101 Scene Stealers: Phenomenal Star
Judy Ann Santos: MOST POPULAR YOUNG STAR
Yes! Magazine, April 2001

It was TV that got director Butch Plata to see her potential as a teen idol. He cast her in Sana Naman, where she was paired with budding actor Wowie de Guzman opposite Gladys Reyes and Christopher Roxas. The movie was a surprise hit, established the Juday-Wowie love team, and signalled the beginning of another love-team era in showbiz after the Janno-Manilyn, Tina Paner-Ramon Christopher, Sheryl-Romnick period.

A series of blockbusters followed Sana Naman. The movies Kung Alam Mo Lang, Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita?, Paano Ang Puso Ko?, Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay, and Muling Ibalik ang Tamis ng Pag-i big all made impressive money—including those that didn’t pair her with Wowie.

Then TV came in once more, this time to make her the Soap Opera Princess through two phenomenally successful
ABS-CBN prime-time soaps: “Mara Clara” and “Esperanza.” Later made into movies by Star Cinema, they became
monster hits in that medium as well. With her proven box-office appeal, she was wooed by top action stars, including Fernando Poe Jr., the “King” himself. Their Isusumbong Kita Sa Tatay Ko earned more that P12OM and remains one of Star Cinema’s 10 top grossers to date. In fact, three of these 10 are Judy Ann movies—the other two being Muling Ibalik ang Tamis ng Pag-ibig with Wowie de Guzman and Kahit Isang Saglit with Piolo Pascual
and Leandro Muñoz.

As though this were not enough, Juday also dabbled in recording!

BACK TO ARTICLES