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Bea Alonzo knows what people have been saying about her. Undoubtedly one of the country’s most prominent A-list stars, Bea made headlines when news broke that she was moving to rival network GMA-7 after spending more than 20 years working with ABS-CBN.
Showbiz fans everywhere were understandably shocked: It was at ABS-CBN where she had built a massive career as an undisputed blockbuster queen, and one of the country’s best dramatic actresses. People waited for her comeback after going on an acting break for three years, and “the other side of the fence” was the last place they expected to see her.
Bea understands the fanfare surrounding her transfer. Not that the star needs to explain any of her career moves to anyone, especially after having built it herself in two decades, starting from the bottom and laying brick after brick to become one of the nation’s most formidable and beloved celebrities.
Bea Alonzo for Cosmopolitan Philippines October 2022
It’s this very foundation, built on hard work, discipline, and talent, that makes it difficult for anybody to dim her light — no one, not even the famous Lolit Solis, could cast a shadow on the magnitude of her star power through petty tirades and cheap shots on social media. After months of throwing shade online, the veteran showbiz journalist and host eventually apologized to the superstar, who after having endured countless attacks on her age and looks, always handled the situation with grace.
This is the same way Bea Alonzo chooses to handle the rest of her bashers—with a calm and self-assured nature that comes after having been in showbiz for as long as she has, starting from when she was a young teen. The actress has worked hard to stay grounded and level-headed even as she grew up in the limelight, surrounding herself with a group of people who always look out for her wellbeing.
Bea Alonzo for Cosmopolitan Philippines October 2022
“I try to protect my energy all the time, I only absorb the things or the criticisms that will help me and criticisms that only come from love,” Bea tells Cosmo. “I guess when you have been in the industry for 20 years, may automatic filter ka na, you know what's going to help you, or what’s not going to help you.”
As to why people can’t stop talking about her network move, we can only assume it’s because there’s an unpredictable element to her career that they haven’t seen before. Fans thought they knew Bea — one-half of an iconic love team with John Lloyd Cruz, Basha from One More Chance, Bobbie from Four Sisters and a Wedding, a premiere actress who can shed a tear onscreen like nobody’s business. They knew the teleseryes and the movies she shone in by heart, and they could easily anticipate just what kind of project they would see her next in.
Or so they thought.
Bea Alonzo for Cosmopolitan Philippines October 2022
But if there’s anything we’ve learned from Bea in the course of this conversation, she doesn’t mind keeping people guessing on what she’s about to do next — and she’s having fun while exploring all these different opportunities.
Top on that list is the often-talked-about Start Up PH, the Philippine adaptation of the hit K-drama starring Bae Suzy and Kim Seon Ho that marked her much-awaited return to television.
“When you think about it, Start Up PH [looks like] the usual project I would get. Actually hindi eh, because it talks about business. It’s very technical. Normally, ‘yung mga ginagawa ko hindi siya technical, mas emotional,” she shares.
And yes, Bea knows and understands the apprehensions fans of a beloved show can have—let alone a K-drama—when someone else decides to do a reinterpretation. Having done I Love Betty La Fea in 2008, the actress is no stranger to breathing new life into already beloved shows. “Because maraming fans ‘yung existing franchise, you’re very critical of the person who will be redoing it. Victim din ako ng ganito whenever I would watch a series that I really love—for example, I can’t imagine somebody else doing Queen’s Gambit. So I think it’s understandable.”
Bea Alonzo for Cosmopolitan Philippines October 2022
That said, Bea believes that as a local actress, she has a responsibility to make a story relate to local viewers and bring in Pinoy sensibilities to every remake. “I also feel that [I’m] responsible for creating a totally different character that could appeal to the local audience. It's the reason why they got [me] in the first place. That is the reason why they will be adapting a Korean drama to Filipino, because we have a totally different culture.”
One example is Dani’s relationship with her estranged family, particularly her sister and her mother, which showcases the local nuances that are different from Bae Suzy’s interpretation of Dal Mi. “Script-wise, it's almost the same story. But the way we react is different as Filipinos, we are different from our families, we are raised differently. We're really family-oriented. You would never talk to your mom that way, meron pa ring certain level of respect even though nasaktan ka niya. So [in a way], mas Filipino yung take,” she explains.
