Cover Actor Anthony Jennings shares how ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ launched his career, the struggles behind the scenes, and why staying grounded matters (Photo: Tonton Soguilon)
Actor Anthony Jennings shares how ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ launched his career, the struggles behind the scenes, and why staying grounded matters (Photo: Tonton Soguilon)
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Anthony Jennings reflects on his journey from commercials to breakout roles, revealing the values and discipline that shaped his career
Like any other kid next door, Anthony Jennings didn’t plan on being an actor; but when opportunity knocked, he grabbed it. He began his career in workshops and background roles, commuting to VTRs and commercials, gradually building his confidence and craft. “I was doing fast food commercials, then one day, someone messaged me on Facebook. The next thing I knew, I was in casting for a series,” he recalls. That series was Can’t Buy Me Love, which marked his breakout role. “The character of Snoop had a different kind of impact... people found him relatable and lovable,” he says.
Jennings approaches his work with a steady mix of grit and gratitude. Whether he’s preparing for a physical role, like Incognito’s Tomas Guerrero, or pushing himself emotionally for a dramatic arc, he relies on instinct and preparation. “You make a core for the character—then branch out from there,” he shares.
Learn more about Anthony Jennings below.
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What would you consider your breakout role, and what made it important?
Siguro Can’t Buy Me Love, ‘yon talaga ang role na nagbigay sa’kin ng pangalan. Kasi doon dumami endorsements ko, and iba rin yung dalá ng character eh…sobrang lovable yung character. Nakuha niya ‘yong masa. Nakuha ko rin ‘yong character—minsan mas kilala pa nila ako as Snoop, minsan Tomas (from Incognito) [kaysa sa Anthony]. Naging foundational talaga sa akin. Mahal ng tao, na-appreciate talaga.
(Probably Can’t Buy Me Love, that was really the role that gave me my name. That’s where I started getting more endorsements, and the character itself carried something different—it was so lovable. It connected with the masses, and I really embodied it too—sometimes people recognised me more as Snoop, sometimes as Tomas [from Incognito], rather than Anthony. It truly became foundational for me. People loved it and really appreciated it.)
What challenges did you face in your career?
Marami kang kailangang gawin bilang artista. And kailangan mong gawin yon. Sa iba madali lang ‘yon. Siguro hanapin nila saan sila nag-e-exceed. And sa kakompetensya—hindi naman kakompetensya, pero katrabaho mo, sinasabi nila lahat yan “kalaban” mo pero sa akin hindi. ‘Yong isa magaling sa pagkanta, ‘yong isa content creator. Challenge hanapin yong kung saan ka talaga nag-e-exceed. Challenge mo na lang kung paano pagagandahin ‘yong ginagawa mo. Challenge mo kung paano pagagandahin sa susunod.
(There’s a lot you need to do as an actor, and you really have to do it. For some people, it comes easily. Maybe they just find where they excel. With colleagues—people call them your “competition”, but for me they’re not. One may be good at singing, another at content creation. The challenge is finding where you really excel. Your challenge then is how to keep improving at what you do, and how to make it even better next time.)
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How do you prepare for a role? From script to screen.
Depende sa character. Babasahin ko lang script, minsan isang beses ko lang siya binabasa—tapos babalikan lang once in a while…Tinitingnan ko yung klase ng tao, ‘yong core ng character, ‘yong key points niya. Then eventually mag-branch out na. Kapag series, mas matagal, mas malalim—pero mas nakakapa mo na ‘yong role along the way, parang muscle memory mo na siya. Halimbawa, sa Thomas na character. Minsan nagagawa ko pa rin hanggang ngayon. Tapos for Thomas nag-training pa ako. May baril pa, training talaga. Naalala ko, shotgun. Naalala ko pa yung mga girls unang gumamit—sina Kaila at Maris—nag-pump sila ng shotgun, ang galing nila. Ako medyo nahirapan, parang walang kondisyon. Next time mas okay na. Mahirap—talagang depende sa role ang pagprepare.
(It depends on the character. I’ll read the script—sometimes I only read it once, then return to it from time to time. I study the kind of person, the character’s core, their key points. Then eventually, it branches out. For a series, it takes longer and goes deeper, but you get into the role more along the way—it becomes like muscle memory. For example, with the character Thomas, I can still sometimes slip into him even now. For Thomas, I even trained with firearms. I remember it was a shotgun. I still recall how the girls, Kaila [Estrada] and Maris [Racal], were the first to use it—they pumped the shotgun and they were really good at it. I had a harder time, felt out of shape. But the next time was better. It’s tough—preparation really depends on the role.)
