TOP OF HER GAME
A year away from the limelight has not dimmed Anne’s radiance
It would be easy to say that for a woman with genes like Anne Curtis, a prestigious status in show business would have already been predestined. But in an industry that has witnessed the rise and fall of thousands of good-looking faces, to attribute her success to beauty alone is presumptuous, especially when you disregard her enduring relevance. A career that has spanned more than two decades with an enviable list of artistic experiences unmatched by peers is enjoyed only by a select few. And this woman is unlike any other. The aughts saw the half-Australian actress blossom from teen drama sensation to teleserye royalty. It was a trajectory expected of any actress who has grown in the local spotlight, and Anne has had a good head start at twelve years old. But her incredibly unexpected career decisions laced with her brand of pure ambition have become explosive creative reemergences in the years to come. And these have served as testaments to both range and perpetuating star quality. Everything has, by all means, been proven and well-deserved.
Her ubiquitous presence demands a certain degree of self-assuredness on top of passion and dedication. And all these Anne has given graciously. One might say that perhaps it is this approach to the craft that endears her to her throngs of adoring fans and even to critics as well. And with an admirable level of commitment, it would be difficult if a selfconfessed workaholic like her hasn’t learned to confidently love herself yet. After all, in this line of work, where one faces self-doubt and public scrutiny constantly, conviction earned is worn like armor.
NO OTHER WOMAN
Among many hallmarks of an illustrious career was Annebisyosa, her 2011 debut album. While the idea of recording one was unheard of until VIVA’s
suggestion, Anne dared to take on the unthinkable. And within months after the album release, the opportunity to stage a concert at the Araneta Coliseum was within reach. Amid inhibitions, her true mettle prevailed.
“Doing a concert at the Araneta Coliseum, that was a dream of mine,” she exclaims. “When we did the album and when it was offered, I was like, ‘Yeah! Totally, Boss! I want to do an album!’ That’s my dream. And then the concert happened. I’m like, ‘Yes, let’s do it! I’m so game!’ But then after, you realize, ‘Wait lang, is anyone going to come watch me?’ This is Araneta Coliseum. I was super getting so much anxiety. That’s why I cried the moment there was a reveal onstage because I was just so overwhelmed.” A couple of concerts soon followed, both producing similarly positive results.
Equally unprecedented was BuyBust, a 2018 action thriller that had her playing a gritty role many other veteran actresses of the genre could have otherwise taken. Film reviews were divided, but her committed performance was generally well-praised. It was the perfect setup to exhibit range in a portfolio that has often seen her in classic leading lady roles. And she absolutely nailed it.
She proudly shares the exciting experience, “That took up almost a year and a half of my life. I was just talking to Jasmine, my sister, last night about it. It’s really like going on a graveyard shift when we were shooting for BuyBust because all the scenes were in the evening. It wasn’t in the studio, it was outdoor. We would shoot from 6PM till sunrise. Would I do that again? I think I would. Lalo na if it’s with Direk Erik (Matti), his team, and his script. I definitely would. I really loved BuyBust and I love doing these kinds of films that I really get challenged and I feel are so far from everything that I’ve ever been given before. So, if a script happens to fall on my lap again, yes, for sure I’d love to.”
Anne is admittedly aware of the many twists and turns of her muchfollowed journey to stardom. Was it all set by design? She says, “I think, if you look at my career, I’ve really kind of gone with the flow. It wasn’t a smoothsailing ride to end up where I am today. So, I guess I’ve never been really calculated with my moves and steps in my career. Would I do that now? I think it would be calculated in a way where my priorities have changed. Whereas before, I’d be like, ‘Okay, game! Let’s do this! Let’s do that! Laban!’ And then now, it’s kind of like ‘Wait lang, I want to do it but how do I find the time to do it?’ It’s kind of calculated in that sense.”
THE GIFTED
Mustering enough confidence while staying cognizant of the high risks involved in each career decision is something Anne continues to do, amid the mixed reactions of her audiences. Backlash, like praise, is a dime a dozen. And to be able to navigate her industry without feeling would be out of character for one with an exuberant personality like hers. With life in the public gaze getting more difficult thanks to the speed of online feedback, she has had to develop her own set of mechanisms to steel herself.
“I try not to read it,” she affirms. “In my mind, I’m like, ‘I’m doing this for the people who want to watch this film, or I’m doing this for the people who understand I’m not a singer but enjoy watching these performances.’ I still like to read what people are saying, but I’ve learned not to let it affect me. And that didn’t come easy. Throughout the years, when you read, you get devastated by negative comments, or you’re elated by all of these positive things.”
Being the perennial it-girl has taught her many valuable lessons when dealing with negativity. The press can be unforgiving. And to not develop a thick skin to withstand cutting words would render one vulnerable and easily discouraged. That is why Anne has learned to distinguish what helps and what doesn’t. She says, “I think now whenever I read anything it doesn’t really bother me if it’s a negative. It’s really your mindset. Like me, I already know how to filter it out. I know if this is someone who really enjoyed these films and is really giving constructive criticism about them. But there are some na you know they’re just here to say something.”
