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Fascinating Women 2026: Irene Emma Villamor on How She Brings Her Female Film Characters to Life

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Lance Joseph Martinez

<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1773326229101tempImageRtUyVy.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>&#x27;The Loved One&#x27; and &#x27;Midnight Girls&#x27; director Irene Emma Villamor | Photo by Lance Joseph Martinez</div><div style="text-align:left"> </div>Every Filipino filmmaker carries a distinct signature—whether through genre, storytelling, or the way characters are written and brought to life. For Irene Emma Villamor, however, it is her nuanced portrayal of women that has consistently stood out.Over the years, the filmmaker has crafted some of modern Philippine cinema’s memorable female leads—from Aya in Sid &amp; Aya: Not a Love Story and Celeste in Meet Me in St. Gallen to Ellie in The Loved One. These characters have resonated strongly with audiences, becoming notable figures in contemporary Filipino storytelling, each shaped through Villamor’s thoughtful writing and direction.And in celebration of Women’s Month, Metro.Style had the opportunity to sit down exclusively with Villamor to talk about how she breathes life into her female characters. The filmmaker also opened up about her upcoming movie, Midnight Girls, which centers on four women portrayed by Jodi Sta. Maria, Sanya Lopez, Jane Oineza, and Loisa Andalio.<div style="text-align:center"> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1773326112164ayrin_1772531852_3844597298936005618_1421252263.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Sanya Lopez, Jane Oineza, Loisa Andalio, and Jodi Sta. Maria for &#x27;Midnight Girls&#x27; | Photo from @ayrin</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Here’s where it all began</div>For Irene Emma Villamor, her journey into filmmaking traces back to her time at the University of the Philippines, where she pursued Film. But while her academic background laid the foundation, Villamor said her passion for the craft truly deepened when she trained under veteran filmmaker Joyce Bernal during her internship.After completing the program, Villamor immersed herself in the industry by taking on various roles across different film productions. She shared that her responsibilities on set ranged widely, sometimes even including preparing coffee for the production team.“While on the set, &#x27;yung feeling talaga na even if you’re young, and you get to do things on set, kahit na inuutos-utusan ka lang magtimpla ng kape, but you get to observe a director in her element, or the actors&#x27; performance, all those elements na nakikita mo, the PD, the cinematographer, parang ang overwhelming and also very exciting to be on set at that young age,” she recalled.<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1773326514584direkbinibini_1509115523_1634901967904948037_355413488.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>Irene Emma Villamor together with Joyce Bernal, Antoinette Jadaone, Carlo Aquino, and Bela Padilla | Photo from @direkbinibini</div><div> </div>Those early experiences eventually led to a defining realization about the path she wanted to pursue. “Ito na ‘yung magiging buhay ko, and I won’t be able to do anything else. And right now, I can’t do anything else than be in this industry,” she said.Today, Villamor is widely recognized as the writer and director behind several standout films in contemporary Philippine cinema. But long before establishing her signature voice in the industry, Villamor admitted that stepping into the director’s chair was something she once approached with hesitation, initially preferring to remain behind the scenes.“Parang gusto ko lang writer or behind the camera na talaga, or assistant director, because I was afraid of directing for mainstream, because of course, ang mainstream is box office, and I have a very successful box office director as my mentor, Joyce Bernal,” she explained.Because of this hesitation, it took Villamor more than 15 years before she finally made her debut as a film director. Now, more than a decade later, she has carved out a distinct voice in Philippine cinema—often associated with what fans describe as the “Irene genre,” known for its anti-romantic tone and stories that don’t always end with the traditional happily-ever-after.<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1773326650661MV5BNTZlNjQwOTAtYTA3ZC00YWRkLWFjYzItOWI1M2JiNzQ4NDNhXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Irene Emma Villamor&#x27;s &#x27;Camp Sawi&#x27; | Photo from Viva Films </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Irene Villamor’s “I made it” moment</div>Marking the start of her directing journey, Irene Villamor made her debut with Relaks, It’s Just Pag-ibig, a film she wrote and co-directed with her close friend and fellow filmmaker Antoinette Jadaone. The project served as Villamor’s introduction to the directorial scene and paved the way for what would become a notable career in Philippine cinema.Since then, she has gone on to helm several popular and box-office hits, including Camp Sawi, Ulan, Sid &amp; Aya: Not a Love Story, and more recently, The Loved One. Yet despite the growing success and recognition her films have received, Villamor admitted that she still finds it difficult to fully grasp the impact and popularity of her work.When asked about the moment she realized she had truly “made it” in the industry, the director pointed to the first day of shooting for Sid &amp; Aya: Not a Love Story.