Lauren Young
A Woman Changed by Love and Acceptance
Text by Dianne Mariano
Photos by Lauren Young (IG) , Megan Young (IG), and Stories From The Heart
After a two-year break from showbiz, actress Lauren Young opens up about her return to Philippine television, the inner struggles that she had to overcome, and how self-acceptance opened her eyes to the things that truly mattered in her life
She is known as one of GMA Network’s acclaimed kontrabidas and has proven that she can breathe life into any villainous character with fire and flair.
In 2020, however, the highly contagious disease COVID-19 struck the entire nation, putting many ordinary citizens and celebrities’ jobs on the line and causing people to scramble for ways to earn, or at the very least, stay alive. The Filipina- American actress was not exempted from this unforeseen event.
After a two-year hiatus from the entertainment industry, Lauren Young his stepping back into the limelight with a project that showcases a different side of her acting that could shock viewers.
On a blissful Friday afternoon, Lauren sat down for an exclusive interview with GMANetwork.com to talk about the reason for her return and what occurred during her absence.
“Nakakatawa nga, kasi I started saying it’s my comeback to showbiz kasi other people kept saying that to me. And I’ve been thinking about that and I was like, ‘Paano siya magiging comeback sa showbiz e nagka-pandemic? Of course, wala talagang trabaho ng mga isang taon, ’di ba?’” she said with a hearty laugh. According to the actress, the COVID-19 pandemic was the only reason behind her hiatus.
“It was really the [COVID-19] pandemic. Prior to me working, I think it was a couple of months na wala akong show before the pandemic happened and then sakto, it happened. So, of course, everyone stopped working talaga. It’s not like I made the conscious effort not to be in showbiz. It just so happened that the circumstances were difficult and a lot of people weren’t working or were out of work and I was one of them.”
If anything, the Kapuso actress simply sees her “comeback” as a continuation from where she left off.
“Comeback... I don’t really think so because parang you have to be gone for more than five years for it to be a comeback, but hindi rin siya pagbabalik sa showbiz kasi never naman ako umalis. I think it’s just... ‘I’m back.’ Nag-pause ako because of what happened and now I’m starting again,” Lauren shared.
The early years
Lauren Young was born on Nov. 8, 1993 to Antique-native Victoria Talde and American Lieutenant Calvin Young. Lauren, who is now 27, has two lovely siblings, namely, Megan Young- Daez and Victor Young.
“Lahat kami were born in the States and we spent a couple of years there. Until my mom decided na she wanted us to move to the Philippines kasi my mom is Filipina and my dad is American. So, she wanted us to learn the culture and she wanted us to get to know our family here,” Lauren narrated as she opened up about her childhood years.
“Initially taga-Olongapo ’yung family ng mom ko and my mom grew up in Visayas in Antique. So, we decided to live near Olongapo kasi ’yung parents ko nagkakilala sila sa Subic Bay. But during that time, hindi kami puwede lumipat kasi, pang-employees lang. So that’s why we moved to Castillejos.”
The Young family lived in the province of Zambales for the first two years of their life in the Philippines before eventually moving to Subic Bay. It was only when her brother, Victor, reached high school, her family decided to transfer to urban Manila.
Looking back at her childhood years, Lauren recalled how much her two siblings, Megan and Victor, liked to play a lot of games indoors, while she turned to reading books and playing outdoors.
“I was more of an outdoors kind of kid. While sila, gusto nila sa loob ng bahay. Well, my brother, indoors and outdoors ’yung gusto niya,” Lauren recalled.
At that point of her young life, she grew close to her brother as they spent a lot of time together. Her brother even taught her to ride a bike. She and her older sister, Megan, however, had the typical “ate and bunso” type of relationship.
“Ayaw niya na ginugulo ko siya, she mostly kept to herself that’s why I became close to my brother kasi si Megan mostly gusto niya nagko-computer siya, she would spend a lot of time on her own when we were younger,” she explained.
Just like any other siblings, Lauren and Megan also had their fair share of misunderstandings and disagreements in the past.
“During that time, lagi kaming nagsisigawan [at] nag-aaway when we were kids but I think that’s normal when you’re children,” she said.
But now that they are older and wiser, the Young sisters handle their misunderstandings differently by giving each other time and space.
“I think a lot of people can see that even if we’re public figures, hindi nakikita ng tao ’yung problems ng family namin. We’re a very private family and we really like to keep our problems within our close circle lang. Talagang we have to talk it out. So, when we don’t get along or there’s something that’s happening within us, we try to communicate it as best as we can to try to understand kung saan nanggagaling ’yung isa’t isa,” she recalled.
