Solenn Heussaff reflects on life, career and happiness as she turns 40

But as the adage goes, life must go on. “I’m kind of slowly accepting that he’s there without being there. It’s sad,” she confides, adding that she also observes that while many Filipinos experience similar conditions like her father’s, they often go undiagnosed, with changes in behaviour attributed merely to old age. Determined to approach this differently, she has actively researched how to prevent this condition, not only for her health, but also for her to be present with her children and husband longer. “I don’t want my kids to see me at that stage because it is heartbreaking,” she says.

Witnessing her father’s decline due to illness was an eye-opener for Solenn, igniting her resolve to place her children as her top priority. “I just want to focus on being with them and seeing them grow, because I know when they get older, kids don’t depend as much on their parents. They want to be with friends,” she says. Her concern extends to a broader societal observation: “Nowadays, everyone’s just so busy. When I see people dining out, a lot of them are on their gadgets.” Understanding the significance of parental involvement, especially in her children’s formative years, Solenn stresses, “It’s important to connect with your children to make sure they grow up a certain way. I want our children to grow up with good values.” With this, Solenn and Nico always interact with their kids, limit the use of gadgets, and ultimately, allow their kids to be kids. “We don’t have iPads and they are only allowed to watch television for 15-30 minutes a day…in Spanish. But I let them run around, get dirty and learn from play.”

Read also: Artists Solenn Heussaff and Olivia d’Aboville celebrate their life-long friendship through ‘Vīta’ at the Provenance Art Gallery

Solenn’s dedication to family life does not mean stepping away from other vital aspects of her identity. Her artistic endeavours and dynamic career remain integral to who she is, offering different avenues for expression and contribution. 

Her last exhibit was in December 2024, a masterful collaboration with her good friend Olivia d’Aboville, at Provenance Art Gallery. Titled Vita, the exhibition explored humans’ deep and complex relationship with nature, a subject that differed from Solenn’s past works. 

The usual subjects for her paintings revolve around the people she has met or the places she has been to. “These were people I used to see when I went to work, because I’d always be thinking in different locations or always driving hours in the car, so I would always be taking photos of the people. It was my way of telling the story of other Filipinos and [at the same time] creating their setting, but from my vision,” she says. 

However, the  pieces at her last exhibit were so different that it surprised many, especially those who have been following her artistic journey. “I was a bit scared because what if they don’t like my new direction?” she says, talking about the floral motif she showcased at Vita. But beneath these flowers lies a profound reflection on how life naturally unfolds, an inspiration that emerged during her early morning stays at the garden, where she began noticing and becoming obsessed with “growing” things—from plants to cocoons and beyond. “Then I observed how flowers would sprout, how they would wilt and how another one would come out. I realised, this is exactly how things are in life. You make way for beautiful things. Things need to die/disappear for new things to come out,” she says. 

Ever-evolving, Solenn’s next artistic target is to build her iconic style, just like how BenCab created his legendary Sabel. “I’m trying to go that direction. To create my persona and not paint from a photo, and to have an exhibit where it will be apparent that ‘this is Solenn’s work’.”  While Solenn is very open and experimental, she thinks digital art is not for her.  “If I have a piece of art in front of me, I want it to be real,” she says.

Besides painting, Solenn also returns to television with GMA Network’s fantasy drama series, Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre, where she will play the role of Cassiopeia. “I enjoyed seeing everyone and being on set again. It felt like it was just yesterday [since we filmed the first Encantadia series] but it’s been ten years since the show aired, five years since I last acted,” she shares. However, when asked if she would like to carry on with her showbiz career, Solenn answers: “With a good script, yes”. Although she had participated in numerous projects before, she acknowledges that she wasn’t particularly famous for any specific role except for Cassiopeia or memorable for any of her films. This time, however, she aims to establish a distinct presence. For this too, there’s no rush.

