Jake Cuenca and Sue Ramirez share tips for acting newbies

With more than a decade of acting experience, ‘Jack and Jill Sa Diamond Hills’ lead stars Jake Cuenca and Sue Ramirez are in a position to share insights with aspiring talents on how to get into the industry and find their niche. He encourages them to ‘go for it’ and ‘don’t hold back,’ while she says that ‘acting is not a walk in the park,’ and they should be hardworking.

“Jack and Jill Sa Diamond Hills” lead stars, Jake Cuenca and Sue Ramirez, have been in the business of entertainment, specifically acting, for more than a decade. They remain excited about it and inspired to take on their next roles.

“I love the craft so much,” said Jake, who is playing the policeman Jack in the Sunday sitcom on TV5 in a recent virtual interview with The STAR. “It (acting) is a never-ending learning process.”

“For me, it’s a journey of mastery. You constantly wanna get better. You’re constantly reading books to get better, doing workshops, doing plays, doing TV, and then everything wraps around,” added he.

Sue, who started her career at the age of 13, shared that being open to people around her and being sensitive to everyone come in handy in her work.

“Talking to people really helps. You get to know them and then, you get to empathize with them kung anuman yung bigat na dinadala nila, kung anuman yung gaan na dinadala nila (no matter what they’re going through or experiencing — be it heavy or light). So na-a-absorb mo lahat (you get to absorb everything). Kapag bata ka pa nag-artista, that’s really your core. Lagi ka lang absorb nang absorb sa lahat ng nasa paligid mo, it’s more of my approach to acting. I’m observant and sensitive,” said she, who portrays the investigator Jill in the TV series.

Jake and Sue are part of the lucky group of actors who have become active from the pandemic times to the new normal. They both starred in “The Iron Heart” and “KLove.”

Since they have earned the respect of fellow creatives, Jake and Sue are in a position to give aspiring and newbie actors pieces of advice on getting into the industry and establishing a name for themselves.

“What I tell aspiring actors nowadays is you go for it, do it,” said Jake. “Parang don’t hold back, especially when you’re younger in your career, like you wanna try everything. You wanna try everything so that when you do get the break, you have some sort of experience.”

As for anyone who learns the ropes of acting, added the actor, that there are no small roles because they will form part of someone’s experiences and become bases for building characters. When the right time comes, the actor is ready.

“Enjoy it and love everyone you’re gonna work with,” said he.

Sue, for her part, said that young talents should keep in mind that acting is not a walk in the park.

“It’s one of the hardest jobs. *

Everybody thinks it’s like the glitz and the glamour and the fabulous life,” she reflected. “We stay in tents… you know this job really requires na mataas na empathy din and understand patience. They have to keep in mind na lahat ng makukuha nila ay kailangan talagang pagtrabahuhan (that everything they aspire for needs hard work). It’s not given on a silver platter.”

“Nothing worthwhile comes easy,” Jake chimed in.

Those who see a career in showbiz should also put in mind that their goal is longevity, said Sue, adding that getting along with others is important.

Aside from “Jack and Jill Sa Diamond Hills,” where do their fans can watch them?

According to Jake, he’s in the middle of something exciting, and details about it will be given soon.

“I had a chance to audition for a play and I got accepted,” said Sue. “I’m very excited about that.” She might also grace an entry in one of this year’s film festivals.

Follow the stories of Jake and Sue’s characters in “Jack and Jill Sa Diamond Hills” Season 4 every Sunday night at 6:15.

This time around, the policeman and the investigator, who pretend to be a married couple while doing undercover work, will find ways to know the perpetrator behind the burglary in rich villages. Jack’s imaginary friend has also resurfaced. It piques the interest of Jill’s work partner.

New episodes of “Jack and Jill Sa Diamond Hills” can be watched on BUKO Channel at 8 p.m. with replays on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12 noon.