Despite all of these, Lauren learned a valuable lesson from her older sister, “The lesson that I’ve learned from her is to work hard because life will not give you handouts and life will not just reward you if you’re not willing to put in the work and the effort to do it.”
And put in the hard work she did.
At the tender age of 11, Lauren entered the world of showbiz through her first home network, ABS-CBN.
Asked about the humble beginnings of her acting career, Lauren modestly described the start of her showbiz journey as being “at the right place at the right time.”
“When I was younger, ayoko talaga mag-showbiz. It just so happened na nag-StarStruck siya [Megan] during that time parang summer ata ’yon. So, nandito kami sa Manila and then sumama ako sa kanya, nakikita ko kung ano ’yung ginagawa niya, and it just so happened na na-discover ako,” Lauren recalled.
“They decided to put me into workshops and to bring me to Star Magic. Parang perfect timing lang na nando’n ako, and it just so happened na nagustuhan ako nina Mr. M, I guess. I did the workshops and then that’s where my showbiz journey started. Right place, right time.”
Lauren admitted that the thought of comparing herself to other artists’ successful careers became the biggest challenge during her early years in the industry.
She revealed, “Kapag nakikita ko dati ’yung mga kasabayan ko or people na mas nauna ako sa kanila na mas nagsa-succeed sa akin, initially dati I would be like ‘Bakit gano’n? Okey naman ako, mabait naman ako, I’m putting in the work, why isn’t it working out for me?’”
Lauren went on, “Eventually, I just realized that maybe it’s not my time, maybe I need to work harder and just get better at my craft, and, eventually, the blessings will follow. And true enough, when I focused more on myself instead of other people, doon ko nakita na mas nagsa-succeed ako sa gusto kong gawin.”
“Being kind to the people you work with and not burning bridges” are the pieces of advice Lauren learned from her older sister during her fresh years in show business.
“At the end of the day, maliit lang ’yung mundo ng showbiz at eventually, you’ll work with one another. It’s really important to have that respect regardless of your network. Ako kasi hindi ako naniniwala sa network wars e. Naniniwala lang ako that we’re all just trying to work and do our best sa capabilities natin,” she answered.
Life in GMA Network
Lauren began her journey in the Kapuso Network in 2013, starring in the drama series Mundo Mo’y Akin, where she portrayed the role of Darlene Carbonel.
Two years later, the Young sisters had the opportunity to work together on a project and it was none other than the modern remake of the iconic drama series Marimar (2015). In this teleserye, Megan bagged the titular role of Marimar while Lauren acted as a kontrabida through the character of Antonia Santibanez.
She described this experience as “different,” as they were in unfamiliar, yet exciting stages of their lives at the time.
“She just won Miss World and I just started getting lead roles and ang tagal namin hindi nagkita. Ang daming pagbabago sa buhay namin. Actually, when we were doing Marimar, we actually didn’t get along that well,” Lauren revealed with a good laugh in the end as she recalled this past experience. “But people didn’t know that.”
Being able to work with her older sister on-screen at that time was personally difficult for Lauren as she struggled to keep her professional and personal life separate. “I tried as much as I could because at the end of the day, ang pagkakamali ko siguro was, instead of treating her like my colleague, I treated her like my ate and...lagi kaming nagba-butt-an ng heads sa set before pero kami-kami lang, walang may alam. Like nagte-text kami or we’d be in the car and we’d be talking about it, but I tried my best to really do my job. But it’s difficult to work with family sometimes, especially kapag hindi mo kayang i-separate ’yung personal and professional life ninyo,” she explained.
Back then, the celebrity sisters lived under one roof and would always go together to the set. As they arrived at the location, Lauren’s eventual preparation was to keep her distance from her older sibling so they could focus on each other’s work.
Asked if she wishes to work with her sister again on another project, Lauren gave a straightforward yet understandable response.
“Probably not,” she admitted, laughing. “Not because I don’t like her or I hate her, but I think, it’s just better this way na we keep it separate. It’s healthier for our relationship, I think it’s better for our careers as well. Kasi, as much as possible, ayaw ko talaga kapag kino-compare kami sa isa’t isa kasi we’re so different talaga and we offer different things.”
After all that they have been through, Lauren can now safely say that she and Megan are in a much better place. “Now, we’re okay because we do not live together. ’Yun talaga kami. Sabi namin sa isa’t isa, ‘Parang okey tayo kapag hindi tayo magkasama sa bahay’ Now, that we’re older and she has her life with Mikael, she’s married and I have my own life as well, it’s better kasi nami-miss namin ’yung isa’t isa. We can give each other space and privacy and we’re at a good point in our lives together.”