<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1773326765043sidandaya_posterVIVA.jpg.webp" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>Irene Emma Villamor&#x27;s &#x27;Sid &amp; Aya: Not a Love Story&#x27; | Photo from Viva Films </div>“Feeling ko I made it nu’ng nasa set ko si Anne (Curtis) at si Dong (Dingdong Dantes). It’s not the release of the movie, but for them to trust me with Sid and Aya, nu’ng day one nu’n, [I was like] ‘Parang this is interesting.’”She continued by explaining that the film itself was far from a conventional romance. “It was a different kind of love story at that time, ‘di ba? Medyo dark, and they are not very good people as characters. So for them to accept the project, was hindi naman I made it, but, ‘Oh my god,’ gano’ng moment.”The film follows Sid, portrayed by Dingdong Dantes, an insomniac corporate executive who meets Aya, played by Anne Curtis, a woman he hires to keep him company during his sleepless nights.Looking back, Villamor described the experience of stepping onto the set and seeing Curtis and Dantes bring her characters to life in one word: “surreal.” For the director, it was a moment that perfectly captured the realization that the story she once wrote had finally become a film.<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1773326973522tempImage7NAw2Q.jpg" style="width:700px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>All the women of Irene Villamor’s films</div>“Prepare to be heartbroken.” That’s the tongue-in-cheek warning Irene Emma Villamor gives audiences about her films. Yet, the filmmaker admitted she never intentionally set out to make “not-so-happily-ever-after” endings her trademark. For Villamor, these conclusions flow naturally from the way she builds her characters, especially her female leads.“Every time I write, the characters that I create, totoong tao sila for me. And every time they make decisions, kahit na ito ‘yung tama sa plot and ganiyan, minsan, nahahaluan siya ng who I am and how I view the world,” she explained.When it comes to how her stories end, Villamor said it always depends on what the female characters deserve, shaped by who they are. “Medyo pessimistic din kasi ‘yung mga characters ko,” she admitted with a laugh.Unlike some of her colleagues who thrive in cafés or public spaces, Villamor said she writes best at home, where she can focus and fully immerse herself.“My house is filled with books. It has a couch, so nagte-take turns ako na manood, magka-couch, and magsusulat. It takes me longer to write now kasi ang daming distraction. So, ang hirap mag-focus, but the ideal writing ko is may kandila, tapos may music,” she shared.<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="925" height="525" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y_wExTHUjzQ?si=-J1PxKY0da3Cxyu4" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> </div><div> </div>She also recalled the early days of writing with her friend Antoinette Jadaone. “When I was younger, nagho-hotel pa kami ni Tonet. Mag-she-share kami sa room, tapos magkakanya-kanya kami, but we end up drinking lang and sleeping. So, hindi na rin effective &#x27;yung hotel, at saka mahal siya.”But no matter the location, Villamor always starts her creative process with research, particularly when exploring topics or characters unfamiliar to her. That was the case for Betty, portrayed by <a href="https://metro.style/metro-style/people/2025/5/27/charo-santos-concio-celebrates-50th-showbiz-anniversary-with-metro-2010" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Charo Santos-Concio</a> in Only We Know, a retired English teacher who forms an unlikely friendship with Ryan (Dingdong Dantes), a structural engineer grieving the death of his wife.“Ano &#x27;yung tingin nila sa aging, ganyan,” she explained, highlighting how she immersed herself in understanding her characters’ worlds.Looking back at the female characters closest to her own personality, Villamor points to Aya in Sid &amp; Aya: Not a Love Story and Celeste (played by <a href="https://metro.style/people/2026/3/6/metro-artist-spotlight-a-special-memory-and-blood-vs-duty-actress-bela-padilla-1015" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bela Padilla</a>) in Meet Me in St. Gallen.“Si Aya would be closest to me in terms of being strong and always ready to parang face the world na kahit anong ibato n&#x27;yo sa akin, kakayanin ko. Parang ganu’n, in that respect, si Aya,” she shared.She continued, “And then si Celeste in terms of idealism, sa pag-ibig. Parang si Celeste ‘yung maraming opinion about how love should be.”