It’s this mindset that allows Bea the freedom to take liberties with her character and bring her own creative process to the role whenever she works on a remake. “I keep reminding myself that this is not a parody. This is not a spoof. You're free to do whatever you want to do with your character. And maganda naman sa GMA and [even] ABS at the time, they allowed me to explore on my own.”
Standing her ground seems to have paid off, judging by the warm reception to the show since it aired. “Before I even said yes to the project, I knew right away that people would react differently to it. Gets ko naman but gusto ko lang talaga makita [ng bashers] what we did to the project before they would react to it. True enough, when they were able to watch it, parang nag-iba na ‘yung ihip ng hangin. Most of them appreciated it, and I see those kinds of comments and I really appreciate them because para siyang pat on the back, like validation,” she shares.
Despite the hullabaloo that surrounded her role on Start Up PH, the Pinoy remake isn’t the only thing keeping her busy. The actress has a steady stream of film projects lined up, including a film with director Erik Matti, her comeback movie with John Lloyd under GMA Films, and even a project with Star Cinema that she called “very, very different from the past projects I’ve done” (so she is returning to her old home, sort of).
“So I guess you can say I am redefining my career this time, [but] I’m not that careful. I just try to enjoy the journey,” Bea quips.
That Bea continues to be an in-demand star speaks to an unshakeable work ethic that only serves her more, now that she’s enjoying a second wind in her career.
For the actress, it’s all about living in the moment and taking what she can. “Before, I kept worrying about the future and thinking about the past [so much] that sometimes nawawala na ako doon sa present, and that change can be uncomfortable. It can be scary. But sometimes you just have to dive in just for you to know what is what is in store for you. And it can be beautiful, like right now, I'm reaping all the fruits of my labor. Going from one network to another was no joke. I mean, it was such an emotional journey,” she recounts.
Bea Alonzo for Cosmopolitan Philippines October 2022
“But I was able to do it properly and right now, parang ang dami-daming blessings and parang feeling ko kung hindi ko yun ginawa, kung na-stuck lang ako sa old ways ko, maybe I wouldn't be where I am today. Not only like, achievement-wise, but also emotionally. I'm more sure about myself.”
So sure and confident Bea is in herself, it leaves her all the more unbothered about comments on her age at 35 (which isn’t even old, by the way). The age conversation has been rife throughout social media lately — from saying she’s “too old” for her role on Start Up PH, to even being questioned about when she plans on settling down with boyfriend Dominic Roque, earning comparisons against fellow actresses of her generation like Anne Curtis, Angel Locsin, and Angelica Panganiban.
“You shouldn’t let society stop you from just doing what you want to do. I mean, I believe we have our own timeline. And you just really have to follow your heart and your gut. Don't get me wrong — I'm so happy for Anne, Angel, Angelica who is now a new mom, and who is now recently engaged. I'm like the happiest. But also, I know that I have my own timeline. I know I'll get there at some point,” she says.
Right now, Bea has a few things to tick off the bucket list in her career: She wants to be able to do more experimental films and explore genres such as psychological thrillers, as well as a period piece.
Bea Alonzo for Cosmopolitan Philippines October 2022
With more unpredictable moves on the horizon, Bea is brimming with energy and excitement. For someone who’s worked hard to work their way to the top, what keeps her from holding back?
“it's exciting that, for me, growth happens when you're uncomfortable. And I like being uncomfortable. Because I feel like I'm growing. I feel like I can discover more about myself even when I'm in my ‘30s already,” Bea shares.
This is why the actress has no regrets about moving on and starting over — be it from love or a long-held career. “You've got to do what you've got to do. Sometimes you can get stuck thinking about the past and worrying about the future, but there's nothing else that you can do but be present, and just move forward,” Bea reflects.
Whatever Bea decides to do next, we’re so here for it.
Bea Alonzo for Cosmopolitan Philippines October 2022
PHOTOGRAPHY: Timothy Fernandez
HAIR BY: John Valle
MAKEUP BY: Cristine Duque
STYLING: Karlee Parrish (Los Angeles), Leanna Ledesma of Qurator Studio (Manila)
NAILS: Mimi Qiu Reyes
Photos were shot on location in Los Angeles, California.
