The reason behind Jaclyn and Dina’s enduring careers

Dina Bonnevie and Jaclyn Jose

While the thought of working in the middle of a pandemic had them worried at first, Jaclyn Jose and Dina Bonnevie eventually realized that they couldn’t let those feelings get in the way of doing the thing they love most.

“This is what I do best—acting. This is something you can’t just take away from me,” Jaclyn said in a virtual conference for the GMA 7 primetime drama series “The World Between Us,” “COVID-19 is there, but I also don’t think I can live without acting … It’s my passion. I want to continue playing new characters and show what I’m capable of.”

Realistic

Practicality is another reason, Jaclyn pointed out matter-of-factly. “We have to be realistic. These are hard times. The pandemic has been going on for almost two years now. I don’t have other sources of income,” she said, adding that she has also been yearning for the company of her show biz colleagues.

And this is especially true these days, the 2016 Cannes best actress related, because she lives alone, far from her daughter, Andi Eigenmann, who lives on Siargao Island with her family. “I love being with my extended family—makeup artists, stylists, crew members, directors, coactors and others involved in creating a film or series.”

Making people happy

Dina, on the other hand, felt that fear would only hold her back and cost her opportunities to inspire other people.

“You lose out on different opportunities to grow, meet new people or improve yourself. In a world full of fear and anxiety, I try to put those things behind me, and not let them fester in me. I deal with these things by focusing on something else,” she said. “I want to continue inspiring and making people happy.”

And hopefully, the work actors like her can make the audience feel a little more hopeful. “Everyone’s suffering, afraid and anxious, but we want people to have faith and hope that there are better days waiting for us. It’s not the end,” she said. “I don’t want to just stay at home and be afraid.”

“If you’re blessed with an opportunity to work, why not? Embrace it,” she added. “I’m happy I was asked to be part of this show.”

Dina and Jaclyn have been in the industry for almost four decades now, but they remain sought after, booking at least one teleserye every year. What’s the secret to their longevity?

For Dina, it’s professionalism. “I don’t think there was ever a time when a director or coactor got mad at me because I was late. I make sure to memorize my lines before arriving on the set or before my scenes. I make sure that the costumes and makeup are all taken care of,” she said.

Versatility

Versatility is just as important. “From ‘Katorse,’ I tried different kinds of roles. I did heavy dramas like ‘Magdusa Ka.’ I played a nun, a hostess. I wanted to show people that there’s more to Dina Bonnevie. I got into hosting … I tried and tried because this is what I love,” she said. “I have loved acting since I was a child. I feel like I was born to do it.”

Meanwhile, Jaclyn said she entered the industry with no other purpose but to act.

“This is what I have always aimed for from the start—not the glitz and glamor that comes with being a celebrity. I just wanted to play different characters. I wanted longevity. I wanted to have a long career, because I want to act for as long as I can,” Jaclyn said. “That’s my main reason.”

And having worked with the crème de la crème of their era, like Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal, Jaclyn and Dina feel that they have to pass down the knowledge they have gathered through the years to the new generation of actors.

“I remember the late Tita Chato (Charito Solis) telling me that I have to be professional all the time. She told me to share what I have learned with the next generation, because it will only make the industry better,” Jaclyn recalled.