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The Summit office and studio have been bustling since morning—lights and equipment being shuffled from one end to another, bright shades of fabric and material flinging about, as people trickled in and out of rooms looking for shoes or makeup.
In the middle of all this activity is Andrea Torres, sporting color-blocked unitards and tights for Cosmopolitan's retro athleisure-themed cover, as the star projected pure confidence. That she can smize her dusky eyes into photographer Alan Segui’s camera lens is no question, but then goes the task of keeping her energy levels up for a video shoot.
With hardly any time to breathe except to change outfits for the next layout, Andrea gamely takes on each pose and offers to take another shot just to nail her cover.
And then comes yet another curveball: Alan’s assistant, who has been providing pegs for the actress on her next poses, suddenly begins contorting the star in acrobatic-like feats. At one point, Andrea had her legs up in the air, ensuring those were steady, her core wasn’t shaking, and making sure her face was not straining—she still had to look picture-perfect, after all. Did we mention she was doing all of these in four-inch stilettos?
Two things first come to mind while watching Andrea: first, is that the woman is undeniably and nearly impossibly fit. The star took on the task—while laughing and joking in between—of twisting and turning her body in ways many at the gym would cry, “Enough!” for, all while doing it with ease and a smile.
Second is how Andrea is just seemingly made for the spotlight. Hours into shooting, she was charming and gracious as ever, and a team player in making sure she was serving the right looks, giving what was needed from her and more, all to make sure the shoot went without a hitch.
“I think you always have to be humble, and you have to provide a healthy environment for everyone. Feeling ko daig ng talent or ng fame yung someone that's easy to work with,” Andrea tells Cosmo.
Gorgeous and charismatic with an unshakeable work ethic, plus a joy to work with — how could one deny she’s poised to be a bona fide superstar?
Andrea is clearly one of GMA-7’s most visible stars, having headlined several shows since Alyas Robin Hood in 2016 and even landing shows such as One Good Day, showing on Amazon Prime. After establishing her mettle as a leading lady, she once again surprised viewers with her widely acclaimed turn as Sisa in Maria Clara at Ibarra—giving justice to an iconic scene that she shares, was just “one long, long take” that took 15 minutes.
Andrea shares that what likely struck a chord with viewers about her performance was how she empathized with Sisa’s character, who has been played various times before. “Parang always joke [si Sisa]. So sabi ko, ‘Parang meron siyang motherly side e,’ and there's always a reason behind everyone's actions. At least magkaroon man lang ng ganoong realization [yung viewers] na, ‘Ah, hindi lang siya baliw. It’s reasonable why she's acting that way.’ Baka hindi siya baliw, baka she's just reacting to what's happening. Kung ikaw naman yung nandoon sa situation na yun as a mom, hindi mo na rin alam, tsaka wala kang tulog, wala kang kain for days kaya ganun yung emotions mo,” she shares.
Giving Sisa a human side was the result of arduous preparation and efforts to really study the character. “I really studied the role. The day after the story conference, I asked for a workshop, and then I would still go to workshops until kunin na 'yung eksena ko. For me, it's better to come over-prepared. There's always that pressure because it's an iconic scene and an iconic line, pero doon ko na lang kinuha yung confidence ko that I prepared. ‘Yun ang pinaka naging hugot ko, everything that I researched about her… Sobrang traumatized [ni Sisa], one traumatizing event after another. I was affected by that, and I felt that she wasn't protected in the story. So it's my duty to protect her image to the people who will watch her won't make fun of her,” she shares, once again giving insight into how hard this girl works.
The steps Andrea took to prepare for her transformative turn as Sisa is just how she’s wired when it comes to work. In each project, Andrea always gives it her all, believing she’s only as good as her last performance. Her scripts—Andrea’s most prized possession —are filled with various notes, scribbles, and notes, illustrating her dedication to each character. She’s never complacent—even when she’s already one of GMA’s largest stars. “I think yun yung pinaka-kalaban ng artist, kapag nag-relax siya. Kahit na years na ako sa industry, siguro it helped din na it took me a long time to get to a comfortable place. Kaya I'm always on my toes, I treat each project as an audition for the next one,” she tells Cosmo.
Andrea says she feels more at ease knowing that she gives her best in everything — showing her roots of how she began in showbiz. Not everyone knows she began her career in 2005, a long and gradual journey to get to where she is today.