Apart from this iconic drama series, Lauren also took on different kontrabida roles in GMA-7 as she starred as the feisty Charie Evangelista in Legally Blind (2017) and the vindictive Daniela Imperial in Contessa (2018).
A kontrabida or villainous role is the type of character that Lauren absolutely loves playing on television. In a gleeful tone, she shared, “Whenever people would ask me, ‘Do you want to be a lead character?’ Sabi ko, ‘Bakit pa? Kontrabida na ako, okay na ako rito.’ I can live my life and be in showbiz. Kumbaga mayroon akong best of both worlds. Wala akong image na kailangan o branding. I get to do the job, I get to get the benefit, and I get to live my personal life as well.”
On fighting her battles
Behind the glitz and glamour of showbiz, Lauren had her share of ups and downs throughout her life. She conquered these hardships with the help of the people who are dear to her.
In a 2017 Instagram post, Lauren opened up about her weight struggle, which has been a challenge for her for years. The actress admitted that she was triggered to lose a few pounds after her doctor revealed that she was at risk of diabetes.
“I was at risk because I gained a lot of weight really fast. Ano talaga siya e. I had a lot of bad habits like partying, drinking, and not sleeping. I was in a very dark place during that time of my life,” she revealed.
“It’s really important that if you’re in a place like that, just like I was, it’s important to try to find someone to be there for you and to talk to. And to always want to help yourself because at the end of the day, you’re gonna be the one who makes the work. Who does the work? Every day it’s a struggle but I try to pray and I just try to make good decisions every day.”
Lauren was able to conquer her inner battles with the help of her guiding “lights” that came in the form of her loved ones: her boyfriend, her brother, and her best friend, Rafa.
“I was struggling a lot. Some unfortunate things happened in my life and what I did was, instead of making excuses, I was honest about my faults, I was honest about my shortcomings, and I also told them that I wanted to change,” she explained.
“I’m just lucky and thankful that I have people around me like them who believe in me and support me and they really understood me and helped me. I think it’s important na kapag when you’re struggling with something, it’s really important to find people who have good intentions with you and who want to see you succeed and I’m lucky to have a support system like them.”
After her health setback, Lauren’s lifestyle changed as she dissociated herself from the people, whom she knew would only cause her to slide back to her old, unhealthy habits.
“It took a couple of flips, falls, and broken relationships with family, friends, and all of that. But at the end of the day, even though I have some regrets, I know that I’m a changed person and the people in my life are the ones who truly love me and truly have my back, and I wouldn’t ask for anything else,” she shared.
In the same year, she had been cleared of her disease and she had decided to pursue a healthier lifestyle by engaging in home workouts, yoga, and even get into the keto diet. Above all, Lauren mentioned the most significant changes she has made in her life: self love and acceptance.
“Accepting that sometimes I will struggle, accepting my insecurities and turning them into assets instead of flaws, accepting that cellulite isn’t the worst thing in the world, accepting my body shape (#balakangbabe), accepting the help of those around me who only have the best interest at heart,” she penned in her post.
Return to the limelight
Apart from the pandemic being the real reason behind her absence from showbiz, Lauren filled us in on the things she did during her “break.”
“For the two years na wala ako sa showbiz, I was in quarantine like everyone else and I started streaming to keep myself entertained and keep myself visible online and also... para siyang raket,” she shared.
This newfound pastime was something Lauren honestly enjoyed and continues to enjoy to this day.
“I’m still at home all the time so I thought to myself, ‘Bakit ko siya ititigil? It’s a fun thing to do. I get to connect with my fans and I get to play games, and I get to entertain people because at the end of the day, I’m an entertainer, I’m in showbiz, and I like making people happy and laugh, and that’s what streaming does. ’Yun ’yung pinagkakaabalahan ko then and until now,” Lauren said.
It also gave her a chance to do some reflecting about her life and her career.
“As long as you put in the effort and you work hard and you believe in yourself, and you just keep on trying, magsa-succeed ka. I used to think na parang baka hanggang showbiz lang talaga ako. But now that I tried something new, ’cause streaming it was the first time in my life na iba ’yung ginawa ko since I started showbiz and gave me some reassurance na ‘Hey, if kaya ko ’tong gawin, what’s stopping me from trying out new things and succeeding there as well?’ So now, hindi ko nililimit ’yung sarili to just being an actress na hanggang dito lang ako. I know that I have a lot to offer and as long as I’m willing to try it out and learn, then it will be great.”
With her head and heart now in the right space, Lauren can focus on her acting career, making improvements where needed.
The mini-series Stories From The Heart: Never Say Goodbye marks her return to drama. In the second-installment of the drama anthology, Lauren plays the role of Victoria Flores and acts opposite Kapuso stars Jak Roberto and Klea Pineda.
