Acclaimed Filipina actress Jaclyn Jose bagged this year’s Best Actress award at Cannes Film Festival for her role in Brillante Mendoza’s film, “Ma’ Rosa” on May 22, 2016 in France.
This is the very first time a Filipino won an acting award in Cannes which is considered as the biggest international film award.
In her acceptance speech, Jose expressed her surprise and happiness upon receiving the award.
“I’m at a loss for words! I am so surprised and moved. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the jury members. I thank the director Brillante Mendoza, whose instructions I simply followed,” Jose said in her speech.
During her speech, Jose also praised Mendoza for his brilliance in film making.
“He’s a brilliant director, a genius…. I’d like to salute the Philippine people,” she added.
The award-winning actress also mentioned that she was already satisfied just to walk on the red carpet with her daughter. She considered it a dream come true attending and festival with Andi. Her real-life daughter actress Andi Eigenmann also plays the role of her daughter in the movie.
The film “Ma Rosa” tells the story of a poor Manila neighborhood stall holder who sells drugs on the side with her husband to make ends meet.
The couple gets arrested, leaving their four children to try and buy their parents’ freedom from the corrupt policemen.