Cannes-winning actress Jaclyn Jose still feels ‘first-day jitters’ on set like any other actor

Jaclyn Jose

While many actors—newbies, particularly—get intimidated by the thought of working with Jaclyn Jose, the internationally acclaimed actress said that, on the set, she’s just like any other actor trying to get the job done.

“I don’t know [why they feel intimidated]. Perhaps they think about the recognition I have received. But let’s always remember that this is something we don’t allow to get into our heads. We set that aside,” she said in a virtual conference for the GMA 7 series “Bolera.”

“Once you have gotten an award, that’s it. Tapos na ‘yun,” added Jaclyn, who was hailed best actress in the 2016 Cannes Film Festival for her performance in the Brillante Mendoza film “Ma’ Rosa.”

And despite her almost 40 years of experience, Jaclyn, who also has five Gawad Urian acting awards to her name, admitted that she still gets first-day jitters on the set.

Sensitive

“If they get rattled, I do, too. There’s always first-day jitters, to be honest. When I work on whatever project, I get nervous just like them. That’s something we all share,” she said, adding that she always tries her best to guide her younger costars who are still feeling their way in the industry.

“They think I’m scary, but once they get to actually work with me, they will discover that I’m very sensitive toward others. I try to help them and give what I can when I’m working with them,” she said.

The 57-year-old actress is also not one to get easily impatient when her coactor makes mistakes. “Walang problema kung nagkakamali sila dahil nagkakamali din ako. I try to make them comfortable. We’re all human; we make mistakes,” she stressed. “Minsan may pasok talaga tayo na sablay.”

And more importantly, she sees herself as a team player. “I don’t consider myself a pillar of a show. There are the directors, writers and other veteran stars. It should always be a collaboration. No one tries to upstage anyone. We all work according to what our directors and writers require us to do,” she said. “It’s all about teamwork.”