Actor

2 series in the catalog

Anne Curtis-Smith (Tagalog pronunciation: [ˈkəɹ.tɪs]; born 17 February 1985) is a Filipino actress, television host, singer, and businesswoman. Known for her versatile work in film and television productions, she is one of the most successful and highest-paid Filipino actresses of her generation. She is a recipient of numerous accolades, including two FAMAS Awards, two Metro Manila Film Festival Awards, a Luna Award, and four Box Office Entertainment Awards. She has been named multiple times by Tatler magazine as one of the most influential Filipinos in Asia.

At age 12, Curtis made her film debut in the fantasy drama Magic Kingdom: Ang Alamat ng Damortis (1997). Her breakthrough came with her portrayal as a disfigured woman in the series Kampanerang Kuba (2005). She soon took more starring roles in films, generally in mainstream productions such as All About Love (2006), Ang Cute ng Ina Mo! (2007), and When Love Begins (2008). Curtis won the Metro Manila Film Festival Award for Best Actress for her performance in Baler (2008). She gained further notice for her role as a goddess with divine powers in Dyosa (2008). Curtis has co-hosted the long-running noontime variety show It's Showtime since 2009.

For her role in the romantic drama In Your Eyes (2010), she won the Luna Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also won the FAMAS Award for Best Actress for her portrayal in the film No Other Woman (2011), which broke the record as the highest-grossing Filipino film at that time. In the ensuing years, she starred in a number of commercially successful films of various genres, such as A Secret Affair (2012), The Gifted (2014), Sid & Aya: Not a Love Story (2018), Aurora (2018), Just a Stranger (2019), and The Mall, The Merrier! (2019). Curtis was appointed by UNICEF as the Celebrity Advocate for Children in 2015 and has served as the national ambassador of the agency since 2019.

Curtis's films have collectively earned ₱1.87 billion, making her one of the highest-grossing Filipino box office stars of all time. She is the most followed Filipino celebrity on Twitter and the second most followed Filipino celebrity on Instagram. In 2018, she was named as one of the most promising Asian acts by the Variety magazine and the International Film Festival and Awards. In 2020, Forbes Asia included her on their list of 100 Digital Stars in Asia Pacific region. Curtis became the fourth Filipino to be honored with a Madame Tussauds wax figure in 2024 in Hong Kong.

Early life

Anne Ojales Curtis-Smith was born in Yarrawonga, Victoria, Australia, the daughter of Carmencita Ojales, a Filipina of Chinese and Spanish ancestry from Bolinao, Pangasinan, and James Ernest Curtis-Smith (1943–2026), an Australian lawyer of German, Italian, Irish, and English ancestry. Her father married Ojales in 1982. Her younger sister, Jasmine, is also an actress. On their father's side, they had a half-sister named Clare who died in 2007 due to a cardiovascular disease at four months old.

In 1997, at the age of 11, Curtis visited her mother's relatives in the Philippines with her family. During this trip, a talent scout approached her, inviting her to enter a children's beauty pageant. Despite initial scepticism from her father, Curtis, with her mother's support, decided to explore opportunities in the entertainment industry. Without her father's knowledge, she began attending various talent agencies. Eventually, the family made the decision to stay permanently in the Philippines. At the time, Curtis faced the challenge of not being able to speak or understand Tagalog, prompting her to enroll in language classes.

Career

1997–2004: Career beginnings

In 1997, Curtis had her film debut in Magic Kingdom: Ang Alamat ng Damortis. Afterwards, she signed with Viva Films and GMA Network. Her first television appearance was in the drama series, Ikaw na Sana. She was also part of the teen-oriented show, T.G.I.S..

From 1998 to 2003, Curtis had a string of minor and supporting roles in films such as Honey, My Love... So Sweet, Ika-13 Kapitulo, Juan & Ted: Wanted and in television shows May Bukas Pa, Beh Bote Nga, Anna Karenina, and Idol Ko si Kap.

In 2004, Curtis moved from GMA Network to ABS-CBN, stating the move "majorly life changing." Her first project with the network was the drama Hiram starring Dina Bonnevie and Kris Aquino. She also joined ASAP as a host and as a performer.

2005–2011: Rise to prominence

In 2005, Curtis starred in her breakthrough television series as titular Kampanerang Kuba. A fantasy drama, the series marked her first collaboration with director Wenn V. Deramas. Curtis then hosted the reality show Qpids with Luis Manzano, and a segment in the talk show The Buzz called Wanna Buzz.

In 2006, Curtis joined Manzano as one of the hosts of the second kids season of the reality talent competition Star Circle Quest. That same year, she starred in the romantic drama All About Love, where she co-starred with John Lloyd Cruz, Bea Alonzo, Luis Manzano, Angelica Panganiban and Jason Abalos; as well as the supernatural horror film Wag Kang Lilingon with Kristine Hermosa. She portrayed Celine Magsaysay in the drama series Maging Sino Ka Man. She received acclaim for her performance in the series, and received her first acting nomination at the PMPC Star Awards for TV for Best Drama Actress.

In 2007, Curtis reunited with Wenn V. Deramas for the comedy film Ang Cute Ng Ina Mo. She also co-starred with Oyo Boy Sotto in Sineserye Presents: May Minamahal, and reprised her role of in the second installment of Maging Sino Ka Man, entitled Maging Sino Ka Man: Ang Pagbabalik. Earlier in the year, Curtis also became a video jockey for MTV Philippines.

In 2008, Curtis starred in two romantic dramas; When Love Begins, alongside Aga Muhlach, and the 34th Metro Manila Film Festival official entry, Baler, with Jericho Rosales. For her performance in the latter, she won the Metro Manila Film Festival Award for Best Actress. This marked Curtis' first acting award. She also received Best Actress nominations at the 57th FAMAS Awards, 25th PMPC Star Awards for Movies, 11th Gawad PASADO Awards, and a 27th Luna Awards. Also in 2008, Curtis top-billed the fantasy television series Dyosa, where she played four different characters. Because of the role, she was dubbed as the "Dyosa" of Philippine Show business.

In 2009, Curtis became one of the main hosts of the morning competition program, Showtime! alongside Vhong Navarro, Kim Atienza, and Vice Ganda, and starred in the romantic comedy television series, The Wedding, with Zanjoe Marudo and Derek Ramsay. For her work in Showtime!, she and her co-hosts received a nomination for Best Talent Search Program Host at the 24th PMPC Star Awards for TV.

In 2010, Curtis starred in the romantic comedy film Babe, I Love You. The movie marked her first big-screen team-up with Sam Milby. She also starred in the romantic drama film In Your Eyes, alongside Claudine Barretto and Richard Gutierrez. Her role in the film earned her an award for Best Supporting Actress at the 29th Luna Awards, and a Movie Actress of the Year nomination at the 27th PMPC Star Awards for Movies.

In 2011, Curtis starred in the Philippine adaptation of the Korean drama, Green Rose, with Jericho Rosales. She also top-billed the comedy film Who's That Girl?, which served as her reunion movie with Luis Manzano. In the same year, she starred in the romantic drama film No Other Woman with Derek Ramsay and Cristine Reyes. The film is a box-office success, grossing ₱100 million in five days, and has a total gross of ₱278 million. No Other Woman briefly became the highest-grossing Filipino film, before it was eclipsed by The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin, later in the year. For the film's box-office performance, she and Reyes were recognized as the Box-Office Queens at the 43rd Box Office Entertainment Awards. Curtis also won the Best Actress awards at the 14th Gawad Pasado Awards, and 60th FAMAS…