As the country’s most-followed personality in social media, Anne jokes about how different it has been since its initial launch more than ten years ago. “It’s really evolved in such a different way,” she says, with a chuckle. I was saying nga na social media wasn’t
I so love what I do. It’s more like you’re inspired, and you’re on fire. So, I keep on pursuing my dream.
a beast like it was today. Before, it was just sharing your random thoughts and posting whatever.” But regardless of the turn to more strategic and more mindful use of these platforms, being real leaves users open for the occasional disparaging comments. Anne, however, maintains her authentic self.
And luckily, this authenticity has been more boon than bane for Anne. Through this, she allows herself to take things less seriously, to enjoy the moment, and to express herself in ways she wouldn’t have, given a more professional setting. And her followers are only more than willing to indulge. With such a highly-coveted following, brands are eventually bound to associate themselves with such digital power and influence. Take, for example, heritage brand Louis Vuitton. With an eye, not just for the stylish, but for select personalities with true influence and unique charisma, the French label often collaborates with Anne. It’s no secret that when Anne wears something, people automatically want it as well, no matter if it’s a brand new lipstick or the latest it-piece from the most premium luxury brand.
It is in these kinds of situations that Anne displays an acuity that goes beyond her business know-how. Behind such bankable social status, there is a touch of awareness and responsibility that not many digital pundits have demonstrated well. Because while Anne may occasionally post a picture of a feline friend or a delicious serving of pancakes, and while she may place some of her more produced and more staged images on her feed, she still perfectly understands the nuances of what having that kind of following can do. And as we live in a social media-obsessed reality, Anne prefers to take charge of her own public narrative, be it real or on the reel. It is a gift and a blessing she guards dearly.
“Now, it’s more of like an added tool,” she elaborates. “Whether it be for marketing or whether it be for sharing random thoughts, sharing bits and pieces of your life, now I think more so it is really a platform where you should be careful with what you say. Because especially now, with all the fake news and everything going about, it should be used as a platform where you are careful with what you put up there.”
A SECRET AFFAIR
It wouldn’t be fair for the readers not to discuss the recent addition to her family unit, Dahlia. It wasn’t exactly a secret when two years ago, she and her husband, Erwan (Heussaff—online personality, celebrity foodie, and entrepreneur) flew to Australia for Anne to take a break from show business and enjoy her pregnancy before finally giving birth to her daughter Down Under. And while a highly publicized life is something Anne is very accustomed to, welcoming Dahlia to that world she lives in has been a conjugal decision that the two tread carefully.
Privacy and safety all considered, their daughter’s growing up years would be left for their families to relish. Anne shares both she and Erwan want their daughter to finish her studies first before assimilating into the limelight, should she decide to do so. And they promise full support in whatever decision Dahlia makes. Today, Anne’s effervescent glow reflects how much she has been enjoying motherhood so far, “It’s been amazing! I’m happy that I have this time as well to spend with Dahlia. Being a first-time mom, it’s a lot of fun. It has its ups and downs, of course. There are a lot of struggles, and there are a lot of things I’m still learning about. And I still learn every day from Dahlia. But it’s been such a beautiful journey so far, and I love every moment of it.”
When the global health crisis swept the world by storm, the three were still in Australia. It was a bittersweet period for the family unit. While they were tucked in, safe from a less than fortunate experience elsewhere, they were miles away from loved ones. And Anne so longed to share Dahlia with their families, who all waited in eager anticipation for their return. She tears up, recalling those moments, “You know, irreplaceable kasi din the moments that when I saw my dad meet Dahlia for the first time. Those are moments that you know—it’s worth it. Kasi I think everyone naman goes through that whole emotional roller coaster in this pandemic. It makes you really value the time lost and the time that you’re given.”
“Coming back, of course, I missed the Showtime family. I miss that lifestyle. But at the same time, I couldn’t give up my time as a mother. That’s why I think I’ve made that decision to kind of slow down. But I will be going back eventually, I think when Dahlia’s a little older,” Anne elucidates. It is in moments like these when Anne gets to reminisce, consider, and muse about learnings. She has admittedly slowed down, due to the limitations of our current situation and evidently, the needs of her child. But that hasn’t stopped her from unbreakable habits. Even while away from the camera, she is consistently on the hustle, taking care of Dahlia and a trio of co-founded businesses (some established mid-pandemic).
CONTRAST STUDY
The host and actress is able to successfully straddle the often opposing demands of her personal life and career as easily as she pairs a blush pink dress with inky black accessories UǷȍȅॗȣȰωǡǝॗǝȣǡȦȦॗ=ǡLjȭǴǡȣॗȠȇLjȭǭȓȣȌॗǴǡǡȇȦॗ Rings and Mini Capucines in noir python naturel, all by LOUIS VUITTON
“It [the pandemic] has also given me more time to focus on businesses. Where before, I really wouldn’t have that time to be super hands-on. I was with BLK Cosmetics with my partners as Creative Director. But more so now—at the back-end of things and really having the time to learn about it. That’s really helped with the time I’ve been given now. Whereas I don’t have such a hectic schedule. My hectic schedule now is really… The free time I have—is Dahlia’s naps,” she quips.
