No trace of bubbly Anne in ‘Aurora’

Anne Curtis (top) with Phoebe Villamor

Anne Curtis dazzles in the haunting thriller, “Aurora,” Viva Films and Aliud Entertainment’s entry in this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival. Sans maquillage, the charms of the deglamorized Anne still work. The rustic beauty of Batanes somehow tones down the eeriness of the story. See Anne at her rawest. With her commanding presence, the film could have been called “Annerora,” instead.

Here’s my chat with Anne:

What’s more challenging for you to do, a horror or a dramatic film? Any role is challenging for me. Every character from a script that falls into my lap, I take as a challenge to lose myself in, so that you see no trace of the bubbly Anne Curtis—unless if needed, of course.

What made you accept the offer to do “Aurora”? I’ve always wanted to work with director Yam Laranas. This was my chance. So it was an instant “yes” when he sent me the script.

What was the hardest scene to shoot? Underwater scenes are always the hardest, but since I’ve trained for it before, it was much easier this time around for this film. Everything else was a lot of fun to shoot, especially given our location, gorgeous Batanes.

Noel’s intimate birthday bash

What a blast I had at my good friend Noel Cabangon’s intimate birthday bash at his place. He was born on Christmas Day, that’s why he was named Noel (which means Christmas in French).

Noel and his family are now in Hanoi for an extended celebration. The OPM great raved about the bar which he coowns, New Order Urban Lounge Bar (at the Home Depot Complex on Julia Vargas Ave. in Pasig).

“It’s all ’70s and ’80s music and videos in our joint. It will make you feel like you are caught in a time warp,” Noel beamed. “It seems like everyone has his or her own dance floor because you’re free to groove wherever you’re seated.” Be dressed to chill, and welcome 2019 at Noel’s hip lounge.

At Noel’s party, I teased Dingdong Avanzado and said, “For sure your lovely daughter, Jayda, has many suitors already.” He shot back, “Sorry boys, you have to wait until Jayda turns 25 before you can court her.”

No early “ding dong” (wedding bells) for the Avanzado beauty.

Fame’s harmful side effects

“Looks like the glorious days of this celeb are almost over. She believes in her own hype. Fame has gotten into her head. She refuses to listen to instructions, that’s why it’s an ordeal to work with her,” laments a network insider. “She better brace herself, because a new celeb who is in the same mold is about to replace her.”

When fame is not handled properly, it really has harmful side effects.

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Noel Cabangon