MANILA, Philippines?Our interview with Vilma Santos last week was vivid proof why, 46 years after she portrayed the award-winning title role in Mars Ravelo?s ?Trudis Liit? at age 9, the luster of local show biz?s Star for All Seasons is brighter than ever. The legendary actress? illustrious career is truly an instructive lesson in humility and astute career management.

Gay lovers

We chatted with Ate Vi?yes, she prefers that familiar term of endearment over the more official ?Governor Vi??as she was on her way to the shooting of Olivia Lamasan?s ?In My Life,? the actress? highly anticipated return to the big screen after 2004?s ?Mano Po 3: My Love.? In the movie, which has a September playdate, she shares top billing with son Luis Manzano and John Lloyd Cruz, who play gay lovers.

Her latest film excites her?with good reason. She explains: ?The character I play is irascible and rather comic?isang masungit na librarian who feels na hindi siya mahal ng mundo?and my gay son (played by Lucky) gives me a makeover when I get to New York, where the film was partly shot.?

The gay role is obviously challenging for the actress? 28-year-old son. Does she give Luis acting tips? ?I don?t usually meddle,? she quickly answers. ?Taking on the role was a decision he had to make on his own, and he?s working very hard! Minsan, masakit sa loob ko ?pag napapagalitan siya sa set, but I keep my mouth shut, because I don?t want to be regarded as a stage mother. It?s refreshing to work with Olive Lamasan, who?s a perfectionist. Lumalabas ang pagka-pusong-babae niya sa mga eksena.?

Achievements

It would take a long time to sum up Ate Vi?s achievements as an actress and public servant, but she told us how fortunate she felt to have played two of Philippine cinema?s most iconic female characters, ?Darna? and ?Dyesebel.?

How did she find Angel Locsin?Lucky?s special someone?as the Pinoy superheroine? She replies: ?I was lucky to play Dyesebel in 1973 and Darna in four movies. Angel was also a convincing Darna because, to play the character, dapat mukha ka talagang babae. Moviegoers don?t want their Darna skinny?she has to be voluptuous, with a little mannish quality about her.? (Darna flies again in August on GMA-7, with Marian Rivera donning the heroine?s skimpy red garb.)

Reportedly, the Star for All Seasons has good relationships with the country?s two other iconic movie queens?Superstar Nora Aunor and Megastar Sharon Cuneta, who is a self-confessed Vilmanian. She confirms this: ?Until two years ago, Guy and I used to text each other on occasion?nagkukumustahan kami. Dapat daw pag-uwi niya, ako ang sumundo sa kanya sa airport. But, we have since lost touch, kasi nagbago na ang mga numbers namin. Sharon is also dear to me. When she was young and I?d find myself in Dasmariñas Village, she would always give me flowers.?

200 movies

Of the approximately 200 movies she had starred in, she says her favorites include Mike de Leon?s ?Sister Stella L.,? Laurice Guillen?s ?Dahil Mahal Kita: The Dolzura Cortez Story? and ?Ipagpatawad Mo,? Rory Quintos? ?Anak,? and Ishmael Bernal?s ?Relasyon,? the first of four movies that brought her Best Actress-hauling grand slams (the other three being ?Dahil Mahal Kita? and Chito Roño?s ?Dekada ?70? and ?Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa??).

Four factors are key to her longevity and continued success, she tells us: ?Dedication, hard work, smart choices and the grace of God. ?Pag may kulang, it?ll be hard to sustain any form of success. Huwag kang tanggap lang ng tanggap ng project for the money?be judicious.?

How does she manage to stay on top? With earnest humility, Ate Vi answers: ?Hindi ko alam ang layunin ng Panginoon sa akin, but in whatever I do, I just give my best. Plus, it?s important to always keep your priorities in mind: I?m foremost a wife and mother. Then, I?m a public servant. Sadly, show biz has become third on my list of priorities, but acting is not something I can ever turn my back on!? Wise words, indeed. After all, Vilma Santos isn?t the Star for All Seasons for nothing!