Ynfane Avanica in real life, Ana hails from Infanta, Quezon. Her dream of becoming an actress was realized when she won in the talent search Face of the Year as the Press and Photographer’s Choice. Thus began Ana’s taking the challenge of making it big as an actress.
Projecting a sexy image, Ana was introduced in Virgin People 2. From that time on, she starred in R-rated movies as a bold actress.
"I was 16 and I was very shy and nervous then but inisip ko na trabaho lang ito," Ana said when asked how she felt the first time she bared all on screen.
As a bold actress, Ana also did three international movies. Troublesome Night and Love and Desire which were shot in Hong Kong, and Manila Airport in Berlin.
"I did Manila Airport with Chin Chin Gutierrez and Ces Quesada for a film exhibit in Germany but some of our kababayan also got to see the film when a German film exhibit was held at Shangri-La. In Troublesome Night, I worked with Aya Medel and Via Veloso."
How would she compare herself to other bold actresses?
"It is hard to make comparisons kasi everybody has her own characteristics that set apart from the rest. Mayroon silang kaya na ’di ko kaya at meron din ako na ’di nila kaya."
Ana’s family has always been supportive of her, unmindful of the people who look at her with disdain.
"My mother, who is a teacher, is broad-minded. She understands what I am doing because this is just purely work. She knows who I am."
Away from the limelight, Ana is simple, quiet and a homebody. She loves doing household chores. As a hobby, she paints once in a while.
After doing Pila-Balde (directed by Jeffrey Jeturian), Ana did not realize how much recognition and praises she would receive from the public and award-giving bodies.
"I won as Best Actress in the First CineManila International Film Festival. After Pila-Balde, many took me seriously and they now consider me as a promising dramatic actress."
Pila-Balde also won as the Best Feature Film in last year’s Houston International Film Festival.
After those awards, what does she think are the expectations of people from her?
"I’m more pressured now because they expect me to have a better performance than the previous one. So far, I have proved to them that I have now matured as an actress and can now act without taking my clothes off."
True to her words, Ana was cast not only in R-rated films (like Sa Paraiso ni Efren, Live Show and Aray) but also in soap (Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin and, recently, in Minsan May Isang Puso). Likewise, she was included in Star Cinema’s Trip where she co-stars with Marvin Agustin, Jericho Rosales and Onemig Bondoc.
Now that she has transformed herself into a promising actress, who does she looks up to? "One of my idols is Jaclyn Jose who also started as a bold actress before she became an award-winning actress. I also admire Vilma Santos and Maricel Soriano. Their acting style is very natural."
And who does she want to be paired with?
"Christopher de Leon, Jericho Rosales, Piolo Pascual and most especially Robin Padilla. I find Robin very handsome. I would accept a project even in a supporting role basta ka-eksena ko siya."
In a span of five years, Ana already did 20 movies. Is she setting a limitation in her acting career? "As long as may offer and I’m earning good money, why turn down an offer, ’di ba? Nowadays, we have to be practical."
Ana believes that saving money is a wiser move than spending it. "I keep my earnings in the bank and I spend only for things that are really necessary. I mean, it is hard naman if you will just spend dahil wala lang, ‘bread-tripping lang’. E, di pag-tanda mo ubos na."
Does she helps her family financially? "Only if the need arises, but not naman as if they are dependent on me."
Sensuality is still present in Ana even if she is dressed decently. Has she ever received any indecent proposal?
"You cannot buy respect, you have to gain it. So if ever there will be, I will just tell the guy, ‘I don’t want to be a cockroach!’