Jaclyn in the company of Cannes heavyweights

Unless another actress duplicates Jaclyn Jose’s landmark victory, hopefully in the near future, Jaclyn will go down in history as the only Filipino actress to have won Best Actress at the Cannes Filmfest, said to be “the biggest” among the Top 5 international film festivals, also including those in New York, Toronto, Venice and Berlin.

Yes, of course, several other Filipino actresses (and actors) have won in other “international” filmfests but, as film buffs would agree, Cannes is Cannes and, to paraphrase New York, New York (the song popularized by Liza Minnelli), if you can make it in Cannes then you are really made.

I’m sure many people are eager to watch Ma’Rosa, the Brillante “Dante” Mendoza movie that won Jaclyn Best Actress (Prix D’Interpretation Feminine) Sunday night at the 69th Festival de Cannes awards night at the Palais des Festivals. Jaclyn now belongs in the august company of heavyweights in the Cannes Honor Roll, including (thanks to Funfare’s “other beauty expert” Celso de Guzman Caparas for the research):

French actress Michèle Morgan (the first Best Actress awardee in 1946 for La Symphonie Pastorale); Bette Davis (1951, All About Eve); Susan Hayward (1956, I’ll Cry Tomorrow); Sophia Loren (1961, Two Women); Katharine Hepburn (1962, Long Day’s Journey into Night); Anne Bancroft (1964, The Pumpkin Eater); Vanessa Redgrave (1966, Morgan!; and 1969, Isadora); Susannah York (1972, Images); Isabelle Huppert (1978, Violette Noziere; and 2001, The Piano Teacher); Sally Field (1979, Norma Rae); Isabelle Adjani (1981, Quartet and Possession); Helen Mirren (1984, Cal; and 1994, The Madness of King George); Cher (1985, Mask); Barbara Hershey (1987, Shy People; and 1988, A World Apart); Meryl Streep (1989, A Cry in the Dark); Holly Hunter (1993, The Piano); Virna Lisi (1994, Queen Margot); Juliette Binoche (2010, Certified Copy); Kirsten Dunst (2011, Melancholia); and Julianne Moore (2014, Maps to the Stars).

“As a newbie in showbiz,” recalled Ed Instrella, Jaclyn’s mentor/manager before she joined Perry Lansigan’s stable of talents, “Jaclyn was really hesitant. But when she discovered the world of acting with her early directors, she decided that she wanted to be an actress (as opposed to being a star) working in good films. Lady Luck listened and she was blessed early in her journey as an actress with directors like William Pascual (Takaw Tukso), Chito Roño (Private Show and Itanong Mo Sa Buwan), and Lino Brocka (White Slavery and Macho Dancer).

“Most of her early films won her a series of acting awards marking her as a genuine acting find. In most of these films, Brillante Mendoza was with her as either production designer or assistant director. Lady Luck now blessed her with the unexpected Cannes trophy with Brillante, this time as her director (and also in Serbis, which Brillante also entered at the Cannes competition).”

Incidentally, Jaclyn’s win amounted to a “grand slam” for the Philippines in three major fields, coming after Pia Wurtzbach who brought home the county’s third Miss Universe crown (after Gloria Diaz in 1969 and Margie Moran in 1973) and Senator-elect Manny Pacquiao who beat Timothy Bradley on their second bout in Las Vegas.

Among those in the Cannes Best Actress Honor Roll with Jaclyn are (from left): Michelle Morgan, Bette Davis, Sophia Loren and Meryl Streep

What’s up?

• Condolence to the family of GMA executive Marivin Arayata on the death of her uncle-in-law, Dr. Felixberto Arayata. The wake is at the Arayata residence in San Pedro, Tanza, Cavite. Interment will be tomorrow, May 26, at the Tanza Cemetery.
• After he failed in his senatorial bid in last May 9 elections, Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno (listed with his surname Domagoso and placed No. 16 in the race) said he’s resuming his showbiz career, produce indies and teach (he took up special courses in Harvard as a scholar of the US government).

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