The rise of Coleen Garcia

MANILA, Philippines - She was nowhere, then suddenly everywhere, much like glitter at a Katy Perry fete. In what most people would deem as a relatively short time, Coleen Garcia has become the quintessential face of rising stardom. But much like every seemingly “overnight” success, it’s taken a lot more than a pretty face and a killer bod to be crowned a box office sensation.

“I’ve been working since I was two,” says Garcia. “I did commercials. It actually never crossed my mind to try acting; the road just kind of presented itself to me. I wasn’t chasing it, but when I got the chance, I had to try it. It was kind of a leap of faith.”

It was in 2014 that she hit a real turning point. After a slew of smaller roles and co-hosting It’s Showtime, Garcia landed the supporting role of Janna in the independent film #Y, directed by Gino M. Santos. The film dealt with a complex subject matter — the occurrence of suicide among youth, dabbling in drugs and alcohol, the pressures young people have to deal with. The film enjoyed success on the independent circuit, enough to draw an equally successful distribution deal from Star Cinema. Santos says of Garcia, “I’ve learned that limiting her to a supporting role is just limiting potential that she has as an actress. She’s ready to take on any role given to her.” Spotlights were lit, and they were just waiting to shine on a star like Coleen Garcia.

In 2015, she was added to the main cast of Pasion de Amor, a local adaptation of the original Spanish telenovela Pasion de Gavilanes. Here, she plays Jamie Elizondo, who is the very picture of naiveté. “The show itself is understood to be sexy because of the original series. But I’m the bunso who’s always covered, always in pants, never really doing anything you could ever call sexy,” Garcia says with a laugh. Fresh, cleanly scrubbed, and hemlines all within a conservative measure, Garcia seemed destined to ride the Sweetness Express, the stereotype that is the death of most promising young actresses.

‘Ex with benefits’

But come September 2015, Garcia would once again team up with Santos to headline the Star Cinema release Ex With Benefits, starring opposite Derek Ramsey. She plays Arkie, whose foremost talent is being able to use her body to get what she wants — a grave and risqué departure from the girl next door selling us Skin White and Nestea.

Audience reception of the film was truly unprecedented — it earned P8 million on opening day alone. “Coleen went beyond expectations,” says Kriz Gazmen, creative director of Star Cinema. “She has proven that there is infinitely more to her than her beauty and sexiness. She is smart, sensitive and talented. We are excited with our next projects with Coleen and to groom her into the star that she is destined to be.”

Naturally, the spotlights turned up the heat, and news outlets wanted to know if Garcia was the next sexy starlet to watch. Garcia takes in all the hoopla and laughs it off. “I don’t want to be typecast. After this movie, I plan on doing other projects and exploring different things. The reason I did this movie was because the story had heart. Something caused Arkie to be that way, and it reinforces the fact that everyone goes through their own kind of pain. Even if the way she deals with things is unique, it’s very relatable. The sexiness of (the film) doesn’t take away from the story and won’t eat up what it has to say.”

Breaking convention

What makes Garcia remarkable is that she stands out in an industry that sanctifies the formula above else: She breaks convention. Most stars of recent years have risen to fame as half of a duo, or the classic marketing style of a love team. Most women are given roles that are either the girl next door, the best friend, or the minx — never all at once, and certainly not breaking the stereotype once it’s been established. She approaches her choices in acting roles with an admirable level-headedness, a belief in the story, and an undercurrent of true, raw talent that cannot be beat. And what makes her a real trailblazer is that her success is not a mere product of being at the right place at the right time; it is the consistency of hard work and the willingness to make sacrifices for greater opportunity.

For instance, fame inevitably puts pressure on one’s personal privacy. There’s been major focus on Garcia’s ongoing romantic relationship with fellow celebrity, Billy Crawford. With the release of Ex With Benefits, there is a lot of interest in his reaction to her sexier work, but Garcia says he’s much cooler than most people realize. “It definitely makes a difference that we’re both in the same industry. But it makes an even greater difference that he’s been here in this industry for 29 years. He’s seen how hard people work, he’s seen how hard I work, and he understands how much work it takes to make things happen. He really understands me and I’m so grateful for that.”

Then, there is the huge shift in the day-to-day. Wrangling the star for an interview involved competing with taping for Pasion, barely an hour of sleep, and several talk show guest spots (one of which involved the star having to take the MRT in heels just to make the show in time). “It’s a good feeling to realize that your work is being recognized,” says Garcia. “But it’s something that’s really overwhelming. There are so many things I can’t do myself anymore. I’m used to managing my own things, my own schedule, being able to call people myself and have conversations with them and set my own appointments. But now, there’s just not enough time. I suddenly have to ask for help with even just simple tasks, and I’m not used to that. Also, I barely get enough sleep, and it really eats up a lot of time. It’s been an adjustment.”

But in understanding the meaning behind the statement, “Everyone has the same hours in a day as Beyoncé,” Garcia says, elaborating on what helps her find balance in this freshly broken ground of success. “Do what you love and always make time for yourself. If you love what you’re doing, it won’t feel like work. That’s advice that a lot of people have given, but it’s true. You can go without sleep and be working nonstop, but you don’t feel how hard it really is when you finally see the results. You still have to make time for yourself, though, even just to read or to relax. You have to give yourself a moment to find peace.”

So what’s first on Garcia’s list of things to do the minute she gets a moment of peace? “I will sleep,” she exclaims with a laugh. “I think I need that.”

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Photo by PATRICK DIOKNO

Produced by DAVID MILAN

Makeup by PONG NIU

Hair by ARIES MANAL