented shows on TV5, including Bagets, Maynila and Midnight DJ, Meg takes on the role of a troubled 15-year-old high school student in Menor de Edad. She lives in a tenement community with a dysfunctional mother, portrayed by sexy star Ara Mina, whose live in partner is a lesbian.

As an escape from her difficult home life, Meg’s character falls in love with her teacher, portrayed by Wendell Ramos, who rejects her when she seduces him on a dare. Humiliated she runs away only to be kidnapped and gang-raped by a group of three men.

On Monday, Meg told The Manila Times why she decided to accept such a daring role for her first movie: “Mahirap pong tanggihan ang offer na ito from Viva, dahil hindi lang naman pag-pa-pa-sexy ang movie na ito, kungdi isang project na maipapakita ang galing ko sa pag-arte.”

She is also honored to be working with Direk Joel and a cast of experienced actors. “Dahil magaling na director ang humawak sa pelikula namin, alam kong maganda ang kinalabasan ng Menor de Edad, at kasama ko pa ang katulad ni Ate Ara na naging very supportive sa akin whenever nagtatanong ako sa kanya kung ano ang dapat kong gawin sa isang eksena.”

Rather than describe the movie as a “sexy film,” Meg prefers to call it a powerful “adult drama,” which she said is a very timely development in her career since she will turn 20 years old on January 20.

“Three days po yung birthday ko bago mag-open yung pelikula on January 23.”

All out as she was in portraying her title role for Menor de Edad, Meg clarified that she imposed limitations on just how daring she will go before the filming began.

“Wala pong frontal nudity,” she stated.

With such a controversial movie to shift her career into the fast lane, eyes will certainly be on this young and talented looker who feels very fortunate to have been chosen for Viva Film’s opening salvo for 2013.

“Natiyempo lang po siguro na sa akin bumagay yung role kaya nila ibinigay sa akin,” she humbly added. “But of course, I consider this a very big break for me, especially since nine years old pa lang po ako, nag-e-extra na ako sa mga shows sa iba-ibang network.”

A stirring tale of sexual awakening, Menor de Edad, opens in theaters on January 23. For updates, still pictures and the official trailer, log on to the movie’s Facebook fan page or visit www.viva.com.ph.