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Metro Exclusive: Solenn Heussaff for "Unmarry"

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<p>Those who know<strong> Solenn Heussaff </strong>can attest to how much she values time. Whether for appointments or engagements, she has a reputation for being punctual. Timing, too, holds the same importance for this multifaceted artist. (That she has comedic timing may come as a surprise to many, but all the #Wifezilla and #BulliedHusbandsClub posts of her husband, <strong>Nico Bolzico</strong>, will show how she blends sophistication and silliness into one endearing package.) </p><p>For years, Solenn devoted her time to building a family, navigating marriage and parenthood, while <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/people/2024/12/27/solenn-heussaff-contemplates-on-the-nature-of-life-in-vita-her-latest-exhibit-1512" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">delving into her artistic side</a>. Acting took a backseat until her stint on the GMA series <strong><em>Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre</em></strong>. But acting for a film offers a different experience. She missed acting in movies, especially since the last time she topbilled a movie was in 2018 via<strong> </strong><em><strong>My 2 Mommies</strong></em><em></em>. And just when she felt she was ready to return to doing films, an offer for a big-screen project came knocking at her door. </p><p>Her manager, <strong>Cher Gioskos</strong>, told her, “I have a film for you if you’re game to do it.” In a heartbeat, she felt excited. “I’ve really been waiting,” Solenn said. The project was a second lead role in the drama film <strong><em>Unmarry</em></strong><em></em><em>,</em><em></em><strong><em></em></strong> an official entry to the <strong>51st Metro Manila Film Festival</strong> (MMFF). The timing was ideal, so everything just fell into place at a pace that allowed her to bask in the filmmaking experience.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767745079622solenn heussaff unmarry metro interview.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Solenn Heussaff in a pantsuit by Jro Alarcio | Photo by Jerick Sanchez</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Saying ‘yes’ to <em>Unmarry</em></strong></div><p>Solenn needed no further convincing when <em>Unmarry</em> was pitched to her. Not only was the timing perfectly aligned with her current career goals, but it also had the elements that made for a compelling project: the story, her co-stars, and her character. </p><p><em>Unmarry</em>, directed by <a href="https://metro.style/people/2025/12/28/jeffrey-jeturian-wins-best-director-at-the-51st-metro-manila-film-festival-for-unmarry-1215" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">51st MMFF Best Director Jeffrey Jeturian</a>, won the second Best Picture, alongside awards for Best Supporting Actor (Tom Rodriguez), Best Screenplay (Chris Martinez and Therese Cayaba), Best Editing (Benjo Ferrer), Best Breakthrough Performance (Zack Sibug), and Best Float. Its lead stars, <a href="https://metro.style/people/2025/12/23/angelica-panganiban-zanjoe-marudo-unpack-why-unmarry-was-worth-doing-1700" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Angelica Panganiban and Zanjoe Marudo</a>, also received top acting nominations. <strong></strong></p><p>Solenn’s portrayal did not go unnoticed, too, as she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress alongside Eugene Domingo also for <em>Unmarry</em>, Janice de Belen and Sylvia Sanchez for <em>I’mPerfect</em>, Ashtine Olviga for <em>Manila’s Finest</em>, and Odette Khan, who eventually won the award for <em>Bar Boys: After School</em>.</p><p>In <em>Unmarry</em>, Solenn plays the role of Maya, who filed an annulment case against Ivan, played by Zanjoe. “She&#x27;s a news anchor. She&#x27;s very good at what she does. She&#x27;s very successful,” she described. Maya’s husband, Ivan, is an artist who experiences a slump, which ultimately affects their marriage because feelings of inferiority get the best of him as he struggles to provide for his family. </p><p>As an artist herself, Solenn understands what Ivan is going through and how unstable this field can be. “I know how the art vibe is,” she said, explaining where Zanjoe’s character’s frustration stems from. “So,<em> s’yempre</em>, <em>minsan hindi ka</em> inspired. ’<em>Pag hindi ka</em> inspired, <em>wala kang lalabas na trabaho</em>. ’<em>Pag walang lalabas na trabaho</em>, <em>walang</em> income.” </p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767745537288587812837_18548695195000563_2150935453768234179_n.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><p>What appealed most to Solenn in the process of immersing herself in the project was that the story is grounded in reality, a person’s inner struggles and battles that ultimately manifest externally and affect relationships.</p><p>“It&#x27;s something that people go through, but that&#x27;s not really talked about and is even taboo in the Philippines,” she told <strong>Metro.Style</strong>. “So I think it was very nice to be able to make a film like this that kind of just shows empathy and support to people who need that change in their lives, to be able to move on, and for families to be able to move on. That was very compelling to me.” </p><p>The topic of annulment is polarizing, and while that is at the core of its story, <em>Unmarry </em>is not promoting annulment. <em></em>Solenn explained, “It&#x27;s just kind of sharing and saying that, you know, if you want to change things in your life, <em>kaya mo</em>! It&#x27;s more about understanding and compassion.”</p><p>Educational in a sense, the movie tackles the tedious annulment process and depicts its heartbreaking impact on the people involved. By watching the characters’ individual journeys, viewers who may be going through a similar process may realize that, as Solenn mentioned, “There could be a way out for them to be happier.” </p><p>The process may be “long and emotional” but “doable,” according to Solenn.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DS4iu1ijTZJ/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=1080&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A1809493.6999999993%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Learning and relearning</strong></div><p>“It was my first time to do a film after so many years. I wanted to show a different side of me,” Solenn said, revealing that she underwent a Meisner acting workshop for <em>Unmarry</em>. </p><p>She was confident about her character and script, though nervous about returning to filming, so she wanted to give them justice. “I just wanted a different approach,” Solenn quipped. </p><p>Pre-pandemic, Solenn had different aspirations and motivations. Life had new meaning when motherhood entered the picture in 2020. That she’s now a mom of two (Thylane and Maëlys) surely helped her get into her character better as a mother in <em>Unmarry</em>. Her co-stars—Angelica, Zanjoe, and Tom—are all parents as well, so according to Solenn, “It was just a nice environment, nice set.”