How do you stay grounded and humble?
Siguro nasa pagkatao ko, sa pagpapalaki sa akin ng magulang ko. ‘Yon naman ‘yong core ng lahat eh—kung paano ka talaga pinalaki. Dahil sa mga tao sa paligid ko. Family, small circle. Nakuha ko rin ‘yon sa kanila. Kaya naging grounded. Maganda rin if marunong ka makisama sa lahat ng klase ng tao. Dadalhin ka no’n sa maganda lugar eh, diba? Hindi mo pwedeng piliin. Kailangan pantay-pantay ang level ng lahat, kahit sa trabaho ganyan kami. Thankful ako na lahat ng kasama ko sa cast gano’n. Si DJ (Daniel Padilla) gano’n din—kaya masaya akong naging kaibigan ko ‘yon, marunong siyang lumevel. Happy ako na naging magkasama kami. Sa circle din talaga, kung maayos ang circle mo [magiging grounded ka].
(I think it’s in my nature, in how my parents raised me. That’s the core of it all—how you were brought up. Also, because of the people around me—my family and my small circle. I got that grounding from them, too. It also helps to know how to get along with all kinds of people. That can take you to good places, right? You can’t be selective. Everyone should be on the same level, and at work we’re like that. I’m thankful that all my castmates are the same way. DJ [Daniel Padilla] is like that too—I’m glad we became friends, because he knows how to level with others. I’m happy we worked together. Really, it’s about your circle—if your circle is good, you’ll stay grounded.)
What has surprised you most about fame or the public side of showbiz?
May mga moment pala sa showbiz na hindi mo ine-expect. Akala mo built ka for that, pero hindi pala. Minsan, iba yung impression ng tao. Ako ilang beses na-culture shock ka na lang talaga sa showbiz, minsan ‘di ka makasabay. Pero makikisama ka lang talaga.
(There are moments in showbiz that you don’t expect. You think you’re built for it, but it turns out you’re not. Sometimes, people’s impressions of you are different. There have been times I’ve been culture-shocked in showbiz, moments I couldn’t quite keep up. But in the end, you just have to get along with people.)
Are there any dream projects or collaborations you hope to explore in the future?
Siguro thriller. Gusto ko rin gumawa ng horror. Pati ng seryosong drama. Marami pa. Sa collaboration—Janice de Belen, mama ni Kaila. Magaling din talaga kasi si Ate Janice. Pati si John Estrada. Si Dolly de Leon din, magaling ‘yon. Tapos si John Arcilla. Si Joel Torre nakasama ko na kasi, pero magaling din ‘yon.
(Maybe a thriller. I’d also like to do horror, and serious drama too. There’s still a lot I want to explore. For collaborations—Janice de Belen, Kaila [Estrada]’s mum, because Ms Janice is really talented. Also John Estrada. Dolly de Leon too—she’s brilliant. Then John Arcilla. I’ve already worked with Joel Torre, but he’s also really good.)
Above Actor Anthony Jennings offers words of wisdom to young talents—find where you excel, master your craft and stay grounded in the process (Photo: Tonton Soguilon)
Actor Anthony Jennings offers words of wisdom to young talents—find where you excel, master your craft and stay grounded in the process (Photo: Tonton Soguilon)
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Do you have a message for aspiring artists just starting out?
Hanapin nila kung saan sila nag-e-exceed, kung saan talaga sila magaling. Based on my experience kasi, pag minamaster mo craft mo—ilang oras din binibigay mo roon eh, pero maganda if namaster mo talaga ‘yong craft na nakilala ka for that. Focus ka muna sa isang bagay na masaya kang ginagawa. Huwag mo kalimutan kung ano ‘yong talagang gusto mo sa buhay. One at a time, and stay grounded.
(They should find where they excel, where they’re truly good. Based on my experience, when you master your craft—you put in hours of work, and it’s rewarding if you truly master it and become known for it. Focus first on one thing that makes you happy. Don’t forget what you really want in life. Take it one step at a time, and stay grounded.)
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Angela Nicole Regis Guiral is a digital editor at Tatler Philippines. She studied journalism and has since written features that look closely at how culture, lifestyle and social impact converge, while occasionally wandering into the worlds of style and travel.
