Juday on her Cairo win for ‘Mindanao,’ exciting new ventures and her charmed life
Judy Ann Santos
It’s Christmas. Do you want ham?” quipped actress Judy Ann Santos when she was asked to react to a recent Instagram post by her husband, TV host Ryan Agoncillo, of her looking really sexy while lying on their bed with sheets drawn up exposing her right thigh and leg.
Juday said posting of the photo had her approval. “One morning, he drew up the curtains and took my picture. He hardly does this, so ‘di pa ba ako aawra? He said, ‘Ipo-post ko na ‘to,’ and I said, ‘Sige!’ I told myself that if that’s how my husband sees me, why not? Minsan lang naman ako magpa-legs! Yes, I have legs, and they’re huge.”
The couple has been married since 2009. They have two kids, Lucho, 9, and Luna, 3, and an adopted daughter Yohan, 15.
Judy Ann said that unlike the time she got pregnant with Lucho—it took her only eight months to get back into shape—the weight she had gained when she had Luna was more difficult to shed off.
“Luna is almost 4. I stopped dieting already. Proper eating is the key,” she admitted. On the side, Judy Ann would create recipes for her YouTube channel “Judy Ann’s Kitchen” and also check the quality of her adobo dishes for their restaurant Angrydobo. She likewise does cooking demos once in a while.
“That’s why it’s hard to maintain a specific diet,” she pointed out. “Whenever I would gain a few pounds, I would just run or jog, and that’s it! Yes, I have a loving relationship with my hips. Everything goes to my hips!”
Judy Ann and Ryan were in Japan recently to watch the concert of the Irish rock band, U2. “This had long been set because Ryan loves U2. We then took it as an opportunity to spend quality time, since we’re both busy with work. We hardly have time for each other these days—me with my teleserye and movie projects, and Ryan with his hosting job for ‘Eat Bulaga!’ They keep sending him to different parts of the country. Gusto talaga nilang puntahan mula Batanes hanggang Jolo!” Juday shared with reporters.
While her teleserye “Starla” is set to air its finale in January, Judy Ann is currently busy promoting her latest drama film, Brillante Ma Mendoza’s “Mindanao,” which is an entry in the 2019 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
Judy Ann bagged the best actress trophy at the 2019 Cairo International Film Festival in Egypt for her portrayal of Saima, the wife to a military medic (Allen Dizon) assigned to an offensive operation in Maguindanao and mother of cancer-stricken daughter Aisa (Yuna Tangog).
She admitted that she had no idea how big a deal winning at the Cairo fest was. The Egyptian fete is one of only 15 festivals from all over the world that was accorded an “A” status by the International Federation of Film Producers Association.
Judy Ann’s win in Cairo is only second to Nora Aunor’s best actress victory in the same festival for the “Flor Contemplacion Story” in 1995.
“I regret not being able to attend. My schedule is so full these days that I’m already wishing that there was another day between Sunday and Monday, so I could spend it with my children,” she said. “I’m happy because the festival jury saw something in me that they thought deserved to be recognized. That’s all because of Direk Brillante. He guided me well. He was patient with me when explaining things that he wanted me to do. I also watched some of his other films, that’s why I understood how he works as a director.”
Judy Ann said it was every actor’s dream to go up the stage to represent the country abroad. “It was overwhelming. If I could only have a take two. Baka naman may isa pa!” she said, laughing. She was being asked by reporters to react to comments about her being a strong contender for the best actress award at the upcoming MMFF.
The 41-year-old actress then turned serious, and said: “I have nothing more to ask for, just more time to spend with my family. I am so blessed. I must have done something good in my life to deserve this. I did a lot of new and exciting things in 2019.”
In November, Judy Ann, the chef, got invited to participate in the Sharjah International Book Fair for her cook book, “Judy Ann’s Kitchen,” in the United Arab Emirates. She also attended her first-ever international film festival in Busan in October. She recently opened the second branch of Angrydobo, this time in Alabang.
Next year will be equally challenging for her, Juday declared. She has agreed to play the lead in the upcoming biopic of Regal Entertainment matriarch Lily Monteverde, with Erik Matti at the helm.
