A breath of fresh air

critically-acclaimed and, most of the time, award-winning performances.

It is to the latter that Jaclyn Jose (Mary Jane Guck in real life) clearly belongs. Her understated and consistently excellent acting is the reason why she continues to be one of the most in-demand actresses, whether in the mainstream or independent scene.

An indie film she made, Ataul for Rent (international title: Casket for Hire) was rated “A” by the Cinema Evaluation Board, which described it as “bleak, black and beautiful”. The film, a social satire about death and dying, was exhibited at the prestigious Montreal Film Festival last month along with two other Filipino films, including Brillante Mendoza’s Foster Child. The film’s producer reports that invitations to exhibit Ataul for Rent in other film festivals abroad continue to pour in.

Jaclyn’s powerful portrayal of Pining, a make-up artist who services both the dead and the living, reaped praise from both local and international critics. Also starring in Ataul for Rent are Joel Torre, who plays Jaclyn’s husband, and theatre mainstay-turned-movie-TV actor Pen Medina.

Meanwhile, Jaclyn’s recent mainstream projects included the Boomalaka, Bulalakaw, Boom episode of Love Spell with ex-Pinoy Big Brother housemates Mickey Perz, Bodie Cruz and Gee-Ann Abrahan; and recently, she returned to ABS-CBN via a role in its new daytime soap Prinsesa ng Banyera.

In the show, Jaclyn plays a rape victim who, as a result of the rape, gives birth to twin girls named Maningning (Kristine Hermosa) and Mayumi (Angelika dela Cruz). She raises them on her own until Mayumi learns that her father is well-off and decides to seek him out, turning her back on her family and their life of poverty.

Incidentally, Jaclyn’s 17-year-old daughter Andrea, or Andie, also has a featured role in Prinsesa ng Banyera as Sandy, the love interest of Ping Medina.