After countless rejections, Angel Leighton finally finds her groove

Angel Leighton

As a show biz newcomer, Angel Leighton is well aware that nothing will be handed to her on a silver platter—that rejection is par for the course. But that won’t deter her from chasing after her dreams.

“Rejection is natural. I have experienced it lots of times. But it’s because of those rejections that I became stronger. They made me want to work harder, push myself and strive for more. This [person or project] turned me down? Well, I will be more confident next time and show what I can do,” she told reporters at her recent disco-themed 21st birthday party.

Before venturing into acting, Angel tried her luck in commercial modeling. “I’m not in a position where I can just wait for project offers. I have to go out there and audition. Oftentimes, you don’t get cast. But that’s how things are in the beginning,” pointed out the actress-dancer.

Fortunately, Angel said, it looks like all her hard work is starting to pay off. And 2023 is shaping up to be a crucial year for her. She managed to land supporting roles in different television series on GMA 7, including “AraBella,” “Luv Is: Love at First Read” and the long-running “Abot-Kamay na Pangarap.”

Career highlight

What she considers the highlight of her career so far, however, is playing the role of a police officer named Pretty Competente in the sitcom “Walang Matigas na Pulis sa Matinik na Misis,” which is topbilled by Bong Revilla Jr. and Beauty Gonzalez.

“I have always dreamed of doing action and I was able to fulfill that through this show. This is one of my happiest moments in the industry so far,” said Angel, adding that working with more experienced actors has been a wonderful learning experience.

“They teach me how to deliver my lines and appear more natural. I get surprised with their ad-libs and punchlines because they’re so unexpected. I’m still starting out in show biz, so I’m thankful that I’m able to get along with more experienced actors,” Angel said. “I’m thankful that GMA entrusted me with opportunities that allowed me to showcase my talents.”

Who would she like to work with in the future? “Marian Rivera, Liza Soberano, Alden Richards and James Reid. Or maybe Elisse Joson and Lexi Gonzales, because some fans say I look like them at certain angles,” said Angel, who’s managed by Sparkle Artist Center.

Angel has a big online following, especially on TikTok, where she posts dance videos, takes part in trending memes and shares her daily musings with her 1.8 million followers. She also gets a lot of compliments for her toned physique, which she proudly flaunts in her photo shoots.

Asked if she sees herself taking on “more daring” roles in the future, Angel said she’s not closing her doors on the possibility.

“I’m very kalog. I’m not fussy. I’m actually a little boyish. But yes, I’m no longer a teenager. I’m at the right age and there may come a point where I will try that. But nothing too revealing,” she said. “I actually just recently did my first kissing scene with Ken Chan in ‘Abot-Kamay.’”

Birthday wish

Angel’s birthday wish was simple. Amid family problems, career hardships and bouts of anxiety, she just wants to be “happy.”

“I have anxiety… maybe because of the things I go through in life. I was a bit hesitant to talk about it at first, but I know that there are people out there who are going through something similar. I’m opening about it because I want them to realize that actors are also human… they experience anxiety, there are problems and hardships,” she said.

“When things get difficult, I cry it out. After that, I feel like I can breathe again,” she added. “Family problems can’t be avoided. Pursuing acting is hard. That’s the truth… But I try my best to be brave and keep going.”

Another goal is to give her family a comfortable life. “I’m working hard now for our future. My siblings have jobs, but I want to help them and give them nice things. I want them to experience the things I’m starting to experience now,” she said. “It feels good to be able to give back.” INQ