Watch out for Geraldine Jennings
AFRESH face in Philippine showbiz is to unleash her incredible passion for the arts. Geraldine Jennings, born to a Northern Irish/British father and a Filipina mother, is determined to achieve stardom using gifts she has honed since she was a little girl.
Jenning’s passion for singing and playing the guitar was so evident from a young age that she was ripe for joining the “Teenstar Uk” singing competition at age 14 in 2018. Unsurprisingly, she clinched the prestigious Future Music Development Award in the Open Mic Uk competition at a performance no less at London’s iconic O2 Arena.
With school always a priority in her family, the mini-celebrity proceeded to the United States and spent a year at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. There, she combined her academic pursuits in Business Management with courses in Music and Acting.
Now in college and studying at the University of London, Jennings also finds herself flying back and forth to the Philippines, where she sees a more promising path to show business.
Taking on her first news conference, the British-Filipina explained, “It was when I studied in L.A. that I grew to love the music and singing all the more, and it was also where I met [top manager] Tito Leo [Dominguez], who’s been asking me to join showbiz here for a while now.
Following two years of convincing from Domingeuz, Jennings is finally going for it, bringing with her to the local spotlight inspiration from iconic figures in the music and film industry, respectively, including Miley Cyrus and Dua Lipa and Gal Gadot and Margot Robbie.
Aware she needs more work on acting rather than music, which is almost second nature to her, Jennings reveals she has completed several workshops here and in L.A.
“I first attended one at Marymount, which was all about the theory of acting. Then, I took acting classes in West Hollywood every week, specifically for TV and movies. Finally, when I came here in September, I did an acting workshop with Jo Macasa, and it was really amazing. She taught me a lot--to feel the vibes, the scene, and to just feel that it’s real. That it’s not acting, and you’re actually the character,” she shared.
In her commitment to fully immerse herself in the Philippine culture, Jennings said she has also started Filipino lessons.
“I am dedicated to learning Tagalog. I can understand [the language], but I just need to practice, and I will keep doing it. In London, I have an online tutor, so I’m confident I’ll be OK,” she shared.
While singing remains her first love, the newbie has developed a deep affection for acting, especially now that her debut movie, “Isla Babuyan,” is being filmed.
Jennings describes the project as a romantic tragicomedy — a dark, sexy, disturbing and very sarcastic love story that makes for a surreal soap opera. With her in this movie are Jameson Blake, Paolo Gumabao, Nathalie Hart, Lotlot De Leon, James Blanco, Dave Borneo and Samantha Da Roza, among others.
“I would say I learned a lot from actually being on set and doing Like [the acting]. I learned a lot from all my co-stars, which is great. They’re very professional and big in the Philippines, but they’re very welcoming to me. So I’m really looking forward to completing the movie for everyone to watch it.”
Asked about her character, Jennings replied, “My character is Anatasia. She is a British-Filipina girl who lived in the Philippines until she was four. She moved to London and was separated from her mother, so she’s going back to find her and reignite her culture.”
“Isla Babuyan” is produced by Solid Gold Entertainment Productions and directed by Abdel Langit.
As for her music career, Jennings happily announced she just finished recording a single written by OPM icon Ogie Alcasid.
“It’s called called ‘If I Will Ever Love Again’ and it’s a really sweet, beautiful love song.”
Asked what she sees herself focusing on down the road, the latest name in Philippine showbiz replied, “I love both being a singer and an actress equally. I’m starting to love acting even more as I do it. Singing is my first love, but I could be versatile. I love learning and doing new things.”