<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1773327105521[image] - 8033283.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>Irene Emma Villamor with Charo Santos-Concio and Shamaine Buencamino for &#x27;Only We Know&#x27; | Photo from @charosantos</div><div> </div><div>Her upcoming film, Midnight Girls</div>After making a name for herself through iconic female characters in Philippine cinema, Irene Villamor is now taking her storytelling in a bold new direction with Midnight Girls, set to premiere on May 13 in Philippine cinemas. The film follows four Filipina entertainers in Japan as they navigate the challenges, triumphs, and friendships shaped by their line of work, with Jodi Sta. Maria, Loisa Andalio, Jane Oineza, and Sanya Lopez leading the cast.According to Villamor, the idea came from veteran director Bobot Mortiz, who discovered the lives of Filipina entertainers in Nagoya, Japan, and shared their stories. Mortiz, together with Malou Santos, approached Cornerstone Entertainment to have Villamor bring their experiences to the big screen.“When I went there and got to know the girls, the real entertainers there, &#x27;yung mga Filipinas sa interview, ang kukulay ng kwento nila. And times have changed. So, nag-evolve din ‘yung trabaho nila. Merong sense of pride and reclaiming the title na hindi kami ganito,” she said.What struck Villamor most, however, wasn’t just their work—it was their dedication to supporting their families back home and the friendships that made their demanding careers manageable.<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="925" height="525" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/anstW81vHNU?si=QDrneWhDjLAbVpgl" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> </div><div> </div>Meanwhile, netizens have also been intrigued by the unusual pairing of leads in the trailer. Jodi Sta. Maria and Sanya Lopez, known as top actresses of their respective networks, join forces with Loisa Andalio and Jane Oineza, who previously worked together as housemates on Pinoy Big Brother: All In.Villamor explained that the characters came first, and the cast was selected to fit them—though Jodi’s role was written with the hope that she would accept it. “Sana mapapayag natin siya kasi siya ‘yung makakagawa nitong ganitong role,” Villamor shared.Once the cast confirmed, the team quickly flew to Japan to capture the time-sensitive beauty of cherry blossoms. “We have to capture the cherry blossoms. So, parang they were all very cooperative. And then, sa look test pa lang, nage-gel na sila. They were so fun,” she recalled.The team spent a full month in Japan, with only a few small scenes filmed in the Philippines using mobile phones, and Villamor praised the cast for fully immersing themselves in the environment, learning from the entertainers, and dedicating themselves to bringing the story to life.“Hindi muna kami nag-shoot [pagdating], nag-immerse muna sila dun sa mundo for three nights. They went there and really talked to the girls. Naramdaman nila ‘yung environment. Nag-research sila and na-meet nila &#x27;yung mga parang medyo pinagbasehan ng characters nila,” she said.<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="925" height="525" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ygplxVcDkkY?si=TaWDWtgrtopcry5-" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> </div><div> </div><div>Irene Villamor’s dream project and what’s next for her</div>Calling it a “full circle” moment, Irene Villamor revealed that her dream project is another collaboration with longtime friend and filmmaker Antoinette Jadaone, with whom she first co-directed Relaks, It’s Just Pag-ibig. Villamor shared that the two have had plans in the works for quite some time.“Meron kaming pinaplano ni Tonet. Siya ang producer, ako ang director. We want Judy Ann (Santos-Agoncillo) pero iba siyang pelikula, ‘di siya love story,” she revealed, clarifying that this project remains a wish they hope to bring to life. &quot;Meron kaming pack na &#x27;Sulat mo, direct ko,&#x27; parang gano&#x27;n.&quot;The director expressed her excitement at the prospect, noting how their shared understanding of each other’s creativity and craft would make the collaboration both natural and dynamic.“It will be fun for sure, masarap &#x27;yun bumalik sa ‘Relaks, it’s Just Pag-Ibig’ mode and then who we are right now,” she added.As for what’s next beyond Midnight Girls, Villamor kept details under wraps, but teased that she is currently working with Cornerstone Entertainment to bring two of her “pangarap films” to fruition.<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1773327453293tempImageLhW7UY.jpg" style="width:700px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/></div><div> </div>Photos by Lance Joseph Martinez

'The Loved One' director Irene Emma Villamor opens up to Metro.Style about her writing process, iconic female characters, and dream project as she cements her mark on Philippine cinema.

'The Loved One' director Irene Emma Villamor opens up to Metro.Style about her writing process, iconic female characters, and dream project as she cements her mark on Philippine cinema.