Jasmine Curtis-Smith
Full Plate
With a highly-anticipated teleserye and some new business ventures, Jasmine Curtis-Smith seems as though she already has a lot on her plate. But if you ask her, she doesn’t mind it one bit.
Text by Marah Ruiz Photos by Jayme Vista, GMA Entertainment Group & Jasmine Curtis-Smith Instagram
Leper. Nun. Dominatrix.
These are just some of the roles that actress Jasmine Curtis-Smith has played in the past two years.
The reason behind the diversity of her roles is that she does not want to repeat herself. It was a conscious decision to seek out roles that would challenge her.
"I chose to be conscious about the stories na magiging part ako. Also, 'yung mga role na gagawin ko, I wanted to see if magagawan ko ng paraan na iba iba siya every time," Jasmine says in an exclusive interview with GMANetwork.com.
"Naging natural na lang siya after ko mag-decide na gusto kong maging iba-iba lahat ng gagawin ko. Para lang I grow and para there's a learning experience while I'm working," she adds.
Jasmine doesn't mind roles that deglamorize her. She has no qualms about taking supporting roles or being part of an ensemble cast, either.
"That's your job eh. Your job is not to be the star. Your job is to be the actress or actor. I try to stick to that. Kung maganda naman 'yung part noong role, even if it's a cameo or a supporting, then do it," Jasmine says.
She approaches any role as an opportunity to both work and learn.
"It's an acting job. It's a job. Seasonal ang trabaho. If you can stay afloat in terms of publicity but at the same time earn, at the same time be part of something nice and well-made or at least made with a purpose, then at least productive ka sa life and gusto mo 'yung ginagawa mo. Nasa pride mo 'yan. Kung mataas 'yung pride mo, maiiwan ka 'di ba?" she muses.
“Your job is not to be the star. Your job is to be the actress or actor. I try to stick to that.”
Jasmine admits that given the industry's current climate, one's celebrity factor is important, too.
"In our industry siyempre nagta-tie in 'yan eh—the celebrity factor and the actor factor,” she explains.
“Kadalasan, ang napapansin is always 'yung celebrity factor. Gusto ko maging balanse 'yung pagtingin sa akin ng tao. Ayokong panay celebrity factor—panay personal 'yung nalalaman nila sa akin because that takes away the purpose of my job. I'm not a reality star so I don't intend to be known for my daily happenings," she explains.
Luckily, she is able to work with directors that can nurture her as an actress.
"Naging magandang pag meet in terms of fate na iba-iba talaga [ang roles na nakukuha ko]. Kahit nagti-TV ako, iba iba din 'yung nakukuha kong role. Kahit may cliche na tayong stereotypes on TV, mayroon pa ring anggulo na 'How can it be different?' or 'How can it be realistic?'
“Thankful ako na 'yung mga nakakaktrabaho ko so far na directors dito in GMA like direk Joel Lamangan, are people who have shaped this industry and half of the artists in this industry," Jasmine shares.
A Movie About Memories
One rainy afternoon, Jasmine sits down with GMANetwork.com to talk about her movie Cara X Jagger, which premiered in November 2019.
In this romantic drama movie, she plays the titular Cara, opposite Kapuso actor Ruru Madrid who takes on the role of Jagger.
"The story of Cara X Jagger is about the memory of two people—the girl who can't forget and the boy who can't remember.
“Mayroon silang backstory of a relationship. Dadalhin ka ng storyline through that relationship from three years ago, to six years ago, to the present. In the present, 'yun na 'yung part na hindi na nakakaalala si Jagger because he encounters an accident that causes him to forget.
“Cara is brought back into his life in order to hopefully help him get his memory back," Jasmine describes.
"Ang conflict ni Cara pagbalik niya sa buhay ni Jagger is that lahat ng mga naramdaman niya noong panahong sila pa together, dahil meron nga siyang condition na hyperthymesia, hindi niya makalimutan.
"It feels like kahapon lang nangyari lahat problema, lahat ng away nila. Paano ngayon ang magiging kalabasan ng kanilang new encounter now that she has to live through all of those painful memories again?
“Meanwhile, Jagger is trying to make new memories and trying to remember the old memories as well, para maalala niya kung sino siya," she continues.
PeopleWithPotential.org describes hyperthymesia as "a condition in which an individual possesses a superior autobiographical memory, meaning he or she can recall the vast majority of personal experiences and events in his or her life."
“I hope, from watching the film, that they remember that forgiveness may be difficult to do, but if you're able to accept a memory of the past and heal yourself from that memory, it can teach you and lead you onto greater things and greater kindness as well.”
Jasmine prepared for her role by watching interviews and documentaries about people with the condition. More importantly, she spoke a lot with Cara X Jagger director Ice Idanan on how to bring her character Cara to life.
"Pinapaalala niya sa akin consistently na parang kahapon lang 'yan. 'Jas, remember kahit na memory ’yan ni Cara, parang kahapon lang 'yan. Huwag mong isipin na memory siya na na-store mo na, na naging part na ng history mo. Para siyang memory na kahapon lang talaga nangyari.'
“Minsan kasi, hindi mo naiisip 'yun the same way these people with that condition think. Pinapaalala lang niya sa akin na laging kailangan fresh 'yung pain," she recalls.