 What’s a good script for Solenn then? “A good storyline, good metaphor, but also something that makes you uncomfortable with a good note at the end,” she explains, citing the plot of Substance with Demi Moore as the main character, which she watched recently, as her peg. “Maybe not that gory,” she laughs, emphasising that she’s open to challenging roles and even to lighter, relatable ones similar to the midlife comedy, The Four Seasons. “It’s not an end game for me.”

Read also: Nico Bolzico and Solenn Heussaff On Love, Life, And Their Daughter, Thylane

Alongside her accomplishments in the arts and show business, Solenn has also cultivated a reputation for her effortless, chic style, named one of the “It” girls in the early 2000s, alongside her long-time friends Georgina Wilson, Isabel Daza, Liz Uy and Anne Curtis. 

While Solenn admits her twenties were about dressing to impress—often at the expense of comfort—she’s since learnt the value of ease. “Back then, most of the time, those clothes were not so comfortable…High heels would hurt my feet and so on,” she confesses. Now, two decades later, while she still enjoys dressing up occasionally, her daily go-to is typically jeans, a T-shirt and flats. She also prefers timeless pieces over trends. “I just want to be comfortable and at the same time, presentable,” Solenn tells Tatler at the shoot where she dons an elegant Gucci ensemble. Her advice? “Find what makes you feel at your best. Don’t be afraid to experiment.” 

Read also: What Goes Around: Behind the story and craftsmanship of the Gucci Blondie

Solenn’s philosophy of embracing comfort extends beyond her wardrobe and into the very fabric of her personal life, most notably in her enduring and happy marriage to Nico. The secret, she  says, is first and foremost, communication. “I think the longer you’re married to someone, you get more comfortable in certain areas, so much so that you just assume your partner’s thoughts or feelings. No, because people evolve, and if you want a marriage to work, you need to evolve with it. You need to evolve with how the other person is evolving. You need to compromise at a certain level, but not fully, because you still want to have your own identity,” Solenn elaborates. For nine years since they tied the knot, she proudly shares that they have never raised their voices at each other, walked out or hung up on each other. “Maybe I’ve done it once,” she teases. “Those are things that trigger you, and allow you to say things that you don’t mean.”

The second ingredient to a happy marriage, according to Solenn, is to separate finances. “Many married couples have everything put together. With Nico and I, we have everything separate, except for one account where we put in the same amount monthly to cover necessities like electricity and other household expenses,” she says. Beyond this joint account, the couple maintains their savings, and in doing so, they are free to spend their hard-earned money as they wish. “If I travel, I travel with my money. If I want to shop, I shop with my money. Same with him. That way, we don’t have to feel bad for spending from our joint account. It’s worked for us.”

When asked what’s next for her, she was quick to answer: a new business. By that, she meant a business idea that would benefit children, perhaps an indoor-outdoor playground in Manila where children can freely run and play safely, get some fresh air without the need for a long drive or a plane ride. “I see my children at their happiest when we’re abroad travelling, without the toys, and they are just running in the yard. It’s hard to do it here [in Manila] because it’s hot and they always get hindered in some way. I want to bridge that gap,” she says.

Solenn’s definition of success has undergone significant evolution over the past two decades. She recalls a time in her youth when monetary gains equated to achievement. “The more things I had, the more successful I was,” she  thought. Now, approaching 40, her perspective has shifted entirely, with genuine happiness as  her benchmark for success. Looking into the future, she  is eager to explore uncharted territories, seeking new passions and perhaps a different path in life. Her advice to everyone: “Don’t be afraid not to be a people-pleaser. When we’re young, we’re people-pleasers in some way because then we feel ungrateful if we say no. But if you’re not comfortable with certain things, you should be able to say no. Know that other things meant for you will come.”

In embracing her forties, Solenn steps into a space where authenticity triumphs over ambition, and the quiet joy of family life resonates louder than the applause of a crowd. Her journey, marked by both challenges and wins, serves as a potent reminder that true success lies not in external achievements but in the courage to define one’s path and the wisdom to cherish what truly matters. 

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