Asked how different her character in this mini-drama series is compared to her past roles on television, Lauren gave a very detailed answer with enthusiasm and excitement in her voice.
“From all the roles that I’ve played parang siya [Victoria] ’yung pinakatotoong tao. Sometimes kasi, how we portray characters bilang TV siya, it’s exaggerated. Si Victoria, hindi siya exaggerated e. She’s just a woman who loves her husband and has put herself down so much because gano’n niya kamahal ’yung asawa niya and I know a lot of people do that. But what’s nice about her is even in her selflessness, she finds ways to come back to herself and to respect herself again and I think that’s a sad and redemption story all in one,”
Lauren is particularly proud and excited about her role because it shows a different side of her acting, one that didn't involve the typical kontrabida elements, which viewers have seen her do in past teleseryes.
“What I said on set was, ‘I’ve put so much truth and so much of myself into this character that when you watch her, although I’m acting, you will get a glimpse of who I am as Lauren as well because I relate to her so much.”
Lauren went so far as to say that Victoria Flores might be the best among the characters that she’s played on Philippine television.
“I poured my heart and my soul into this character that every time I went to set, I was prepared and every time I did a scene, I gave it my all talaga. And I’m proud. I always say, ‘I think [this] is my best work yet for television and that’s why I’m so excited for people to see it because I’m very proud of what I’ve done,” Lauren shared with a look of achievement in her eyes.
The Kapuso star then spoke enthusiastically about the production value of this well-crafted series, from the beautifully written script to the amazing cinematography and lighting.
“Kaya ako excited for how showbiz will handle everything when things calm down is because nakita ko sa project na ’to, kaya e. Kaya ’yung quality work, kaya ’yung mga ganitong palabas.”
Lauren is simply happy to be back to where she can make good use of her God-given passion and skills.
“You know, acting is something that I’ve grown to love and become passionate about and I just like to share with people what I’m capable of doing and hopefully nagugustuhan nila. It’s a talent that was given to me, I believe by God, and it’s something that I feel like I should not keep to myself,” she explained.
Back and better
After more than a decade in showbiz, Lauren has nothing but gratitude for the industry that has been generous to her.
“I’m fortunate that I’m one of those people that I was at the right place at the right time and I worked hard to maintain where I am. So, I’m thankful that this is the job that I have and I get to relate to people and touch their lives by being on their television screen. I’m thankful for that,” Lauren said.
Years ago, one of the things that kept her anxious was the fear of becoming “laos” or forgotten. But over time, she has learned to accept that not everyone is destined for super stardom. Whether it comes to her or not, Lauren has taught herself to be happy about the successes, big and small, that would come her way.
“‘Yung malaos ka. Kasi ’di ba sabi nga nila, ‘Kapag laos ka na, walang kukuha sa’yo, wala ka nang trabaho’. But then sabi ko sa sarili ko, ‘Never naman ako super sumikat, so nandito pa rin ako.
“I realized, hindi naman talaga siya pasikatan, in a sense, ang showbiz. Ang labanan d’yan is patagalan. I’ve been here for more than 10 years, and I’m still here. I don’t think I’ll be going away anytime soon and if I can keep on doing this until I’m older, then that would be great. That’s a fear I’ve overcome na hindi naman ako takot na hindi ako makilala. Hindi ako takot na no one knows my name.”
What brings joy and a sense of accomplishment to Lauren is whenever people would remember her character portrayals on television.
“Halimbawa, with Contessa, instead na tawagin nila akong Lauren, tinatawag nila akong Daniella and that’s been a few years ago. Just to know that they still remember my character name and the things I’ve done there flatters me because it means I made an impression and I did a good job.”
A few years ago, Lauren entertained the idea of leaving showbiz behind and moving to the US to be with her mother Victoria. But every time she would come close to saying goodbye, a new project would come along.
“Maybe it just shows that it’s all timing, maybe it’s not the time to leave and maybe it’s not the time to quit showbiz and at the end of the day, hindi naman ako nagpa-pass ng work, yes lang ako nang yes. Siyempre, blessing ’yon, hindi ko tatanggihan ’yan,” she said.
Looking back at her colorful career, Lauren is happy and content with the decisions she’s made in her career and in her life.
“I’m happy with the decisions I’ve made in my career. I’m happy where I am in this life, and I wouldn’t want to change anything because okey ako sa kung anong mayroon ako ngayon, kuntento na ako.”
Now that she has returned to the limelight, fans and supporters can expect a much improved and more authentic edition of Lauren Young. “I think my supporters and the people who are always there can expect a truer version of myself and someone who’s open and fun, and who will always, always deliver”.
