Jillian Ward
Main Character Energy
Jillian Ward became a household name at a very young age, thanks to a TV adaptation of a 1963 film headlined by the Star for All Season herself, Vilma Santos. As she takes on one good project after another, Jillian has learned that the only person in control of her destiny is herself.
Text by: Aaron Brennt EusebioPhotos by: Prima Donnas and Jillian Ward Instagram
For most of her life, Jillian Ward has been in the public eye, gracefully but carefully exploring the ins and outs of the entertainment industry, an industry she’s learned to love.
Most of the public became aware of Jillian when she was chosen as the lead star of the television adaptation of Mars Ravelo’s Trudis Liit, the same character that the Star for All Season Vilma Santos once portrayed in the 1963 film. Aired in 2010, Trudis Liit was the 21st and final installment of Sine Novela, the successful anthology show of GMA Network that featured the adaptations of some of the classic Filipino films.
At 6 years old, Jillian portrayed Trudis Liit with aplomb, earning for herself the Best New Female TV Personality award at the 25th PMPC Star Awards for Television. Looking back 12 years later, Jillian can now say that destiny brought her to GMA.
Trudis Liit
Before she landed the role as Trudis Liit, Jillian starred in several commercials. One of those commercials caught the attention of Ms. Redgynn S. Alba, the program manager who at the time was in the process of putting together Trudis Liit.
In hindsight, Jillian considers Ms. Redgynn as the one who discovered her.
“Actually nung two, three years old po ako, nag-o-audition po ako para sa mga commercials. So marami din po akong naging commercials as a baby pero meron pong isang commercial na nag-stand out po para sa GMA, milk commercial,” Jillian proudly shares.
“Sa commercial na ’yun, 500 na bata po ’yung nag-audition. Apat lang po ’yung nakuha at ako lang po ’yung babae. So talagang parang destined po talaga na maging artista po ako, and dahil po doon sa commercial na ’yun, na-discover po ako para maging si Trudis Liit.”
Even before being discovered by GMA Network and getting her big break, Jillian already knew she loved entertaining the public. She would usually stand in front of the mirror, use a hair comb as her microphone, and belt out Michael Jackson’s classic hit “Man in the Mirror.” Her grandparents told her years later that she used to point at the television as if she already knew what her destiny would be.
“Sabi po sa akin nung lolo’t lola ko, since three years old po ako, talagang gusto ko na daw pong mag-artista. Like sa TV, tinuturo ko daw po tapos ’pag si Ate Marian Rivera, pinapanood ko na ’yung mga shows niya. ’Pag sa harap naman po ng salamin, meron akong suklay, kumakanta ako kunwari. Siguro may gift din po talaga kasi three years old po ako, kabisado ko na po ’yung ‘Man in the Mirror’ ni Michael Jackson. Mga four years old po ako, sumali na po ako sa Little Miss Philippines, nag-perform po ako, sumasayaw-sayaw, ganyan. So, since baby pa lang daw po, nakikitaan po nila na gusto ko pong maging artista.”
Even when she became an overnight star thanks to Trudis Liit, Jillian’s parents did not want her to act like a superstar. Instead, they let her enjoy what she had been doing prior to becoming famous, like playing in the mud as any normal kid would do.
“’Yung parents ko po, gusto po talaga nila na kahit artista ako, nag-e-enjoy ako like ’yung mga bata na hindi parte ng showbiz industry. Minsan po nakikipaglaro po ako sa mga hindi ko kilala, like dinadala po nila ako kung saan-saan, hinahayaan lang po nila ako mag-enjoy. Gusto po nila talaga na ma-experience ko ’yung happy childhood kahit lagi po akong nagte-taping. Binibigyan po nila ako ng freedom, binibigyan po nila ako ng time para mag-enjoy po talaga sa private life ko.”
After Trudis Liit, Jillian went on to portray the talking doll in Jillian: Namamasko Po (2010), Lelay in Captain Barbell (2011), and Lolita Matias/Daldalita in Daldalita (2011). However, as Jillian grew older, her career as a child star didn’t continue as much as she had hoped it would.
Change is constant
When Jillian entered the awkward phase of her career, or that stage where an artista is too old to be a child actor but too young to portray a teenager. Jillian was confused, and so were the people around her. Would she continue to be the bubbly and cute Jillian? Or would she reinvent herself to look older so she could pass off as a bankable teen star?
“’Yung mga nine years old po ako hanggang fourteen, awkward stage po ’yun, e. Nahirapan din po ’yung GMA na bigyan din po ako ng mga roles kasi hindi nila alam kung baby pa rin ako or dalaga na po talaga,” she admits.
Jillian is proud that she has already overcome that stage in her life.
“Nung time na ’yun, medyo nagkaroon po nang kaunting struggle kasi parang walang fit na fit na character para sa akin. Siyempre, meron ding pressure kasi growing up, artista na po ako since baby ako, so may pressure din po na kailangan mag-improve every year, kailangan mag-improve every character.”
For years, Jillian took on different characters as she figured out which characters were the right fit for her. Thankfully, the character of Donna Marie Claveria in GMA Afternoon Prime’s top-rated and well-loved series Prima Donnas (2019) opened the door for her to reinvent herself as a teen star.
Jillian particularly remembers the role that came before Prima Donnas. She played Odette, the youngest half-sister of Ken Chan’s character Boyet in My Special Tatay in 2018.
