We’ve watched plenty of actors grow up before our very eyes, maturing from fresh faces into seasoned performers with every passing year. The careers of Francine Diaz and Seth Fedelin began to bloom in 2018 with the hit afternoon series Kadenang Ginto. Over the past six years, we’ve witnessed their evolution through a string of demanding, dramatic roles, each project refining their craft.
But now, they are trading the tears for laughter in their first-ever romantic comedy: “She Who Must Not Be Named.” It is a refreshing departure that marks a new chapter in their professional journey, finally offering fans the lighthearted, chemistry-fueled dynamic they have been clamoring to see. It is no longer just about the heavy drama; it is about showing a side of FranSeth we’ve only caught glimpses of. One that is playful, spontaneous, and undeniably charming.
FranSeth through the years
Since 2018 in Kadenang Ginto, Francine Diaz and Seth Fedelin have been working with each other. They may not be a pair yet that time but being part of an afternoon series and the group, ‘The Gold Squad’, the two have come a long way. What do they notice about each other in terms of growth as a person?
“Honestly, hindi naman namin ini-invalidate where we came from, especially we all know na most of our supporters nanggaling because of Gold Squad and dahil we did so many vlogs together and now, I would say kasi mas papunta na kami talaga sa adult kaya mas kanya-kanya na din na tine-take na path, may it be in career or personal lives. Siguro ‘yung pinagkaiba namin dati before nung nasa group na ‘yun at today? Sobrang laki ng pinagbago. Siguro ngayon, kung hindi ako nagbago, puro pagsisinungaling na lang ang sasabihin ko kasi hindi ko alam kung paano sasagot and in terms of just me, being a person, and kay Seth din, from being in that group, too, kung sino siya ngayon at nasaan siya ngayon, sobrang laki ng pagbabago. Actually, pareho kaming witness sa growth ng isa’t isa and ‘yung nga sabi namin, enemies kami before pero dahil pareho naman naming winork out. Hindi naman enemies pero may konting… it’s really the wall. Talangang friends lang kami kapag trabaho kasi hindi kami nag-uusap before unless rolling na kami. And now, mas nagkakaroon kami ng knowledge sa kinagagalawan naming mundo, mas naa-appreciate namin, mas alam namin kung ano ang dapat. At habang tumatagal, sa lahat ng mga projects na ginagawa namin, mas naa-appreciate namin at nakikita namin ‘yung pinakamalalim na ibig sabihin kung bakit may pelikula at bakit tayo umaarte,” Francine answers.
“Kung paano kami before at ngayon? Sobrang laki ng pinagbago. At dahil malaki ang pinagbago sa kadahilanang marami din kaming pinagdaanan. Ang dami naming nakatrabaho, iba’t ibang strategy, iba’t ibang sitwasyon, ang mga directors iba’t iba ang atake, iba’t ibang mga kwento. Malaking bahagi ‘yun sa growth naming dalawa, madami kaming naging mentors, marami kaming pinagtanungan and kung ngayon, kung paano kami mag-usap? We protect our craft. Ina-analyze namin buong story, mas nag-uusap kaming dalawa. Tinatanong ko si Francine kung ano ang better sa ganitong part, ano ang mas magandang gawin, and vice versa. At specific na changes kay Francine, ngayon, siyempre ‘yung trust, ‘yung friendship na nabuo, mas lumalim pa and pagnapapansin ko siya kapag tinitignan ko siya sa malayo, the way she answers all the questions, the way she handles all the situations, sobrang kakaiba na sa dati. Mas may paninindigan sa salita dahil alam niya na ‘yung ginagawa. Siguro part ng maturing is ‘yung accountability. Both of us, kaya naming tumanggap ng ganun lalo na kapag alam namin sa sarili namin ‘yung mga pagkakamali at pagkukulang namin. Hindi kabawasan sa amin. ‘Yung gigil makapag-trabaho, mas magawa ang ganitong character o eksena, mas pangarapin ‘yung ganitong klaseng movie o teleserye, mas nasa amin ngayon. So, ‘yung gigil sa trabaho ay dinoble namin and ako, sa ABS-CBN, seven years na ako since PBB, sobrang dami naming pinagdaanan, sobrang hinubog kami ng panahon, pinagtibay kami ng kung ano man and sobrang happy ko doon na hanggang ngayon, ginagawa pa din namin at nagshe-share kami ng knowledge sa isa’t isa. New friends, new co-worker, new director, new production, padagdag pa nang padagdag and I hope madagdagan pa nang madagdagan,” Seth adds.