She also says that since there is limited research on the condition at this point in time, she hopes viewers can suspend their disbelief for a bit while watching the movie.
"There's not much out there kasi na mga articles or mga research journals about the condition yet so medyo limited [ang resources]. But we're telling a story through film so sometimes imagination helps also. Creative liberties na natin 'yun because of that lack of study and research pa officially by the world," Jasmine says.
Through the movie, Jasmine hopes to send a message about memories and forgiveness.
"I hope, from watching the film, that they remember that forgiveness may be difficult to do, but if you're able to accept a memory of the past and heal yourself from that memory, it can teach you and lead you onto greater things and greater kindness as well.
“Hindi lang 'yun, but also compassion for the people around you. You may be hurting but don't forget that others are hurting as well. Let's find a way to forgive and heal with each other so that we can build better memories together," she shares.
Soldiering On
Jasmine recalls wrapping up work for Cara X Jagger and jumping straight into another role, that of iron-willed soldier and doctor Lieutenant Moira Defensor for the highly-anticipated Descendants of the Sun (The Philippine Adaptation), a remake of the hit South Korean series.
Eagle-eyed netizens caught wind of her new haircut and came to the correct conclusion that it was in preparation for her role in Descendants of the Sun.
"I had my hair cut right after I wrapped up my filming for Cara X Jagger.
“The day after noon, nag-biyahe na kami papunta ng Manila, nagpagupit na 'ko. Noong gabing 'yun, nag-first taping night na kami [for Descendants of the Sun] at like 11:00 p.m. somewhere in Marikina," she recalls with a laugh.
Jasmine admits feeling apprehensive about doing a remake and being compared to the original Korean version of the series.
“I feel really nervous about it because I think anyone who does a remake of anything should feel nervous. Siyempre iba 'yung flavor na tatahakin mo, lalo na Pinoy adaptation siya. We have a very different culture sa Korea.”
"I feel really nervous about it because I think anyone who does a remake of anything should feel nervous. Siyempre iba 'yung flavor na tatahakin mo, lalo na Pinoy adaptation siya. We have a very different culture sa Korea. Weather pa lang, magkaiba na. Kailangan nating ma-translate 'yun na matatanggap ng viewers dito 'yung kahit mga ganoong simple changes in the story," Jasmine explains.
She felt a bit relieved when she got mostly favorable feedback from fans and netizens when her role in the series was confirmed.
"Alam mo 'yung parang naka hinga ka? Pwede na 'kong mag-relax kasi tanggap naman nila na ako ang gaganap na Moira. Siyempre minsan may mga conflict. May mga bias silang gusto na ibang artista or matagal na nilang na plano kung sino 'yung perfect cast tapos bilang entrada itong si Jasmine na isang taon pa lang sa GMA, siya na agad.
“Parang mayroon ka ding mga kaba na baka may magsabi na hindi ako bagay or I'm half white so hindi naman ako mukhang Pinay na papasok sa AFP. Pero you have to get rid of these inhibitions so that you can fulfill your job," she says.
More on Her Plate
Jasmine's next challenge is to become a successful entrepreneur. She is in the process of building her own hostel in La Union.
The original plan was for her and her boyfriend Jeff Ortega to be business partners in the venture, but his government appointment as the Department of Tourism's Regional Director for National Capital Region derailed their plans.
"Now it will mostly be mine with his infusion. Now that he's in DOT, he can't have businesses anymore. He's just gonna help me out in terms of setting it up and running it kasi nga he has to be busy with becoming Regional Director.
“It's a good blessing. Sad na it's not gonna be ours anymore but swerte ko na lang because now it's mine! Masasabi kong it's mine. It's my baby project. Mas kontrolado ko lahat ng aspects. I'm still working on that.
“This year, we're doing the incorporating of that. I've already spoken to architects and people helping me with the groundbreaking as well. Medyo may nangyayari na but with the rainy season it's hard. Nasa paperwork and planning pa lang but it's still happening," Jasmine says proudly.
“People take it for granted or people take it the wrong way when you're invested like that but I want people to see it na she cares about what she's doing and she wants to make sure na she does it well.”
Aside from that, she also ventured into music. No, she's not becoming a singer but has rather set her sights on the business side of things.
"I also invested this year in Karpos Multimedia which does the Wanderland Music Festival yearly. We also just set up a record company called Funky Records. This is really really new.
“We are trying to manage an indie band. They're called Flu. We're currently finishing up recording their album. We're now in the planning stage of their marketing and album shoots and music video shoots. I'm mostly an investor but at the same time, these people give me the creative freedom to kind of work with them, to give my input as well," Jasmine offers.
With all the things she has going for her, she wants to make sure not to crumble under the weight of her full plate.
"I wanna be remembered as an invested artist. Hindi lang 'yan sa pag-arte or 'pag nasa set na 'ko. That also comes with when you're promoting. That comes with the research you do beforehand, talking with your director, with your producer, with your wardrobe stylist. Lahat 'yan eh.
“People take it for granted or people take it the wrong way when you're invested like that but I want people to see it na she cares about what she's doing and she wants to make sure na she does it well. Simple as that," Jasmine concludes.
