The Many Times Bea Alonzo’s Movie Characters Inspired Her Real-Life Decisions

The Many Times Bea Alonzo’s Movie Characters Inspired Her Real-Life Decisions

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Bea Alonzo talks about painting her world her own way and how her life has imitated her own works of art—and the other way around

Related: Bea Alonzo on Addressing Her Health Issues

This is an excerpt from the MEGA June 2023 cover story.

Life imitating art and vice versa seems to be a common element in the many chapters of Alonzo’s life. And sometimes, it takes a while for her to comprehend that. 

In 2007, Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz, both of whom comprised the most popular love team of their generation, premiered their hit movie One More Chance. In one of the film’s scenes, Alonzo’s character, Basha, breaks up with her boyfriend of five years, Popoy, played by Cruz, amid a car malfunction. 

Navy wool crepe blazer and trousers with sinamay accent by PUEY QUIÑONES

Nagkaroon ako ng epiphany no’n na parang ayaw ko na ng relationship ko sa totoong buhay,” she says. “It was not helping me grow anymore. As I was saying my lines, I felt them for real. So, the next day, I broke up with my boyfriend.” She laughs before continuing, “Life happens so fast, and we get caught up with our schedules that sometimes we don’t have the time to reflect. When I would do a character, I get to have time to reflect because I would have to dig deep into myself, ‘What do I really feel?’ It’s like therapy for me.”

Full look by RAJO LAUREL and Jewelry by CARTIER

Another similar incident happened while she was shooting the 2015 film The Love Affair, with Richard Gomez and Dawn Zulueta. In the movie, she played the role of Adie, the mistress of Gomez’s character, Vince. There was a scene where Vince refused to answer Adie’s calls because he had decided to patch things up with his wife. Adie went berserk.

Navy wool crepe blazer and trousers with sinamay accent by PUEY QUIÑONES

Before shooting that scene, Alonzo had talked to the screenwriter Vanessa Valdez, who remains a friend to this day, and had asked the writer to give Adie dignity by restraining her a bit—“hindi naman ata siya maghahabol sa lalaki nang ganiyan.” While Valdez listened intently, she persuaded Alonzo to do the scene anyway. After a long discussion, the actress decided to stop overthinking and just jump right into character as demanded by the script.

Full look by JOEY SAMSON

Then, when the cameras were finally on her and she was acting her heart out, something clicked, as if a someone had turned on a switch. “Ako pala si Adie sa totoong buhay,” she says, her voice softening to a sigh. “When the director yelled, ‘Cut,’ I kept on crying. Nagising talaga ako sa katotohanan na sa totoong buhay, ’yon ’yong pinagdadaanan ko, and I was just in denial. I was running after a man who didn’t want me anymore. It’s those moments that life imitates art for me. There’s always a part of the character that stays with me and there’s always a part of me that stays with the character.”

In April this month, Alonzo made a cameo appearance in the play Ang Larawan: The Concert. She was given a few weeks to prepare for the role of Elsa Montes and train with National Artist Ryan Cayabyab. 

Full look by MICH DULCE and Jewelry by JOHN HARDY from RUSTAN’S SILVER VAULT

“I had second thoughts, but it was too late to back out,” she recalls excitedly. “After I talked to Sir Ryan Cayabyab, parang ang kapal ng mukha kong mag-back out. Sobra akong kinabahan. Before going on stage, I thought, ‘What if I trip? Paano kung hindi ako makapasok sa right timing when I’m supposed to sing?’ Those were the horror things in my head. But then, totoo pala ’yon, kapag nandoon ka na, nawawala na sa isip mo ang mga worries. Then you are just possessed with the character that you’re portraying.” She’s lucky, she says, to keep finding a means of catharsis as she moves along in her career. There have already been offers to do another play, and this time, Alonzo isn’t having second thoughts about taking them.


Read more about Bea Alonzo’s life in Spain and her future plans in MEGA’s June 2023 issue, now available on ReadlyMagzter, Press Reader and Zinio.

Photography ANDREA BELDUA
Creative Direction NICOLE ALMERO
Art Direction
NICOLE ALMERO AND JONES PALTENG
Fashion Direction KAT CRUZ-VILLANUEVA and RYUJI SHIOMITSU

Beauty Direction AGOO AZCUNA-BENGZON, assisted by MIA CASTRO
Makeup MIKKA MARCAIDA, assisted by LORIBEL BARRERA

Hair CARLO ROBLICO
Nails MI & ME LUXURY NAILS
Production Design KATRISH ARISTOKI
Sittings Editors PEEWEE REYES-ISIDRO and BAM ABELLON
Fashion Assistant BITHIA REYES, JOHN KARUNUNGAN and GABBY GAMBOA
Shoot Assistants LAURD SALEN and SAMANTHA ESTANIEL
Video Production REGINA ACERON

Videography OMAR VILLANUEVA

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