“‘Yung last show ko po [bago ang Prima Donnas,] My Special Tatay. Medyo matagal din po bago nag-start ’yung Prima Donnas, e, so nagkaroon din po ako ng time talaga na mag-self reflect at saka mas madiscover pa po ‘yung sarili ko bago mag-start ‘yung Prima Donnas.
“’Yung role ko po kasi sa Prima Donnas, ito po talaga ’yung parang nagpakita sa mga tao na dalaga na po talaga ako. Pati po ’yung paglalim ng arte, talagang nag-workshop po kami niyan, e, nina Nay Gina [Alajar] and ng acting coach po namin. Kinausap po nila kami na ngayon po mas seryoso na, na dalaga na po talaga ’yung role.”
Relaunching and rebranding herself as a teen star was hard, Jillian admits, but she took the challenge with grace.
“Medyo nahirapan nga po ako kasi parang natural na rin po talaga ’yung pagiging mature ko po, ’yung pagbo-bloom ko. So, may pressure man na medyo natatakot na, ‘Ay, dalaga na talaga ako, paano ko gagawin ’yung pag-arte ko na mas mature na, mas may lalim?’ Hindi naman po ako ‘yung sobrang nahirapan, more on pressured lang din talaga.”
Aside from showing the public that she was already far from the bubbly Jillian Ward, which the people learned to love years ago, Prima Donnas was also pitted against a competitor that had been airing for almost a year and was a consistent winner in the ratings game.
“Sa totoo lang po, since nung presscon pa lang po, nasabi ko na po ’to sa mga press na nape-pressure po ako kasi ang ganda rin po nung show po na katapat po namin. Pero meron din po kasi talaga akong full trust sa GMA, e. So, may pressure man po pero deep inside no’n, kahit hindi pa po ineere, deep inside, na-fi-feel ko po na kaya talagang lumaban kasi maganda po ’yung show, maganda po ’yung story, maganda po ’yung lesson, at saka ’yung mga kasamahan ko po, magagaling din po lahat.”
Although the pandemic momentarily disrupted the successful run of Prima Donnas, it still received a letter of commendation from GMA Network, Inc. Chairman and CEO himself, Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, and, without question, was renewed for a second season.
For Jillian, despite the ups and downs of Prima Donnas, she still considers the show’s timing as perfect as she had readied herself to be paired with two leading men in the show’s second season – Will Ashley and Vince Crisostomo.
“For me personally, perfect timing din po talaga siya kasi parang ngayon lang din po ako ‘yung nagkaroon ng medyo mature na role. So, natutuwa din po ako kasi ’yung GMA, hindi po nila minadali ’yung pagdadalaga ko. Sa totoo lang, ngayon pa lang po nila ako binibigyan ng parang love team sa isang show so, perfect timing talaga kasi I was 16, 17, parang tama na rin po kasi dito rin po nag-i-start ’yung mga kilig, kilig kahit sa personal life po.”
Now that Prima Donnas has already ended, Jillian can proudly say that the show made a mark in her career as an actress and her growth as Jillian Ward.
“Dito po talaga si Prima Donnas, doon po talaga ako nag-transform from child star to teen star. Mas nag-mature na po kasi talaga kasi ’yung awkward stage ko po, ’yun po ’yung parang dini-discover ko pa lang po kung ano po ako as a teen. Dito sa Prima Donnas, dito po talaga ako pinaka-natuto and dito ko po masasabi na parang mas may lalim na po ’yung pag-arte ko at saka may lalim na po ’yung character ko. So mas mature na po talaga ever since Prima Donnas.”
Looking back for a perfect future
Being active in show business for years has been hard, but Jillian has taken on every challenge with grace. She can now say that she’s discovered some “secrets” to lasting in the business of her own.
“Hindi ko po iniisip ’yung fame, mas iniisip ko pa po na ’pagbuti ko po ’yung trabaho ko, na mas galingan ko pa po lagi,” the 17-year-old actress shares proudly.“Ako po kasi, competitive po ako sa sarili ko, e, so gusto ko po lagi po akong nag-i-improve, hindi ko po iniisip ’yung kung sisikat ba ako sa gagawin kong ito or kung marami bang makakapansin nito.
“Ginagawa ko lang po talaga ’yung kung saan po ako masaya. Ang importante lang po sa akin is ’yung magawa ko po ’yung mahal kong gawin kasi alam ko pong bata pa po ako, gusto ko na po talaga mag-artista. ’Yung mga ginagawa ko po kasi, out of love po sa trabaho ko, out of love po doon sa mga God-given talent ko, hindi lang po kung marami ba ’yung views or sisikat po ba ako doon sa ginagawa ko.”
All things considered, Jillian wants to portray many characters and star in as many shows as she possibly can– from drama to romcom to action. But one thing is for sure: she plans to stay long in the business and share her talents if possible.
“Sobrang dami ko pa po talagang gustong i-portray na characters, isa na po doon ’yung meron pong mental disability para po makapag-spread ako ng awareness. Gusto ko rin mag-try mag-action. Siguro ’yung mga drama rin po na mas malalim pa po ’yung story ng pamilya or mas malalim pa ’yung role ko.
“Gusto ko pong gawin lahat kasi gusto ko pong tumanda talaga sa showbiz. Sabi ko nga po, ang goal ko po, tumanda po ako sa showbiz na one day, ako na po si Lola Goreng (Gloria Romero) ng Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko.”