With more focused participation in her businesses (BLK, Recess, and Tili Dahli), is Anne thinking of more concepts to launch? “I think that’s enough. Now, it’s super overwhelming, but it’s fun!” she assures. “I’m happy to be working with partners wherein we kind of all complement one another. So it’s been helpful for me. But now being so hands-on with the businesses, I realize just how overwhelming and how hard it is to really juggle. I think three businesses is enough for now, definitely.”
Enduring fame in the starlit industry is a dream for many who have stayed long enough to have gone through it all. Back then, Anne had different dreams. But in the course of such a career, the abundance of opportunity has fortuitously encouraged her to just let go and embrace the spontaneity of life. And she has been more than happy to do so. “I used to have timelines for myself. And one of them was: at 25, I’m going to get married. 26, have a baby—and none of that happened! I don’t think I have timelines for myself. I like to just kind of go with the flow. Even in terms of acting, I don’t think I have a timeline of ‘I’m going to stop acting at this age.’ If I can, I’d like to be like Gloria Romero, who’s still doing things. Of course, it’s not going to be the same kind of lifestyle of films every now and then. It probably would be a special occasion. But being an actress is a part of me, and being a host is a part of me. And I’d like to enjoy that passion and fire in me as long as I can,” she says.
IT'S SHOWTIME!
The discontinuance of ABS-CBN’s franchise last year was unprecedented. And one of its top-rated shows— if not the highest-rated—is Anne’s most-watched noontime show, It’s Showtime!. The entertainment variety program’s homegrown formula of wit and humor has seen their close-knit community dominate a competitive ratings war. And through current circumstances, Anne is omnipresent amid absence on live television.
“It’s really tough for them, but they’re still surviving and they’re pushing through. I’m still in the chatrooms
and the chat groups so I see and hear what’s going on. But for me, if it’s something I would go back to, definitely. Because I love being in that show, I love helping people. I love meeting people from different walks of life and interacting with them and learning more about them. It really keeps you grounded in that sense when you meet these people and learn about their stories. And this show helps them in a way. It’s something that I absolutely love, aside from the fact that I have so much fun with my co-hosts on the show.”
Having exhibited skills in acting and hosting, is there anything that Anne has yet to conquer? Many artists in the same league have shown the capacity to jump from one facet of show business to another. In the U.S., we have seen actors and actresses become critically-acclaimed directors, from Clint Eastwood to Angelina Jolie. However, Anne shares she cannot imagine calling the shots behind the camera just yet. She offers a more likely alternative, writing.
“What if I write? You know I’ve thought about it. Especially because I’m very creative in a sense that when I do have a script on my lap that I love, that I feel like, ‘Oh I wish there was this aspect to it.’ or a little bit of tweaking to it, I actually sit down with the writers and the directors and we speak about it and I give my thoughts. And if they’re not offended by it, then, of course, it’s an open discussion and then I really love giving my creative inputs as well. So, to be able to write more than direct, I don’t think I can take on directing though,” she says.
Another option for one with her caliber is the possibility of international roles. Filipinos have seen actresses like Kris Aquino in participatory roles that have opened more doors for incredibly talented Asian artists. And Anne definitely has that it-factor to succeed. It is something she considers alright, but there are a lot of determinants to be considered. She explains the process in detail, “I’ve always wanted to. But because of me being a workaholic, it’s so hard to chase that dream as well. Because if it were me, I would love to take the time to audition, but you have to be there. And you have to take the time and live there may be a year or two to really be given that opportunity. I have done auditions for roles before but sent from here. If I got that request to audition, and I’m here, I would definitely do it. But if given the opportunity to have the liberty of flying to, let’s just say the U.S., and just living there and taking time to audition—maybe if I were younger.”
THE ANNEBISYOSA AND THE DYOSA
For many artists on the rise, keeping the momentum and receiving a steady influx of prime opportunities is essential to remain relevant. And throughout Anne’s career, it wasn’t a question of pressure to be always on the go. It was, and is, a humble expression of gratitude and palpable passion for a job that has given her so much. And the idea of being idle, of not entertaining, when she represents such a significant part of that industry, is an inconceivable notion. She is ambitious. And it is that ambition that has placed her in this goddess-like status. “I so love what I do,” she says. “It’s more like you’re inspired, and you’re on fire. So, I keep on pursuing my dream.”
In the curious case of Anne Curtis, the two opposing personas: of being an ambitious newcomer and an entertainment goddess who has achieved it all coexist harmoniously. She continues to view the ever-changing world she lives in wide-eyed and full of hope. And at the same time, wastes no time to conquer it all. Success in this industry has been constantly redefined with each succeeding year. But no matter how unstable and immensely unpredictable that state of the industry is, this duality has kept her afloat, if not excelling.
The persistence of her name may be owed to many things. But through it all, she maintains firm control of her own being. And while many can say that persistence is the name of the game, for Anne, it is personal. It is a queen’s gambit. She is in each decision, each risk, and each success and failure. And when she makes her move, everyone watches and listens.