Lance Joseph Martinez

Kaila Estrada Takes on a New Challenge in ABS-CBN’s Latest Suspense Teleserye ‘What Lies Beneath’

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<p>A new primetime teleserye is set to captivate Kapamilya viewers with its thrilling twists and intense storytelling, as<strong> ABS-CBN</strong> officially unveils its newest suspense-drama series, <strong><em>What Lies Beneath</em></strong>.</p><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPlisrLk3Xg/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=1080&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A357819%2C%22ls%22%3A357342%2C%22le%22%3A357815%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px" spellcheck="false" aria-label="To enrich screen reader interactions, please activate Accessibility in Grammarly extension settings"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>The gripping <em>teleserye</em> delves into friendship, betrayal, and long-buried secrets, led by powerhouse stars <strong>Janella Salvador, Sue Ramirez, Charlie Dizon, </strong>and <strong>Kaila Estrada.</strong> The story follows four women whose lives are shattered by a single lie and an irreversible act. As the truth resurfaces, trust breaks down, alliances crumble, and survival turns into a battle against guilt and danger.</p><p>Among the talented quartet is <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/people/2025/1/22/-incognito-sees-kaila-estrada-dabbling-in-the-action-genre-for-the-first-time-1757"><strong>Kaila Estrada</strong></a>, who is fresh from her breakout role as <strong>Max Alvero</strong> in the hit Kapamilya series <strong><em>Incognito</em></strong>.</p><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-4" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGZ0-cQzKST/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=1080&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A4%2C%22os%22%3A656843%2C%22ls%22%3A357342%2C%22le%22%3A357815%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="510" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-4" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>She also gained recognition from her previous performances in <strong><em>Linlang</em></strong>, where she portrayed <strong>Sylvia Villamayor-Lualhati,</strong> and in <strong><em>Can’t Buy Me Love</em></strong> as <strong>Bettina Tiu</strong>. After a series of acclaimed <em>teleserye</em> roles, Kaila takes on an entirely new challenge in <em>What Lies Beneath</em>, where she is set to portray <strong>Erica Melendez,</strong> a strong yet secretive attorney.</p><p>According to Kaila, her character carries a depth of mystery, especially about her past.</p><p>“So I play Erica Melendez, that’s the name of my character here. So she’s an attorney. And for me, I feel like for my character, her secrets are more about her childhood and about her family dynamics and her life from that era. And I feel like ‘<em>yung mga</em> secrets <em>niyang ‘yun</em>, <em>siya mismo hindi siya </em>ready to face [them],” she explained during the series’ media conference earlier this week.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760719448003starmagicphils_1760378615_3742649549061317126_218607907.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from @starmagicphils</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Acting alongside some of the most prominent <em>Kapamilya</em> actresses, Kaila admitted that she initially felt pressure—but she described it as a “healthy” one that helped her improve and stay focused.</p><p>“A little bit of pressure and jitters is healthy, <em>kasi</em>, you know, <em>parang</em> it shows how much you care about the scene, your character, the show. But also because you know that you’re working with people who are really, really good at what they do,” Kaila shared.</p><p>She also opened up about how her co-stars Janella, Charlie, and Sue have inspired her to give her best performance, emphasizing the supportive atmosphere on set.</p><p>“And I feel like it’s more for me instead of me like, &#x27;Oh I have to bring my A-game.&#x27; For me, it’s more of, like, they are able to bring the best out of me also, because they’re so good. So <em>‘yun,</em> and I had such a great environment to be working with everybody in the show,” she added.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:left"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760719775281starmagicphils_1760380622_3742666382766224435_218607907.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from @starmagicphils</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><p style="text-align:left">Having built a strong reputation for her versatility and emotional depth in past <em>teleseryes</em> that dominated both the primetime lineup and Netflix charts, Kaila said that her latest character offers something very different from what she has done before.</p><p>“Well, definitely it’s a very different genre altogether. So I feel like the feel of the show is very different, and ‘<em>yung</em> character <em>ko</em> as a whole, she’s an attorney. She has a lot of layers emotionally,” Kaila said.</p><p>She further explained that portraying Erica Melendez challenged her to explore a more subdued and restrained acting style, something that set this role apart from her previous portrayals.</p><p>“I feel like the main thing in terms of acting-wise <em>siguro</em>, ‘<em>yung napapansin kong </em>difference is, <em>dito na</em>-challenge <em>ako sa</em> restraint, <em>kasi</em> I feel like when <em>Direk</em> Froy [Leonardo] and <em>Direk</em> Dado [Lumibao] and I, we’re very careful in plotting the scenes wherein Erica’s able to really show her vulnerability,” she said.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:left"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760719538778starmagicphils_1760378615_3742649549078079044_218607907.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from @starmagicphils</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><p style="text-align:left">According to Kaila, the creative team wanted Erica to be the kind of character who doesn’t easily show emotion, which she found both challenging and exciting as an actress.</p><p>“We want to show that Erica’s the type of character<em> na hindi masyado</em> emotional. Which I feel like is quite far from a lot of the characters that I’ve played before. And even Max in <em>Incognito</em> was a bit more showy than Erica is. So I feel like in terms of comparison, for me, ‘<em>yun ‘yung</em> challenge <em>ko rito</em>,” she added.</p><p>Kaila’s performances in her previous works—<em>Linlang, Can’t Buy Me Love</em>, and <em>Incognito</em>—have solidified her place as one of the most promising young actresses in the industry today. Despite being relatively new in showbiz, having started her career in 2021, she continues to prove her range and dedication with every project she takes on.</p><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-6" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/C62yfMJRj-E/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=1080&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A6%2C%22os%22%3A742394%2C%22ls%22%3A357342%2C%22le%22%3A357815%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="666" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-6" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>With undeniable talent running in her blood, as the daughter of veteran actors <strong>John Estrada</strong> and <strong>Janice de Belen</strong>, Kaila Estrada has shown that she’s carving her own path in the industry—one that continues to impress both audiences and critics alike.</p><p>As she steps into the world of <em>What Lies Beneath</em>, viewers can expect another remarkable performance from one of the <em>Kapamilya</em> network’s brightest stars.</p><div><strong><em>The series officially premiered on October 17 on Netflix, and will be available on iWant on October 18. It will also make its television debut on Kapamilya Online Live, Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, and TV5 beginning this Sunday, October 20.</em></strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Lead photo from <strong>@starmagicphils</strong></p>

<p>Kaila Estrada is ready to embrace a fresh chapter in her acting journey as she joins the cast of "<i>What Lies Beneath</i>," taking on a role that showcases a new side of her beyond her previous portrayals.</p>

Kaila Estrada is ready to embrace a fresh chapter in her acting journey as she joins the cast of " What Lies Beneath ," taking on a role that showcases a new side of her beyond her previous portrayals.

Why ABS-CBN’s Latest Suspense Series ‘What Lies Beneath’ Feels New to Kaila Estrada

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Why ABS-CBN’s Latest Suspense Series ‘What Lies Beneath’ Feels New to Kaila Estrada

Lance Joseph Martinez

Published October 18, 2025 09:00 AM PHT

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Updated October 18, 2025 09:06 AM PHT

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Kaila Estrada

What Lies Beneath

Incognito

Sue Ramirez

Janella Salvador

Charlie Dizon

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