Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo’s journey from child star to the country’s top dramatic actress has all the plot elements that would make for an inspiring movie.
The future superstar’s dreams were pure and simple — enjoy work as much as she could, and save up money for school. Yet it seemed like to road to stardom had already been paved for her — thanks to the support of her family and the folks she met on the set.
Missing her father whom she rarely had time to spend time with, and her mother, who was in Canada, Judy Ann found good company in the co-stars she worked with and the supportive staff and crew who made her feel at home all the time.
“I was never close with my dad. I never had the chance to see him growing up. So, I look forward to the day na may taping kasi ‘yung mga cameramen, crew lahat ng staff and engineers, sobrang close ako. Sa kanila ako nakakakuha ng kalinga at saka may mga bata rin akong kasama sa set,” said Judy Ann during an interview with Senator Joel Villanueva of “AksyonTime,” which aired on A2Z Channel 11 over the weekend.
While Judy Ann enjoyed being a young performer, she never really imagined being in showbiz for more than three decades.
“Kung bata ka kasi, hinahanap mo lang naman kung ano ang nakapapagpasaya sa iyo.
‘Yung ang feeling ko, masaya ako sa ginagawa ko. Kumikita ako kahit paano. And gusto ko ‘yung ginagawa ko that’s why medyo magagawa ko ito (acting) ng medyo mas mahaba-haba pa,” she shared.
As projects started pouring in, she had to decide whether to continue school or pursue acting as a profession.
“‘Cause at that time wala rin kaming pera for enrolment and marami namang projects na pumapasok so I asked my mom, nasa Canada sya nun, kung pwedeng mag-college na lang ako kapag alam ko na ‘yung kurso kong kukunin.”
Aside from being a fine actress, Judy Ann is a skilled chef who took and passed the exam for TESDA National Certification in 2009.
Soon, she was dubbed “Queen of Pinoy Soap Opera” and later, “Box Office Queen” by the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation.
Juday also bagged the Best Actress award at the 41st Cairo International Film Festival for Brillante Mendoza’s “Mindanao” in 2019.
With her passion to grow as an actress, Judy Ann revealed that there was never a point in her career where her decision to take on a project was based on how her followers would react.
“Siguro ‘yun ‘yung wala ako (kaba). Para sa akin, kung hindi ko gusto ‘yung project, hindi sya tatawid on screen. Kasi andun ako sa paniniwala na kung susuportahan ako ng mga tao, kung mahal talaga nila ako, susuportahan nila kung ano man ang proyektong ilabas ko.”
“AksyonTime” marks the return of Villanueva on television, after years of hiatus in hosting a public affairs show. Previously, Sen. Joel produced and hosted the multi-awarded public affairs program “Adyenda.”
“AksyonTime” airs every Saturday at 10:15 p.m. on A2Z Channel 11.
