Why Judy Ann doubted herself in Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes

MANILA, Philippines -  Judy Ann Santos is not shy to admit that she needed assurance from director Jun Lana for her acting while shooting for what is considered as her comeback movie Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes. She has been away from doing mainstream movies for quite some time with the indie film Kusina as her last acting project.

The actress, who plays Lianne Reyes in the latest flick produced by Star Cinema with Quantum Films and Idea First Company, said during the grand presscon: “Natakot kung sa natakot that I had to ask direk Jun and the rest of the production staff if my work was okay. I wanted to know if something was lacking in what I did or if there was anything I needed to do. Ganun ako hindi ka-confident sa trabaho ko. I needed that assurance na tawid ‘yung ginawa kong punchline.”

After two years of being away from acting (hosting kept her busy), Judy Ann was aghast to learn about the rapid changes in film production. For one, it was her first time to be in front of the grinding cameras without hearing any noise from the background. Neither was there anyone in sight nor roaming around the set during takes.

“A lot have already changed,” she said. “It took some time before I calmed down. Even in the past movies I did last 2017, I kept on asking. Ganun ako kawalang confidence sa trabaho ko and in myself as an actress. I felt I’ve just lost it at ako ‘yung bagong luma sa grupo. But I enjoyed the whole process because my motivation is to learn and challenge myself… and I guess I’m about to reach my finish line when the movie opens in cinemas.”

Direk Jun, on the other hand, said that Judy Ann’s “feeling like a newbie” attitude worked in her favor. He liked her being so inquisitive and “I liked her being not so confident because her performance turned out so refreshing. She’s really funny here.”

It is now obvious that Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes steers Judy Ann away from heavy drama. Thus, curious minds are eager to know what caught her interest to star in a laugh-out-loud flick. “I was really looking for a material that would challenge me to go out of my comfort zone, something refreshing because most of the films I’ve done before were all drama and people are already used to seeing me cry. So, I challenged myself that this 2018, I should do something different before I reach 40 (years old), something that will make me think twice before accepting yet too tough to refuse and this is it.”

In fact, after seeing the movie rushes, she told herself that she should have done it long before raising a family. “It’s fun and at the same time you’ll get to realize that the story alone is a good material. It’s not new because it’s a reality but it’s not (the type) people are expecting to see (in a movie).”

Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes is not your usual love triangle movie where two women are fighting for the same man. It is a journey of two women who pursue their erring husbands who have the same surnames. Their seemingly happy marriages are put to the test when both wives discover that their husbands have an affair, leaving the wives in a series of misadventures in hopes of foiling their husbands’ relationship.

Apart from Judy Ann’s Lianne, portraying the other Mrs. Reyes is Angelica Panganiban as Cindy whose husband Felix Reyes (JC de Vera) is the lover of Lianne’s husband Gary (Joross Gamboa). Lianne and Cindy’s desire to win back their respective husbands will take moviegoers to an emotional rollercoaster ride as both women turn to humor and laughter in the midst of life’s most painful experiences.

Working with her co-stars Angelica Panganiban, JC de Vera and Joross Gamboa, Judy Ann shared, took all her worries away what with the happy and all-play mode on the set every shooting day. Angelica also related that her and Judy Ann’s friendship has become deeper than before. The two have worked together in Sa Puso Ko, Iingatan Ka many years ago but this is their first big-screen outing.

“I believe, we’re able to build a deeper friendship because we were together for a long time making this movie,” Angelica said. “Grabe ‘yung separation anxiety, perhaps I’ll be hanging out often in the South, at their house (laughs).”

Judy Ann, for her part, said, “Before we became friends, she was my baby but now she’s not a baby anymore kumbaga with what she’s been through in life, Ange blossomed in a very nice way.”

Asked if she could possibly fall in love with a gay, Judy Ann replied that it always depends on one’s love and feelings. Of course, everybody knows she is already married to Ryan Agoncillo and they have three children.

She explained, “If you meet someone whose love is true, you can’t think anymore of the gender whether he’s gay or straight kasi masyado ka n’yang mahal, inaalagaan (ka) yun naman ang pinaka importante at ‘yung respeto.

“For you to love a gay or a lesbian, it doesn’t really matter as long as your love for each other is true.”

(Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes, also starring Carmi Martin and Nico Antonio, opens Jan. 17 in cinemas nationwide.)