Jaclyn Jose

Mary Jane Santa Ana Guck (October 21, 1963 – March 2, 2024 ), known professionally as Jaclyn Jose, was a Filipino actress.

Known for her penetrating eyes and antagonistic roles in film and soap operas, she was a recipient of various accolades, including five Gawad Urians, two Luna Awards, and a FAMAS Award, in addition to an Asian Film Awards nomination.

Jaclyn Jose was born on October 21, 1963 as Mary Jane Guck in Angeles City, Pampanga.

She was the second of six siblings which included her half-sister Veronica Jones, an actress in the 1970s and 1980s.

Her mother, Rosalinda Santa Ana, was a zarzuela actress, while her father was an American serviceman of German descent stationed at Clark Air Base.

Her parents separated when Jose was four years old.

Jose made her film acting debut in 1984, starring in dramas directed by William Pascual, Chito S. Roño and Lino Brocka, which earned her recognition in the Philippine movie awards circuit.

Jose made her film acting debut in 1984 in back-to-back dramas in William Pascual's Chicas and Chito S. Roño's Private Show, earning her first FAMAS Awards nomination for the latter.

In a 2021 interview, Jose said that she was initially reluctant to go into acting and deliberately played a subtle performance during her audition for Chicas in the hopes of not getting selected, only to discover that it was exactly what the judges had in mind.

The following year, she starred in Lino Brocka's White Slavery, which earned her her first Gawad Urian nomination.

Her first Gawad Urian win came from her role in the drama Takaw Tukso (1986), winning the Best Actress award.

In 1986, Jose made her theater debut in the play Women, written by Joey Papa and directed by Joel Lamangan.

She played the role of a rebel's wife and starred alongside Maria Isabel Lopez, Lala Montelibano, Daniel Fernando and Ricky Hora.

Jose made her debut television appearance on ABS-CBN.

In the 1990s, she began appearing in television soap operas.

She played Esther Lagrimas in the hit series Familia Zaragoza from 1995 to 1996.

She won her first Luna Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1996 in The Flor Contemplacion Story (1995), for which also earned her her fourth Gawad Urian and fourth FAMAS Award nomination.

From 1997 to 1999, Jose played the role of Magda in the original 1997 series Mula sa Puso, before making her first appearance on Maalaala Mo Kaya.

From 1999 to 2000, Jose played Elena Deogracias in the television series Labs Ko Si Babe.

After a two-year absence from television, Jose transferred to ABS-CBN's rival network, GMA and played Marianna Peron on the popular TV series Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga.

In early 2004, Jose had a recurring role as Carol in Te Amo, Maging Sino Ka Man with her co-star from Mula Sa Puso, Princess Punzalan.

Later in 2004, she returned to ABS-CBN in an episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya.

In 2004, Jose returned to her ABS-CBN.

Jose's first role as a major character was during the last quarter of 2004–2005, when she played Isabella in the television series Hiram. She also played a supporting role in SCQ Reload: Ok Ako! as Helen Roxas.

In 2005, she played another supporting role, Elena Cruz, in the popular TV series Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin.

She played Celeste Cristi in the TV series Komiks Presents: Agua Bendita in 2006, co-starring alongside Shaina Magdayao, Rayver Cruz, and Ramon Bagatsing.

Jose's next role was as Darlyn Fernandez in the 2007 show Sineserye Presents: May Minamahal. Later that year, she appeared in the fantasy anthology TV series Love Spell.

In 2007–2008 Jose played the main role of Virgie Burgos in the show Prinsesa ng Banyera.

In 2008–2009, Jose was the villain Mariang Magayon in the TV series Dyosa.

Later in 2009, Jose returned to GMA Network to star in the Filipino series Zorro as Doña Chiquita Pelaez.

Jose then returned to ABS-CBN to guest star in an episode of Your Song in 2009.

In the latter part of 2009–2010, Jose was cast as Minda Fernandez, one of the main villains in the show Nagsimula sa Puso.

In 2010, Jose was cast as the villain Astrud Quijano Crisanto in the series Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo, or The Villain and Killer Influence. Later that year, she made her first appearance on TV5 when she guest starred on the show Star Confessions: Congratulations: The April Gustilo Confession.

In 2011, Jose appeared as a guest star in an episode of Your Song, playing Delfina.

She also became part of the cast of Sabel, where she had the role of Bettina Zaragoza.

This was her last appearance on GMA until 2013.

She is the only Filipino to win the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress for the movie Ma' Rosa (2016).

She was also described as the "Queen of Underacting" for her ability to deliver restrained and subtle performances.

Jose was also honored by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts at the Ani ng Dangal ceremony in 2017.

In 2023, she was awarded the Movie Icon Award by the Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors.