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Metro Artist Spotlight: Anthony Jennings

Lance Joseph Martinez

<div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781035295624embed_metro artist spotlight anthony jennings 2.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Anthony Jennings, as photographed by Stephen Capuchino</div><div> </div>“A world tour”—That’s how Anthony Jennings described his recent string of filming projects, which took him across multiple destinations—from international shoots in the United States and Japan to the scenic coastal waters of Oslob, Cebu.One of those projects is the upcoming iWant supernatural workplace comedy Nurse the Dead, which was filmed in Los Angeles with a mix of American and Filipino cast and crew. The story follows Noa Reyes, played by Filipino-American actress-host Jelynn Malone, a Filipina nurse who is promoted to supervise the most haunted ward in Los Angeles. As if managing a chaotic staff and demanding patients wasn’t enough, she also has to deal with the dead who simply won’t stop talking.In the series, Anthony takes on the role of Grim, a centuries-old reaper who unexpectedly discovers his humanity. The actor admitted that preparing for the character came with unique challenges, especially since he was portraying a mythical figure rather than a real person. “Mythological character siya, fictional. Ang hirap kasi hindi siya totoong tao. Kailangan ko manood ng mga ibang film, kung paano ba mag-play ang isang grim, ’di ba? Ano ba ang isang tao ’pag matagal na siyang nabubuhay sa mundo? Paano ba siya gumalaw?,” Anthony shared.<div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781032408495embed_metro artist spotlight anthony jennings 5.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/> </div>Beyond the role itself, Anthony revealed that adjusting to the production’s work culture was another learning experience. While he was joined by several Filipino colleagues, he noted the stark difference in pace and discipline on set.“Andun ‘yung parang, ‘Paano ako makakasabay sa mga ‘to,’ kasi, ang mga Americans, iba rin ‘yung [work ethic nila], mabilis. And sanay tayo pagkatapos kumain, magkukwentuhan pa saglit, e. Sa kanila, pagkatapos talaga, ayos, setup, gano’n. Mabilis talaga. So, kailangan mabilis din ‘yung rhythm mo,” he said.Despite the challenge, he expressed gratitude to his co-stars, including Filipino actresses Princess Punzalan, Ruby Rodriguez, Tootsie Guevarra, and Gigette Reyes, who helped him ease into the process. He also credited showrunner and director Mark Labella for guiding him through technical adjustments, including refining his accent after he occasionally slipped into a British-sounding English delivery.Meanwhile, for Mother Maybe, a horror-comedy-drama film directed by Sonny Calvento, Anthony shared that filming in Japan became another learning experience. While he remained tight-lipped about key details, he described his role as emotionally heavy, saying the immersion affected him even off-camera as he carried aspects of his character, Marco, into his personal life.Still, he praised the production and teased audiences about its unique storytelling. “Ang galing nila Direk. May mga eksena kami [na kakaiba] na unusual na ‘pag napanood ng tao, first time lang nilang makikita ‘yun sa buong buhay nila.”Filming Laya in Oslob, Cebu also left a lasting impression on him, likening the experience to being transported to another world. It also marked his first close encounter with whale sharks, which he initially found intimidating but ultimately enjoyed. <div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781032424216embed_metro artist spotlight anthony jennings 6.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>The early struggles that shaped Anthony’s journey</div>Just like his acting career, Anthony Jennings’ road to success was far from easy and came with its share of personal struggles.Starting with nothing but determination, Anthony built his career from the ground up through auditions for television commercials. Those early projects eventually opened more opportunities, and it was through a telecommunications commercial that he caught the attention of ABS-CBN and Star Magic, marking the beginning of his journey in showbiz.“Maraming naka-discover sa akin, pero kilala ko sila lahat. Well, unang-una si Mama Joy [Lomibao]. Siya ‘yung nakapanood ng commercial ko, kaya ako nakapag-workshop sa ABS-CBN. Dahil sa kanya and kay Mr. M [Johnny Manahan],” he recalled. “So, nakita nila na, ‘Uy, okay, puwede ‘tong batang ito.’ Ang payat ko pa noon, kulot. Kaya rin siguro pansinin ako, like kahit sa commercial kasi ‘yung buhok ko before, afro talaga siya.”<div> </div><div style="text-align:left"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781032449278embed_metro artist spotlight anthony jennings 4.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div style="text-align:left"> </div>Anthony’s formal acting journey under Star Magic began around 2017 to 2018, when he joined workshops and gradually took on small and supporting roles. This included appearances in the 2019 films Hello, Love, Goodbye and Unbreakable, as well as the 2020 television series The House Arrest of Us and Make It With You.However, the latter became what he considered his first major regret in the industry, as Make It with You was expected to be his biggest break at the time but was ultimately canceled due to the pandemic. Still, Anthony is grateful for how everything eventually worked out for him. He acknowledged that he wouldn’t be where he is now if things had unfolded differently. <div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781032763377embed_metro artist spotlight anthony jennings 1.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div style="text-align:left"> </div><div style="text-align:left"> </div><div>Breakthrough and making dreams come true</div>Without a doubt, 2023 marked the defining breakthrough in Anthony Jennings’ career. As part of the powerhouse cast of the hit Kapamilya series Can’t Buy Me Love, starring <a href="https://metro.style/people/2026/5/25/metro-digital-cover-donny-pangilinan-and-belle-mariano-for-tayo-sa-wakas-1800" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano</a>, he emerged into mainstream recognition, with the project widely credited for propelling him into the spotlight.Anthony brought to life the now-iconic character of Snoop—a street-smart, witty best friend of the lead, Bingo, who eventually finds himself forming a romantic connection with Irene.But during his conversation with METRO, the actor shared a candid detail: he was not originally intended to play Snoop. “Ibang [actor] dapat talaga magpo-portray sa kanya.” For Anthony, the unexpected casting shift felt like divine redirection.“Binigay sa akin ‘yung Can’t Buy Me Love tapos biglang nag-boom, parang ‘yun talaga ‘yung breakthrough ko e,” Anthony said with a smile, reflecting on how Snoop not only boosted his career but also reshaped the direction of his life, which started far from easy.<div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781033261850embed_metro artist spotlight anthony jennings 3.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div> </div>Indeed, it was through Can’t Buy Me Love and his breakout portrayal of Snoop that Anthony achieved the career breakthrough he had dreamed of—one that ultimately changed the course of his journey in showbiz.Following the success of the series, opportunities came pouring in for the actor. If he were to look back on 2025, Anthony described the year as one of growth, challenges, new opportunities, and rest—especially as he temporarily stepped back from the spotlight.After his roles in the hit Kapamilya series <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/people/2025/1/23/anthony-jennings-delivers-action-heart-and-humor-in-incognito-1805" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Incognito</a> and the Netflix film Sosyal Climbers, Anthony focused on filming three major projects that he considers pivotal in reshaping his acting journey. These projects are poised to become defining milestones in his career this year and beyond.<div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781035093641embed_metro artist spotlight anthony jennings 7.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>On Anthony: Denim suit by Koko Gonzales</div>His new projects—Nurse The Dead, Mother Maybe, and Laya—each came with their own demands and challenges, which he embraced as part of his growth as an actor. For Anthony, juggling these roles back-to-back made 2025 feel intense yet meaningful.Reflecting on switching between three completely different characters, he admitted just how overwhelming the experience became at times. “May mga times na sinasabi ko sa mga handlers ko, hindi ko na kilala kung sino ako.”He shared the moment in a lighthearted exchange with his team, who also recalled how demanding those filming days were. Despite the difficulty, Anthony said the experience ultimately helped him sharpen his skills and improve in his craft.<div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781035604006embed_metro artist spotlight anthony jennings 11.