Fresh from her Best Lead Actress win at the 2022 Asian Academy Creative Awards in Singapore, Jodi Sta. Maria shared a shocking revelation to MEGA Entertainment during an intimate catch-up
Clad in an all black ensemble with tights and simple pearl earrings, which was matched with a clean half ponytail and an unexpected fly away ‘do, actress Jodi Sta. Maria looked chic in a subtle yet elegant manner. Before she sat down with us, Jodi’s team brought her new award for her to show, which was surprisingly very heavy as compared to how it looks. It is indeed the real deal. As we all know, Jodi’s win is a first for a Filipina, and it was for her role in the television show, The Broken Marriage Vow.
RELATED: Jodi Sta. Maria Wins Best Actress Award at the Asian Academy Creative Awards
She bested more than 10 best actresses in Asia by a slim margin of 0.7 points, according to official results. Jodi says that she went to Singapore without any expectations, and part of why she went was for wanderlust. “Hindi talaga ako nag-expect. Gusto ko lang din magtravel.” This was the reason why she did not have any speech prepared.
In 2023, the actress is celebrating a quarter of a century in the industry, but she almost thought she would not reach it. Jodi revealed to MEGA Entertainment that this was because she was just ready to leave the showbiz industry and start anew.
Jodi shared that back in 2021, after playing Dr. Jill Ilustre in the massive hit The Broken Marriage Vow, she suddenly thought of bidding showbiz adieu. “After we shot our last sequence, sabi ko, ‘Parang wala na yata talaga akong mabibigay. Parang na-exhaust ko na ‘yung kaya kong ibigay as an actor.’ 24 is 24—ang daming nangyari doon sa 24 years na ‘yun, na parang feeling ko, ‘Parang okay naman na, parang nasulit ko naman na.’ Nasa ganoong mindset ako noong mga panahon na ‘yun,” she revealed.
Aside from being one of the top actresses of our generation, Jodi, who has earned a B.S. Psychology degree at Southville International School and Colleges, shared that she has a fallback and even contemplated on a career change. Now at 40, she went on to explain, “Especially ‘pag may mga panahon na you’re just physically tired and emotionally exhausted, maiisip mo siya, eh. ‘May iba pa bang pwedeng gawin bukod dito?’ I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. [But] you have those moments when you’re just so tired, and feeling mo you can’t go on and you just want to throw in the towel and be like, ‘Bahala na!’”
But as she says, God is good. Her Best Lead Actress award was a sign that she should not take a detour and just continue blessing her fans with her acting prowess.
This MMFF season, Jodi is starring alongside Coco Martin for the entry Labyu With An Accent. As for 2023, when asked her about the possibility of having projects abroad, she says that things are on embargo at the moment as projects and negotiations are currently in the works.
Photos from JODI STA. MARIA (via Instagram)
Additional Text PEACHES GARCIA
