MANILA, Philippines — Andrea Brillantes has earned international recognition for her work in “Laya,” winning Best Acting Performance at the 2026 Women and the World International Film Festival (WWIFF) in London.
Directed by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, “Laya” had its international premiere at the London festival on Nov. 7 and was the only Southeast Asian entry in the Feature Fiction Competition.
But ahead of the Nov. 12 announcement, The Philippine STAR got to talk to the Kapatid star after the film’s media conference on Nov. 11 at Brutal by Wadoughs. She opened up about the pressure and self-doubt she had been experiencing as an artist.
Asked what getting an acting award would mean to her, she said, “Well, it would mean the world to me especially now kasi parang I’ve been trying to have a positive mindset, but of course, hindi ko maiwasan. May mga doubts, may pressure. So, it’s starting to creep in a bit.
“So if I were to win, it would mean so much to me kasi parang... Ang dami kong inaalala, tapos eto naman, nare-recognize naman ang talent ko. So, ayun, it would mean a lot.”
When The STAR asked her to choose between box-office success and an acting award, Andrea candidly admitted which one held greater importance for her.
“Award po, for me, mas importante po sa akin. (Box office is also) importante, pero to be recognized — for my talent to be recognized means more to me at this point in my life.”
The actress has since expressed her gratitude for the international recognition in an official statement, saying that playing Sab in “Laya” had pushed her to explore a more complex character.
“Portraying Sab challenged me to explore the complexities of being human. Her journey is a mixed bag of pain, forgiveness, and finding the courage to choose compassion, which ultimately brings her to what she’s looking for in her life.
“Being recognized in a city like London is a milestone for (me) and I’m grateful to Director Sigrid, our producers, and the production crew in helping me become Sab. I hope the audiences will resonate with Sab’s story, as much as I did,” Andrea said in a statement released by the film’s production team.
In “Laya,” Andrea plays Sab, a young woman who arrives in a quiet seaside town (Oslob in southern Cebu) with a plan to exact revenge on Tuki, portrayed by JC Santos, a reclusive former convict whom she holds responsible for her father’s death.
To carry out her mission, Sab establishes a connection with Tuki. However, as their relationship develops, her determination to seek revenge begins to weaken, leaving her torn between vengeance and compassion.
The role had her facing physical challenges for Andrea during the film’s production in Cebu, especially as it involved free-diving.
The actress recalled to this paper experiencing problems involving her eardrum and developing a mouth sore that made performing some underwater scenes extra difficult.
She was able to seek medical attention, which required traveling several hours for a checkup.
Fortunately, her medical appointments coincided with the production’s scheduled rest days, allowing her to undergo treatment without disrupting the filming schedule.
Despite these challenges, Andrea said she was able to complete the shoot with the support of the production team.
As she takes on more demanding roles, the actress said she remains open to exploring different characters and genres, provided the projects offer strong material and collaborators.
“Kung basta sa akin po, ang lagi ko lang sinasabi, as long as magandang script, at okay na director, okay na co-actors, kahit ano pa ‘yan, tingin ko kaya ko.
“As long as mag-align lang ‘yun — script, co-actors, directors — and I’m really down naman to do whatever kapag kaya ko. And as long as it’s beautifully written and directed well.”
Asked whether she would also consider roles requiring more daring scenes, Andrea said she was open to the possibility, as long as such scenes had a clear purpose in the story.
“Sexiness? As long as it is written beautifully and may intention. Ayoko... I’m all for it. Wala namang problema doon. Pero for me, if gagawa ako ng ganoon, feeling ko dapat merong intention behind it. Bakit? Dahil may pinanggagalingan.”
Meanwhile, director Sigrid described the international recognition as an achievement not only for Andrea but also for the entire production.
“‘Laya’ is one of those difficult stories about being human. It presents the complexities on how one can achieve freedom, or how we can be freed from the weight of our past, expectations that are imposed on us, and how we fight against these societal restraints.
“To have our woman-led story recognized on this international platform, and to see our female lead receive such acknowledgement, is in itself an achievement for the entire cast and crew, and for Filipina cinema,” the filmmaker said.
Produced by Rein Entertainment Productions, “Laya” received support from the Film Development Council of the Philippines through its CreatePH Large Budget Production Grant.
Following its international festival premiere and Andrea’s acting recognition, the film is set to open in Philippine cinemas nationwide on Nov. 25.