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/> </div><div style="text-align:center"> </div><div>Going above and beyond </div>Beyond work, he also expressed gratitude for the support of his family, friends, and team, who stood by him throughout the challenging times in his career.Anthony and his team also recalled how his mood would often shift depending on the scenes he had to shoot that day, including one particular habit he developed during filming. “Hindi naman ako sobrang method actor na kailangan sobrang in character, pero kumukuha pa rin ako e. So, kumbaga ‘yung mood na ‘yun, madadala mo ‘yun all throughout the day,” he revealed.Anthony charges everything to experience, viewing all the exhaustion and challenges as part of the process that shapes him as an actor. Looking back, he said it is something he can fully appreciate once he sees the finished projects, knowing it reflects how far he has come in his craft.Beyond securing a steady stream of roles, Anthony also landed numerous endorsement deals and television commercials, further elevating his profile and reaffirming his status as one of the industry’s most promising leading men.<div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781036642588embed_metro artist spotlight anthony jennings 9.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/> </div>Still, for Anthony, he believes there are moments where faith plays a grounding role in his journey. “Happy ako na may mga napagdaanan ako sa buhay ko, [dahil] ‘yun ‘yung naging growth ko. And ngayon, unti-unti akong nakakabawi and dahan-dahan bumabawi kasi ‘yun naman ‘yung importante.”While he acknowledges that his rising popularity and success are things beyond his control, Anthony knows hard work pays off. For him, his drive is deeply rooted in his responsibility toward his siblings, who are currently studying. “Kami-kami na lang din kasi, simula nang mawala ‘yung Dad ko. May mga mahirap na parts, alam mo &#x27;yun? Pero normal naman ‘yun eh bilang pamilya; nangyayari talaga ‘yun.”<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781035643703embed_metro artist spotlight anthony jennings 10.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/> </div>To close, he shared a lighthearted remark about how his family serves as both his comfort and challenge in life. “Parang rest ko sila, at the same time, stress. Hindi na mawawala ang stress sa pamilya,” he joked.Certainly, reaching where he is today and building a name for himself was never an easy journey for Anthony. Along the way, he faced not only personal challenges but also circumstances beyond his control.Even so, 2026 is shaping up to be another defining chapter in his career. With three upcoming acting projects set to premiere, Anthony stands on the brink of what could be his next breakthrough—one that may further establish him as one of the most versatile actors of his generation.<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781153907935METRO SPOTLIGHT Anthony Jennings.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div style="text-align:center"> </div>Photography by Stephen CapuchinoMetro Editors: Geolette Esguerra and Grace Libero-Cruz Managing Editor: Rick FormalejoMakeup Artist: Raymond Jambangan Hairstylist: Chino ManiquizStylist: Myrrh Lao To, assisted by Josh Galang, Carlie LajaraVideographer: Tricia MatiasEditorial Assistant: Chloe Eve NillarPhotographer’s Assistants: Jobo Nacpil and Randy Erta Special thanks to Star Magic - Laurenti Dyogi, Edith Farinas, Yanie Camante, Divine Villasis; iWant - Vaughn Hautea, Daryl Simone

With three upcoming acting projects set to premiere, Anthony Jennings stands on the brink of what could be his next breakthrough—one that may further establish him as one of the most versatile actors of his generation.

With three upcoming acting projects set to premiere, Anthony Jennings stands on the brink of what could be his next breakthrough—one that may further establish him as one of the most versatile actors of his generation.

Stepping Into the Light: Anthony Jennings on Grit, Growth, and What Comes After the Breakthrough

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Stepping Into the Light: Anthony Jennings on Grit, Growth, and What Comes After the Breakthrough

Lance Joseph Martinez

Published June 11, 2026 05:55 PM PHT

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Updated June 12, 2026 09:47 AM PHT

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Metro Artist Spotlight

Anthony Jennings

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