Jodi Sta. Maria Admits to Feeling the Weight of Responsibility
Jodi Sta. Maria says her role in Labyu with An Accent is a breath of fresh air after doing heavy drama on the Broken Marriage Vow.
Fresh from her win as Asia’s Best Actress at the Asian Creative Academy Awards, Jodi Sta. Maria met with selected members of the press for an intimate gathering last December 14. Although feeling high and giddy, Jodi Sta. Maria knows there’s a big responsibility that comes with winning the Best Actress Award.
Jodi Sta Maria: You’re not everyone’s cup of tea
Asked by Modern Parenting about the responsibility of the award, Jodi is aware that being an inspirational figure comes with it. “As an Asian, we’re looking for hope,” she answered. “We’re looking for encouragement, we’re looking for something or someone who would do well.”
“Yes, there is kahit papaano. Na parang meron talagang responsibility that comes with the job na ginagawa natin and yung profession na ginagawa natin.”
She added that artists can keep on aspiring to strive for better in their respective works. In addition, she highlighted the importance of hard work and patience.
Jodi mentioned that while it’s good to inspire, she also knows not everyone will like what she does. “You’re not everyone’s cup of tea. Sometimes, no matter what you bring to the table, there will always be people who do not see that and they’re not your people.”
“And that’s something you’ll have to come to terms with. So hindi ka shaken to your core and [you] still find peace amidst whatever you read or see, or whatever they tell you.”
A welcome reprieve from doing drama
In this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival, Jodi takes on a romantic-comedy role opposite Coco Martin in Labyu with an Accent. Known for doing a lot of heavy drama, Jodi said that the role was a welcome break plus she gets to work with Coco. Both of them are under the management of Biboy Arboleda.
“Ang sarap din gumawa ng iba na malayo sa drama na light lang at hindi yung drama na heavy. So breather ito,” she explained.
“Can you imagine if yung movie MMK levels? Parang hindi ko na alam kung saan pupulutin yung brains ko,” she joked. “It’s a good and fun experience working also with [Mr.] Coco Martin. Nakakatuwa kasi he has a different process as a director. Sobra akong mindblown about it.”
“He’s an amazing person and creative. Fine-feel niya yung environment,” she added of Coco who is one of the directors of the film alongside Malu Sevilla.
As for other projects, Jodi welcomes the opportunity to do some psycho-thriller in the future. There are other projects that she is looking at as well and will be announcing very soon.
More time for Thirdy
With a busy career and entering her 25th year in showbiz, Jodi Sta. Maria wants to spend time as much as she can with her son Thirdy, who is now a teen.
“He’s turning 17. Grabe, ibang-iba na pag may teenager ka. Nagiging teenager na po talaga siya and siyempre, parang hindi na ito yung pag bata sila eh laging gusto nila na lagi ka nilang kasama,” she said of her son.
“Pag na-expose na sa school, through friends, nagkakaroon na ng shift na yung friends na yung important sa kanila, yung opinion nung friends nila.”
“I want to enjoy him more kasi alam ko after college, habang lumalaki, habang tumatanda, gusto ko lang po siya i-enjoy. Alam ko din na darating yung time na I will have to let him go.”
Read more about Jodi Sta. Maria in these stories:
Jodi Sta. Maria On The Ups and Downs of Raising a Teenage Son
Get Healthy With Jodi Sta Maria
The Challenges I’ve Faced Made Me The Mom I Am Today: Jodi Sta. Maria talks single motherhood