</p><p>Still, Solenn took it upon herself to challenge herself as an actress by attending a workshop, which helped her focus better on her character’s narrative arc. Instead of overthinking her lines and scenes like she used to, she said, “I was just feeling what was going on in the moment as opposed to over-rehearsing. ’Cause <em>dati</em>, I would really read the scene, and I would picture it in my head. I would even picture how it was edited. And I would rehearse the way I would want to deliver. So that when I was on set, and I would deliver, and it wasn&#x27;t like how I rehearsed it, <em>naguguluhan ako sa sarili ko</em>. Whereas this time, it was more about ‘Okay, feel the moment, look at the objects around you. What do these objects mean to you?’ And then also just reacting with my co-actors. So that was really, really nice. A really nice experience for me, and I learned a lot.” </p><p>The right time and timing came into play here again, as Solenn didn’t want to waste this opportunity to restart her movie career. “I really want to go back into the movie industry. I feel like <em>kung kailangan ko magpakita ng </em>anything or <em>ng</em> change,<em> dapat gawin ko na ngayon</em>,” she asserted. </p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767746202368589651418_18548695219000563_4161951341660572554_n.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>How motherhood makes her feel more in tune with acting</strong></div><p>There’s a beautiful balance in Solenn’s life today: in the way she makes sure to grasp opportunities and get things done ASAP in true Wifezilla fashion, while taking her sweet time to perfect her outputs, be it her paintings or her scenes. </p><p>Motherhood is in many ways life-changing, but what it specifically did for Solenn was make her more intentional and patient with everything she does. </p><p>“And I feel like being a mom,” she shared, “I&#x27;m also just more, I guess, more aware, more sensitive, and more confident with myself. Whereas before, <em>parang kung hindi ako magaling dito</em>, <em>baka may ganito</em>. Or what will my co-actor think of me? So this time, it was more like I&#x27;ll go in, I&#x27;ll try to be my best, do my best, have that sensitivity side come in for my character, and then not think about anything else.”</p><p>While motherhood can be crazy at times, with all that juggling act, one thing it also taught Solenn is not rush anything. It’s about being truly present in the moment, mentally and physically—not with the mind wandering to thoughts of getting things done, just for the sake of getting them done, or overthinking what she’s supposed to do next. </p><p>Citing a courtroom scene in <em>Unmary</em>, Solenn said she didn’t want to pressure herself with thoughts like “Oh my god, if I don&#x27;t finish this now, <em>baka mahirapan sila sa</em> editing.” Instead, she said, “I was just really feeling the moment. And if I needed ten minutes to just say two words, I would do it that way.”</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767746328546603944460_18548695198000563_3076940906426326401_n (1).jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Solenn added, sharing how motherhood impacts her acting, “I think, as a mom, you&#x27;re more in touch with yourself, you&#x27;re more sensitive, and you&#x27;re more patient.” </p><p>Her effort to shape up as an actress paid off because she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the MMFF; it’s an exciting career-first that’s like a pat on the back and the universe’s way of telling her she’s heading the right direction, and that the time is ripe for her to maintain her acting streak. </p><p>As the new year unfolds, Solenn, who turned 40 in 2025, fondly looks back on the year that was. 2025 may have been a year that went by so fast, but she’s grateful to have wrapped it up nicely, knowing she got to spend a lot of time with her family, that they’re all healthy, and that she felt fulfilled work-wise. </p><p>“I have shows for 2026,” she teased, hinting at one slated for June. “And I’m hoping that this movie will also kind of put me out there, to kind of tell people <em>na</em> ready<em> na ako bumalik paunti-unti</em>.” </p><p>The clock is ticking, but in her own time and at her own pace, Solenn Heussaff is ready to tick more items off her bucket list as an artist in various facets. </p><div><br/></div><div><em><strong>Unmarry is still showing in </strong></em><strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DTMPGI3FDFd/?img_index=3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>these cinemas</em></a><em>.</em><br/></strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Photos by <strong>Jerick Sanchez</strong></p><p>Styling by <strong>Bea Constantino</strong><strong></strong></p><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><p>Makeup by<strong> Zyda Baaya-Ghielmetti</strong></p><p><strong></strong>Hairstyling by <strong>Raymart Espina</strong></p><p>Special thanks to <strong>Cher Gioskos </strong>and <strong>M</strong><strong>aureen Manuel </strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></p>

<p>Nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the recent MMFF, "Unmarry" actress Solenn Heussaff marks an exciting career-first that’s like a pat on the back—the universe’s way of telling her she’s heading the right direction, and that the time is ripe for her to maintain her acting streak.</p>

Nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the recent MMFF, "Unmarry" actress Solenn Heussaff marks an exciting career-first that’s like a pat on the back—the universe’s way of telling her she’s heading the right direction, and that the time is ripe for her to maintain her acting streak.

The Time Is Now: Solenn Heussaff Restarts Her Movie Career, Starting Strong in 'Unmarry'

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The Time Is Now: Solenn Heussaff Restarts Her Movie Career, Starting Strong in 'Unmarry'

Grace Libero

Published Jan 07, 2026 09:00 AM PHT

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Updated Jan 07, 2026 09:55 AM PHT

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Solenn Heussaff

Unmarry

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