Bela Padilla Is A Best Actress Nominee At The Seoul International Drama Awards!

Philippines, represent!

ABS-CBN actress and Metro.Style digital cover girl Bela Padilla made it to the 15th Seoul International Drama Awards. She's the sole Filipino nominee on the roster that includes nominees from 41 countries, and she's up for the the award of Best Actress, no less!

The Korean award-giving body is recognizing Bela for her performance in 2019's Sino Ang Maysala?: Mea Culpa where she plays the role of Juris. A lawyer by profession who becomes a doting mother by way of unfortunate and complicated circumstances, Bela's Juris allowed her dramatic chops to shine through, enough to catch the attention of an international audience. The role was a departure from Bela's tried-and-tested A-list performances in romantic dramas and adds a point to her catalogue of prime performances. 

Sino Ang Maysala?: Mea Culpa had Bela star alongside other Kapamilya talents including Jodi Sta. Maria, Tony Labrusca (whose digital show Hello, Stranger is a big hit among young viewers), Agot Isidro, Janice de Belen, Kit Thompson, as well as newcomer Ivana Alawi. 

The actresses Bela is up against for the award are from the UK, Turkey, Colombia, Brazil, China, and Taiwan, and are competing in the Best Actress in a Serial Drama category, specifically. (According to Bela, one of the most wow-worthy part about the nomination is the fact that the UK's rep is none other than Imelda Staunton, a.k.a. the mean-spirited Dolores Umbridge from Harry Potter: The Order of the Phoenix!). 

As a massive K-Drama fan, this award is doubly special for the young actress. Her most recent engagement with the Korean film and TV industry came just months ago when she wrapped up filming for a new film shot in both Korea and the Philippines. Titled Ultimate Oppa, the film portrays Bela as a Hallyu-crazed Filipina who, almost magically, finds her way to a potential oppa played by Kim Gun-woo.

Bela joins other Kapamilya actresses and Metro cover girls who have recently been recognized by entertainment industries from different countries. 

Bea Alonzo is part of Variety's list of Asian actors that's meant to introduce them to a wider audience in the West, Anne Curtis made lasting impressions with her action-packed political drama Buy Bust, and Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo bagged the Best Actress award in the 2019 Cairo International Film Festival for the movie Mindanao.

As for the Seoul International Drama Awards, two other Filipinos have been nominated in the past; Alden Richards, who won the Asian Star Prize for actors, and Dennis Trillo, who won the same award in 2016. 

The only thing that Bela will be missing out on is being able to physically attend the ceremony scheduled on September 15. This year, organizers are inviting only local nominees and guests, and will be a private event due to the necessity of safety precautions brought about by the COVID-19 crisis. A live stream of the event will be set up to share the festivities with viewers outside Korea.

Photos from @bela

Check out this video of award-winning actress Bea Alonzo's style evolution: