The enigma that is Eugene

MANILA, Philippines - She walks into the studio with a smile ?on her face that shows that she’s defi-?nitely in a good mood. As she sits in her ?make-up chair to get prepped for her shoot, she clarifies jokingly, “In one month, three-fourths of the time, para akong Dora, tapos yung one-fourth, parang Kimmy.”

But Eugene Domingo, who has been crowned Box Office Hit Queen among other such titles, hardly resembles her bratty alter ego in the movie that made her a household name. In fact, as she tells stories about her life with unabashed honesty punctuated with hilarious anecdotes and witty commentaries, you get the feeling that she is one of the few actresses who remain, for the most part, unfazed by their immense success.

Eugene started out as a theater actress when she was in college. She stopped for a while as she got work on television, but her mentor, Tony Mabesa, convinced her to finish what she started. “It was one of the best decisions I made in my life.”

She got recognized for her role as Simang in ABS-CBN’s Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan back in 2002. “I was surprised kasi one week later, I was walking down the street and the tricycle drivers started calling me, ‘Simang, Simang!’” Her co-star Mylene Dizon even printed out comments about the show from forums on the Internet, and was thrilled to find out that people watched and followed her.

Six years later, however, this wouldn’t be enough. “Eventually, you have to realize na getting launched is really important.” Eugene relates that she attended a meeting at the home of Piolo Pascual. “Siyempre, I was concentrating more on Piolo Pascual than the meeting,” she jokes. When asked for her input for the writer of her screenplay, she had only one name in mind.

“Chris Martinez was my orgmate in UP Repertory, Dati iniiwasan niya ako, kasi mukha daw akong mabaho at maingay pa ako,” she relates candidly. “But Chris is really a brilliant writer who knows his material.”

Evidently, she has much respect for Martinez who she says is slowly defining his image as a director. “Artistas can be selfish,” Eugene says, adding that she understands the difficulties of being a director, who is involved in all aspects of the movie to fulfill his creative vision. “Everything starts from the material, and this industry needs writers who can do something new. Pakainin mo sila ng iba, yung hindi pa nila nakikita sa TV.”

Eugene is known as a comedienne, but she has taken on roles in drama and horror movies as well. “I’m open to everything, even animation and action films.” She has previously acted in independent films like 100, Pisay and Foster Child. She is also probably one of the very few actresses who are not tied down by a particular production company. “I am not exclusive,” she says. “I do everything as long as I enjoy the material and the people.”

Indeed, the statement holds true as Eugene says she has tried so many things during her career, from all aspects of theatre production, to radio drama, voice acting and dubbing for cartoons, to movies and television. “I am an actor. I just want to work,” she says simply.

Even as she gets made up by her stylist, she continues to narrate. When asked about her inspirations, she smiles as she slowly answers “Dolphy. And Gloria Romero.” She had been watching the latter in particular on television since she was five years old, and eventually starred with her in Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan. “Black-and-white kasi yung TV namin dati, kaya akala ko black-and-white din si Gloria Romero. Colored pala siya.”

She has accomplished so much yet remains humble, and it’s exactly why she admires these two show biz veterans. “Okay yung awards, pero hindi ako masyadong attached. Sa showbiz, pwede ka kasing palitan.” Her measure of success comes from making box-office hits of Philippine movies, and keeping audiences happy.

So what’s next for Eugene? She’s going back to her roots. “I will go back to theatre, definitely,” she says, probably in 2013. In the meantime, she’s looking forward to projects she’s got lined up, including more movies, a game show, and her latest indie film with Chris Martinez, Ang Babae sa Septic Tank, which starts shooting soon.

As she gets directed for her shoot, one can’t help but think that the best character Eugene has ever played is herself. Behind the camera, Eugene Domingo is candid and sincere. Her easygoing nature and charm makes conversing with her quite effortless.

For now, she’s happy with her work as a host and actress. She already has plans on writing a book when she’s 75—which will definitely be chock full of her adventures and misadventures in the world of showbiz. “Madali talaga akong makuntento, but ask me again when I’m 45,” she says with a laugh. “Malay mo, diba, baka magkaka-asawa na ako!”