A member of Star Magic Batch 15, she was born in Dubai on Dec. 3, 1992 to a Pinay mom and a British-Lebanese dad (a marine biologist), the second of three daughters. Their parents separated when she was 6 and their mom brought her and her two sisters back to Manila. In a video interview, her Mommy Judith says people think Jessy comes from a rich family because she’s a fair mestiza who looks well off.
“Noong umuwi kami rito, wala akong trabaho, naghirap kami,” she says. “Single mom ako at kung minsan, wala kaming makain kundi cup noodles lang. Pero si Jessy, talagang mabait na anak at kapatid.”
Jessy cried when she saw the video footage of her mom that was shown before the Q&A portion of the presscon. “Pasensiya na kayo, first time ko to share this part of my life kaya I’m overflowing with emotion,” she says. “12-13 ako when I started doing commercials. Nakita ko ni Mr. M (Johnny Manahan) of Star Magic at inalok ako mag-artista. I said, please give me three days to think about it. E, naisip ko, di ba pag artista, malaki ang kita? So tinanggap ko yung offer para makatulong ako sa mommy ko. Pero mahirap pala talagang trabaho ang maging artista. There were times I wanted to give up and go back to normal life. Kasi ang gami nyong magagandang tao, ang hirap mapansin. Kaya lang, sayang naman ang kita ko so tinuloy ko. Pero kung noong una, ginagawa ko lang dahil breadwinner ako’t pinag-stop ko na mag-work ang mommy ko, sa ngayon, I’ve grown to love my craft at gusto ko na talaga ang ginagawa ko.”
She was first introduced in teen show “Abt Ur Luv” in 2007, then played supporting roles in “Natutulog Ba ang Diyos”, “Boystown”, “May Bukas Pa” and “Volta”. It was in “Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo” that she was first noticed, leading to her launch playing the title role in “Sabel”. She also played the leading lady in “Budoy” and “Paraiso”. She’s now ready to show more sensuality as “Maria Mercedes”, directed by Chito Rono and Rechie del Carmen, with Ruel Bayani as business unit head.
“I can relate to my role as Maria Mercedes kasi palaban din siya para sa pamilya niya, selling lottery tickets and flowers para mabuhay. Sina Jake Cuenca at Jason Abalos ang leading men ko rito at kasama namin sina Vina Morales and Dominic Ochoa as my mom and dad, Nadia Montenegro in her comeback role, at si Ms. Vivian Velez na noong una kong makita, na-star struck talaga ako at first time kong magpa-picture sa kasamahan kong artista.”
What can Jessy say to those who blame her for the slump in JM de Guzman’s career? “Alam kong maraming naninisi sa’kin, pinaasa ko raw siya at sinira ko ang career niya. Siya ang umamin na mahal niya ako, pero ako wala akong sinabi at all about us, nanahimik lang ako kahit maraming nagbibintang sa’kin na pinalalabas akong masama. Ang masasabi ko lang, nagmahal din ako, minahal ko rin siya. Two years din naging kami.”
Is it true her mom is against JM? “Bilang mother ko, siempre, may malaking say siya sa akin, but I was slowly breaking apart and I had to choose to love myself more at mag-focus muna sa trabaho ko. Sa ngayon, basta I wish all the best for him kasi napakagaling niyang actor at napakabait niyang tao. Nalungkot ako when I learned what was happening to him, but hindi ko na mapanghahawakan yun. Desisyon na niya yun sa buhay niya.”
So she became on with Matteo Guidicelli after JM? “No, muntik na, pero naudlot. Ako rin, I asked myself, anyare? Never naging kami. When our show ‘Paraiso’ started, pati nung middle nito, never kami naging close. Naging close na lang kami towards the end na ng show. He introduced me to his family and his friends. Lumalabas kami, but napagdesisyunan naming dalawa na trabaho na lang muna kami. We’re still friends naman at I’m happy for him kasi andami niyang trabaho ngayon. On hold muna kami, but we’re not closing our doors. As of now, I feel complete, I don’t need a lovelife to be complete.”
