One of the most powerful actresses and fashion influencers of her generation, Anne Curtis talks about the importance of timelessness, her shifting idea of beauty, and how it feels like to go back into acting after a five-year hiatus
This is an excerpt from MEGA May 2024 Cover story.
It’s mid-afternoon when Anne Curtis arrives at the MEGA shoot, and shortly after, Dahlia comes in, regaling her mother’s team with her inherent charm. This morning, Curtis says her four-year-old told her she looked like a princess. She did, the modern kind—in her all- Chanel ensemble of white mini dress and light pink Mary Janes. In the past few years, it’s moments like that which makes her feel her best.
RELATED: What Makes Anne Curtis Timeless? Her Beauty Through the Years
As one who has been on countless most-beautiful lists, it’s a welcome shift in perspective, says the award-winning actress: “Now, especially that I’m a mom, ‘beautiful’ has to be that total package, the aura, how you are, how you feel about yourself. I don’t think the physical attributes should matter or define who you are as a person, but, of course, it will always be flattering when someone compliments you. I sincerely feel beautiful when Dahlia tells me, ‘You look so pretty, Mama.’ I think, it’s when it’s coming from people who matter the most, that’s what makes me appreciate it more. I get butterflies when it comes from someone that I really care about—although Dahlia might be a little biased.”
In the social media generation, this kind of reflection may be harder to come by than in the previous decades. Curtis is all too conscious of this, having more than 20 million followers on Instagram alone, but there is a way to handle the noise, she says, so she passes on to her daughter the values she has learned through years of living in the limelight.
“I feel like this unreal concept of beauty has come about because of all these filters in apps,” she says after giving it some thought. “I have nothing against people wanting to improve how they look, if that’s what will make them feel beautiful. But I do believe you will only feel your best and look your best when you’re happy. It’s all about the daily affirmation. It’s not just saying you’re beautiful. That shouldn’t have to matter. I believe in making someone feel their best by saying, ‘You look strong. You’re so strong. You’re smart. You’re kind. That’s where depth comes in. Now, being beautiful can be so many things. Everyone is beautiful in their own way.”
Back at it
“I’m in disbelief that I’m still doing this,” Curtis says, thinking about her career that began when she was 12 years old. “I didn’t expect it, coming out of motherhood and the pandemic, not being visible. I actually told people, ‘It’s not going to be the same as it was.’ But, right now, all I can say is that I’m so, so, grateful that I’m still able to do what I love and, at the same time, make people happy while doing it, or inspire people while doing it.”
At the time of our interview, Curtis had started working on a project with director Erik Matti, with whom she worked in the 2018 action thriller BuyBust. After staying off film and TV series for almost five years, she admits she feels, “a little wobbly.”
“You know, when you’re riding a bike again after a long time? It’s kind of like that,” she describes the experience. “My first day was like two days ago, so I think, as time passes, I will eventually feel at home. I mean, I felt at home because I’m lucky enough that it’s Direk Erik Matti and I’ve already worked with him before. But, of course, I’m still nervous. Once countdown to action started, I was like, ‘Oh, I hope I will deliver.’”
To prepare for her new acting project, Curtis has been studying Sayoc Kali, a kind of martial art that revolves around knife fighting. But being physically active isn’t new to Curtis, who has joined several marathons, including the Tokyo marathon last year. “I’m thinking about joining another marathon later this year, but we shall see if I have time to train for it,” she says. She also takes Pilates classes and lifts weights. But apart from the physical preparations, she is taking refresher courses in acting. “I feel like I’m so rusty,” she says. “My world was completely focused on family. So, I just wanted to learn again.”
Thinking back, she says it’s the same feeling she had when she went back to hosting It’s Showtime! after being away for so long. “I felt like I was so slow, and being on Showtime is all about the banters, and you have to be fast-witted,” she recalls. “I told myself, ‘I’ve got to keep up.’ Now, I feel like I’m back in the groove again. Again, it’s like riding a bike.”
Read more about how Anne Curtis rediscovers a new definition of beauty through motherhood, growth, and passion in MEGA’s May 2024 issue, now available on Readly, Magzter, Press Reader and Zinio.
Photographed by BJ PASCUAL. Creative Direction PATRICK TY. Art Direction BRIE VENTURA. Beauty Direction AGOO AZCUNA BENGZON. Production JONES PALTENG. Styling ELDZS MEJIA. Sittings Editor PEEWEE REYES- ISIDRO. Makeup ROBBIE PIÑERA. Hair RAYMOND SANTIAGO. Production Design JUSTINE ARCEGA-BUMANLAG. Fashion Assistant BITHIA REYES. Styling Assistants CARL ALBERTO and MIGGS LEGUERRA of ELDZSTYLES Nails POSH NAILS. Photography Assistants RICHARD DETITA, DAMIAN ESTRELLES, UMELLE RAYOS DEL SOL, ABEL SANTOS, and JOHN PAUL PAREÑA DELA CRUZ. Fashion AXEL QUE, CARL ARCUSA, KATHLEEN ANN DRES, GLADEMIR ECHAVARRE, NERIC BELTRAN, MICHAEL LEYVA, RAFA WORLDWIDE, TIFFANY & CO. Shot on Location SIREN STUDIOS. Special thanks to NIKKI MARTEL OF TIFFANY & CO., WARREN DIMEN, PICKUP COFFEE, and CALLE NAKPIL.
