Anne Curtis Is Ready For Her Close-Up

Anne Curtis was made for stardom. After all, it can’t get any more kismet than being discovered at a Jollibee outlet at age 12. Fast-forward almost three decades, and the Australian-Filipino actress has amassed over 30 film credits, countless international accolades and co-hosts It’s Showtime, a beloved television variety show in the Philippines.

Related article: Anne Curtis Is Harper’s BAZAAR Singapore’s January 2025 Cover Star

Related article: From Thailand With Love: Apo Nattawin Wattanagitiphat Is Going Global

There is no doubt that Curtis is a master of her craft. On set at the Harper’s BAZAAR Singapore cover shoot, Curtis was given the brief to channel Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe in the last days of her tragic short-lived life. Curtis held court as she played the Hollywood bombshell, donning the iconic blonde bob and setting aside her normally smiley disposition for Monroe’s flirtatious, femme fatale aura.

But she gave that extra touch of sadness, holding the camera view finder for that extra second, so poignant and necessary in Monroe’s tragic life story. While she embraced playing this role wholeheartedly, Curtis mused that her number one icon will forever be Audrey Hepburn.

“I have a little collection of things that belong to her, which I purchased from auctions. There was also an Audrey exhibition in Manila recently where I got to meet her son and I cried,” expresses Curtis. She gushes: “I’m amazed by her beauty, style, confidence, the way she lived her life with wisdom and laughter but also as a humanitarian working with Unicef. She is the epitome of what it is to be a woman of substance.”

Related article: 13 Things To Know About Anne Curtis, Our January 2025 Cover Star

Stars Are Aligned

Whether she knew it or not, Curtis’ path has intertwined with that of her role model on several fronts. Just like Hepburn, she is a cinematic powerhouse who has played a wide range of characters. From a catty mistress in No Other Woman (2011) to a conniving villain in The Gifted (2014) to an anti-narcotics special agent in BuyBust (2018), Curtis is never one to shy away from a challenge.

“I love playing grey characters. It’s so fun to create and portray them because there is so much depth and layers to each of them,” says Curtis. “The Gifted was definitely one of my favourites because it was a dark comedy. When it screened at the Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy, I thought, ‘Will an international audience appreciate this kind of campiness?’ And they did! It was so fulfilling to hear them laugh at the jokes.”

Besides her gift for acting, Curtis, like Hepburn, has a natural magnetism when it comes to fashion, attracting devoted fans worldwide and the attention of luxury houses such as Tiffany & Co. As it is, one of Hepburn’s most transcendent pieces of work is the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s and, as fate would have it decades later, Curtis is now a friend and face of the American jeweller.

The third way their stars are aligned, is how Curtis is following in the footsteps of her idol as a Unicef ambassador, passionately championing the cause of children and fighting for their rights, especially when it comes to their education.

“My work with Unicef is very dear to me. In some countries, kids only attend school when they are 12 or 13, which is too late. They need to go to preschool, even if it’s just to play and interact with their peers. These interpersonal skills are vital outside of the classroom,” the actress explains.

She continues: “If I weren’t an actor, I would probably be a teacher. My biggest regret is not completing my degree in early childhood education.”

Related article: Freen Sarocha Chankimha On Her Paris Fashion Week Debut And Her Latest Roles

Embracing the Ebb and Flow of Fame

Curtis knows first-hand that the spotlight isn’t always glamorous, particularly when fame is thrust upon one at a young age. And, as far as the former child star is concerned, she counts herself lucky to have avoided buckling under the pressures of fame.

Sacrifices had to be made as a working teen and although she had to grow up and adapt quickly in the challenging industry, her family and friends kept her grounded through her meteoric rise.

“It also requires conscious effort to realise who you are and have faith in yourself. It’s so easy to create an image of yourself that isn’t authentic and that will eat you up inside. It’s important to stay true to your core,” says the actress who chose not to let the stress of fame dictate her life.

Curtis recognises that it is easier said than done as she grapples with this on a daily basis. She laments that while social media has made her far more accessible to her fans, it has also opened the floodgates for haters to leave unkind comments.

While the negativity can take a toll on her mental health, the attention and love she receives from fans, on and offline, far outweigh the unsolicited opinions of haters.

“I’m very appreciative of what I have and who has supported me along the way, especially Filipinos living outside of the country. I think they feel a sense of home whenever they see me,” says Curtis on embracing fans who approach her in public.

Besides the fans who empower Curtis, one person, close to her heart, is responsible for completely changing her life and career—her four-year-old daughter, Dahlia.

Related article: Eleanor Lee Gets Candid About Fame

Learning The Gifts Of Motherhood

“Before Dahlia, I was all work, work, work—no rest for the wicked type of behaviour. Now, when I need to rest, I’ll say ‘Hey, can I take a two-week break?’ and I spend it with my family,” says Curtis.

This laid-back attitude and awareness of personal boundaries surprised her, but motherhood has had even bigger lessons for her. “The patience you discover when you become a mother is insane. Some things that would have previously blown your fuse just don’t anymore. It’s so innate and natural,” says Curtis. She continues, “There’s also a conscious effort to give the endless love that overflows when you lay eyes on your child.”

Part of this love includes adopting a whole new acting technique to protect her daughter from the darker characters she loves to play. “We finally let her watch my films and I recently brought her on set to watch me perform. She understands what mama does and is aware that it’s not real,” says Curtis.

However, she was uncomfortable taking that risk when Dahlia was a baby. A quote by American actress Natalie Portman, whom she also admires greatly, on how method acting is a “luxury women can’t afford” because of their children, struck a chord with her.

“Method acting became so hard because you can’t bring that character home. The moment you leave the set, you must remove that character, which makes Meisner (an acting technique) great, and I like it better,” says Curtis. The actress discovered the Meisner technique during refresher classes after her two-year hiatus in 2022, which equipped her with the skills to build rich backstories for the characters she took on.

“It was weird at the beginning—I didn’t know how to start acting again because my life was all about nursery rhymes at that time. But once I got that ball rolling, it came back—just in time for the filming of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay,” shares Curtis.

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, where Curtis plays the lead, is an upcoming Filipino adaptation of a South Korean drama that tackles the topic of mental health with a dose of comedy. Although Curtis was drawn to this project because of the complex character, the overarching message of the entire drama (or at least what she can tease us with) truly has her jazzed for the first months of 2025.

As to what’s on the horizon in the latter half, Curtis is ready for any challenge. “When you are an open book, it takes away the pressure because you get to discover new things, what suits you and what doesn’t—that is the beauty of my journey.”

Editor-in-Chief: Kenneth Goh
Creative Director: Windy Aulia
Style Editor: Gracia Phang
Photographer: Joel Low
Jewellery: Tiffany & Co.
Hair: Raymond Santiago
Makeup: Robbie Piñera
Manicure: Rebecca Chuang
Photographer’s Assistant: Eddie Teo
Stylist’s Assistant: Ynez Loh
Special thanks: Shangri-La Singapore