Jaclyn Jose: From Pampanga to Cannes
When Jaclyn Jose won the Best Actress prize at Cannes Film Festival over the weekend for her performance in Brillante Mendoza’s “Ma’ Rosa,” no one was more surprised than herself.
When Jaclyn Jose won the Best Actress prize at Cannes Film Festival over the weekend for her performance in Brillante Mendoza’s “Ma’ Rosa,” no one was more surprised than herself.
The first time a Filipino actor won in that category, it’s a solid achievement; the stuff legendary is made of and not for just any Jane to dream of.
Yet in reviewing the journey that led to France, it seems Miss Jose has lucky stars looking after her all these times.
Born in Pampanga as Mary Jane Guck, she joined showbiz in the ’80s. Her first few projects already had people giving her a second look, but it was “Magdusa Ka” that put her on radar. In it she plays Hedy, a woman who knows what she wants and how to get it. It was brilliant for understated acting; something that would become almost signature style for her.
None too soon, Gawad Urian would give Jaclyn her first Best Actress award for the movie “Takaw Tukso.”
Three decades hence and Jaclyn remains a force to reckon with in the industry. She has appeared in at least 40 films and TV projects along the way and has won more awards to boot.
She won Best Supporting Actress plum at the 1989 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) for her role in “Enforcer: Ativan Gang.” Seven years after came three more in that category at the Gawad Urian, the Luna Awards and Star Awards for her performance in “The Flor Contemplacion Story.”
In 2005, Jaclyn won a Best Supporting Actress trophy for “Naglalayag.”
Prior to “Ma’Rosa,” Jaclyn starred in several indie films. One of these was Brillante’s “Serbis” which earned her a nomination as Best Supporting Actress at the Asian Film Awards in 2009.
With TV overtaking the movies as favorite source of entertainment among Pinoys, Jaclyn, but naturally, dominated the boob tube too. She made her mark on “Mula Sa Puso” playing the role of Magda. She also did “Familia Zaragoza,” “Hiram,” “Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga,” “Dyosa,” “Zorro,” “My Husband’s Lover,” “Vampire Ang Daddy Ko” and, currently, “The Millionaire’s Wife.”
Her next soap is GMA-7’s “A1 Ko Sa’Yo!” where she is cast as Digna Molina, a tactless and frustrated Miss Universe aspirant who manages a talent firm. It’s set to air June 2
Talking about her role in “Ma’ Rosa”– as a mom trying to make ends meet for her family – Jaclyn told the press, “The biggest challenge for me was not to act. Especially since I am coming from television shows where I play loud and campy characters.”
Jaclyn deemed it challenging to “tone everything down to zero” as far as her acting went in “Ma’Rosa,” which is noted for its documentarylike sequences.
Jaclyn’s daughter, Andi Eigenmann, also in the film, has taken to social media to express her happiness over her mom’s historic Cannes win.
“My very own mother, to be the very first ever Filipino to win the best actress award at the Cannes Film Festival,” Andi tweeted.
“Ma’ Rosa” co-star Maria Isabel Lopez also congratulated Jaclyn.
“You make us all Soo proud! Long live Philippine Cinema! #MabuhayAngPilipinas @brilliante_mendoza you did it again! Jane I told you so! #grandslam in all award giving bodies,” Maria Isabel posted.