“I've been through a lot of auditions and rejections, na dumating sa point when I got my first ‘Yes,’ I had I had to ask my agent over and over again: ‘Is it really mine? Akin na ba talaga 'tong project na 'to?’ I was used to going into auditions and leaving na hindi ka tanggap. Dumating na sa point na it doesn't affect me anymore, but I still go because I want to be an actress. Feeling ko one day, may makakapansin sa akin.”
So strong was her desire to become an actress that she shares a time her parents got angry because she spent an entire day on set waiting for her turn as a passer-by—a bit role that paid her P500. “You're under the sun, you have no standby area. You have no food then, and you have to bring your own clothes,” she narrates, adding that she thought those projects were her ticket to big-time success. She explains her scene: “Bababa ka ng tricycle, or maglalakad ka lang. Bumaba ako ng tricycle, kailangan talaga makita yung face ko. Tapos pinapagalitan ako ng director kasi ang bagal ko. Pero iniisip ko baka may director na makanood tapos makita niya, ‘Ay ang ganda ng batang bumaba.’ Binababad ko yung face ko noon,” she shares.
“I think yung pagiging sexy, it's really about how you feel on the inside. If you accept yourself and if you're at peace with your flaws. I think that's where you get that confidence or even sexiness when you love yourself and you take care of yourself… Feeling ko kasi disservice din ‘yun [to my faith] if I don’t take care of myself. I feel it's my responsibility to keep myself healthy and strong and to give good energy around me,” she shares.
And while people still like to associate her with her previous relationships, it’s a disservice to Andrea, who stands on her own feet as a celebrity and as a woman. She calls this time of her life “the healthiest status” with everything—be it in her career or her personal life. “It takes a lot for me to get angry or upset, sa work ang ganda rin ng pananaw ko. I’m always grateful because I have my morning routine, malalim na rin ang faith ko, and okay ang relationships ko with everyone—my parents, my friends, so ang ayos. Steady na steady yung emotions ko lately.”
And in case you were wondering, the stunning star is single but so ready to mingle — and while she’s ready to fall in love again, she’s not in a rush to find it either. “I’m open to meeting people. Once in a while, I go out. Pero ayoko naman ipilit yung walang spark. Parang, okay, at least I gained a new friend [when I go on a date]. I’m very relaxed, very chill lang. I feel that you shouldn’t actively look for it; It will come to you at the right time,” she says.
Andrea has a very gracious “thank you, next” attitude about her past, as she says she’s learned about what she wants from a relationship and what standards she maintains in finding her next partner. “[What I’ve learned is] you should get to know yourself nang buong-buo before you get into another relationship. Kasi kapag buo yung knowledge mo of yourself and you know your worth, then you know your negotiables and non-negotiables, and you’ll stick to that… And kailangan i-spoil mo muna yung sarili mo, para you know what treatment you want your partner to give. Not to say na may pagkukulang yung exes ko. I had really good memories with my exes,” she tells Cosmo.
That said, the star is in a great place to fall in love again. “I’m ready and open to getting into a relationship. You only live once!” She quips. “Tsaka masaya ma-in love. I like being in love. I really give my whole self kapag in love ako. But I’m also enjoying my time to myself now, and I’m thankful na maraming work, so baka hindi rin pa time. Baka gusto rin ni Lord, baka may unfinished business pa ako with myself and work,” the star reflects.
A man is the furthest thing Andrea would worry about — she’s clearly in her own moment, and not taking anything for granted. “I just want to be able to look back and say that I lived my life to the fullest, and I was able to reach my full potential. If something is presented to me, I go for it, I’m not afraid to fail, I feel that you only fail when you stop trying,” she says.
And we couldn’t agree more. We're looking forward to Andrea's star shining more in the future.
PRODUCED BY: Ira Nopuente, Andie Estella
CO-PRODUCED BY: Patricia Melliza
PHOTOGRAPHY: Alan Segui, assisted by Jeo Jingco
ART DIRECTION: Bacs Arcebal, Pau Moyano
STYLING: Gee Jocson, assisted by Ian Rey
HAIR BY: Mark Anthony Rosales
MAKEUP BY: Nikki Duque
WORDS BY: Sam Beltran