Bobby Andrews on the chemistry of FranSeth
“Unfortunately, wala kaming eksena together (ni Francine), but in terms of dynamics seeing them together outside the shoot, during moments na kasama ang cast, what you see on screen is how they are in real life. They’re really sweet, I don’t know what the score is, I don’t know what’s going on, but it brings you back to way, way back na you have a good working relationship and you’re friends (with your on screen partner). And it’s very important na to have a love team, you have to be friends first before lovers.”
“We’re friends and at the same time….,” Seth comments. “Teka lang. I’ll be honest, friends, sometimes enemies, sometimes hindi kami magkasundo, but the root of this (relationship) is we respect each other. The connection is there, alam namin ang ginagawa namin and sa tingin ko ‘yun naman ang tamang gawin lalo na sa paggawa ng pelikula. Kailangan ninyo ng trust sa isa’t isa. Kung nasaan kami ngayon, the wall between us before, too high, tapos ngayon pinababa ko siya o naghagdan ako para maabot ko ‘yung wall na ‘yun. Thank you kay sir Bobby na nakikita niya ‘yung energy na binabato namin sa lahat ng katrabaho namin, kasi importante ‘yun. The way they see you, ‘yung aura mo, pagpasok mo pa lang sa set, hindi ka pa naka-makeup, kailangan ‘yung presensya mo, malaking tulong ‘yun. Hindi ‘yung bigat ‘yung mararamdaman sa’yo ng mga tao, dapat ikaw ‘yung pinakamagaan doon. Magdo-domino effect ‘yun. ‘Yun lang naman,” Seth continues.
“Hindi naman. Hindi ko totally binreak. Nag-tira ako ng wall ng personal niya. ‘Yung respect ko nandun pa din,” Seth answers.
What’s Francine’s reaction?
“Siguro dun sa part na breaking the walls, pareho namang nag-adjust. Kasi parang hindi naman magmi-meet ‘yung dalawang tao kung hindi din gustong makipag-ayos nung isang party, diba? Kapag nakaka-receive kami ng ganung comments gaya ng kay tito Bobby, sobrang nakakataba ng puso. Kasi siyempre kapag may ginagawa kaming trabaho, sobrang focus po namin doon. Minsan nga tingin ko parang sobrang seryoso na ng nakikita sa akin ng mga katrabaho namin and to hear that, nakakatuwa lang marinig. We always give our best kasi hindi lang naman namin ‘to ginagawa para sa sarili namin, ginagawa din namin ito para sa mga katrabaho namin, sa lahat ng naghihirap din. For sure, kung nahihirapan kami minsan, mas nahihirapan pa like sa production. And of course,we want to give back ‘yung suporta na natatanggap namin sa lahat ng nakaka-appreciate ng pag-arte namin at kung paano kami bilang mga artista, at siyempre ‘yung pagpapakilala ng mga pelikulang galing sa atin.”
“She Who Must Not Be Named” is a story of a boy who is bad at remembering the names of the girls he dates, until one day he meets a mysterious and headstrong girl who would never reveal her name.
The film also stars Bobby Andrews, Ruby Ruiz, Raven Rigor, Kych Minemoto, Elijah Alejo, Kaleb Ong, Abdul Raman, Lady Martin, and Bernadette Allyson.
Story and screenplay by Lawrence Nicodemus, cinematography by Eldrin Flores, line produced by Amelita Gonzales Alfonso, and associate producer is Butch Ibañez.
Executive Producers are Armie Fernandez, Owen Fernandez, and Wilson Tieng. Directed by Christopher Novabos.
‘She Who Must Not Be Named’ opens in cinemas April 29, 2026.
Watch our video coverage of the media conference below: