In this interview, Jasmine Curtis-Smith opens up to MEGA Entertainment like never before and talks about her career choices, her share of controversies, and her very committed relationship.
This is an except from MEGA Entertainment’s August 2022 cover story.
Related: Glamorous 90’s Hairstyles To Try Out As Seen On Jasmine Curtis
I remember talking to a very young Jasmine Curtis-Smith, or Jas, outside her big sister Anne Curtis-Smith’s dressing room and asking her if she was going to join showbusiness like her “Ate.”
Sleeveless textured blazer by MM6 MAISON MARGIELA available at CUL DE SAC
“I think that day also, we were on the brink of deciding where to go, or what to do,” Jas recalls. “I was in the midst of high school so at that time, talagang saling pusa lang ako sa lahat ng trabaho ni Ate. So every time I heard that question parang, ‘Ano nga bang gagawin ko?’ ‘Will I join, or is it something I see for myself?’ Then, ‘Why not?’ I wanna earn money. And we needed a car for our mom, our car kept breaking down na, and siyempre ’di ka naman puwede mag-rely na puro kay Ate, di ba? Kasi Ate also had to save for herself and think about her own future and her own family kahit pa na sobrang bata pa niya n’on. She was maybe early 20s? I didn’t wanna put all the burden on her, so I thought, ‘Why not do the same as she did: start working and maybe earn some money for myself?’”
So Jas inevitably followed Anne’s footsteps and walked into the wonderful world of entertainment.
“Work that time felt like work. It felt like a journey to pay for something that someone needed,” Jas says. “After n’on, saka ko lang na-discover na I really wanted to do film and act, and it was only in those three years na it was a try-out period maybe, I could say na suwerte ako ‘cause not many people got that, that initial offer, and get a big role agad, you know.”
Black velvet structured top, corset and skirt by LANZ ANGELO
Following her sister’s footsteps seemed easy enough, but she needed to prove she could carve her own path. And that she did.
“I think it was when we were watching my first film that was released, Transit, in the CCP [Cultural Center of the Philippines] Main Theater,” Jas recalls the moment she realized acting was more than just a job. “’Tapos nang mag-credit roll na, may nagsabing, ‘Oh my gosh! Si Jasmine Curtis-Smith pala ’yon!’ And for me, that was a bazinga moment, ‘What? They didn’t know that it was me.’ That was so cool. Parang it means sobrang na-immerse ako into the role that they didn’t recognize me anymore. They just saw the role and the story, and that was, ‘Wow! I can do that pala!’ Talagang nagagawa ko pala siya, akala ko parang pucho-pucho acting lang ako. Alam mo ’yon? Kasi parang ang suwerte ko na na-catapult agad ako sa puwesto na I can get leading roles.”
Red armor sleeves accessory by IMMA UNIVERSE, Tapered leg trousers by MSGM (Availlable at Cul de Sac) and Melt earrings by MAZEE
But even with the critical success of her first movie, Jasmine still had some doubts about her acting skills.
“I know for sure I wasn’t fulfilling those roles correctly in my first few years, and nahihiya na ko kasi parang napakalaking risk na binibigay sa akin ng mga TV executives. And who was I? I mean, I was just a young newcomer. I have to prove myself and doon ko ’yon naramdaman na parang, ‘Wow! I’m able to transform.’ Why not do better for my next one? And it just kept going from then on.”
She adds, “Naturally, I just fell into my way, to do more independent films. It wasn’t easy ‘cause I had to fight my management a lot of times kasi mas gusto ko ng mga pelikula kaysa sa mag-TV. I didn’t see the balance of the industry yet. I was just young, you know? I was naive in terms of, ‘Hindi, pelikula lang kasi ’yong mas maganda.’ But you know? TV also had a different platform of storytelling, na different audience din naman.”
Sand leather ensemble by ALLAN LASERNA
So Jas took on lead roles not just in movies, but also on television.
But it was when she began playing supporting roles in more mainstream films, such as playing the perennial ideal-girlfriend type of character, or the third party in a love triangle, that she started being stereotyped and started encountering controversies.
Read more about Jasmine Curtis-Smith’s roles, lessons, and choices on- and off-screen in MEGA Entertainment’s August 2022 issue, now available on Readly, Magzter, Press Reader and Zinio
Photography JOSH TOLENTINO
Fashion direction RYUJI SHIOMITSU
Styling GEE JOCSON and ALDRIN RAMOS
Hair KIERLO VELASCO
Makeup MAC IGARTA
Hair RJ DELA CRUZ
Nails EXTRAORDINAIL and PAINT N’ STYLE
Production Design ROCKETSETS
Videography EXCEL PANLAQUE
Shoot location STUDIO J 2.0
Shoot coordination KZ FRANCISCO and MJ ALMERO
Special thanks to JAMES ONA OF STUDIO J 2.0, REY JOHN LEGASPI, and MIGO ALOMAJAN of ROCKETSETS
