Jasmine Curtis-Smith stars in ang Utol Kong Hoodlum

We had a chance to interview Jasmine Curtis-Smith, the younger sister of Kapamilya star Anne Curtis early this week and we had pleasant time talking to the star of TV5’s “Ang Utol Kong Hoodlum” where Jasmine is paired with JC De Vera.

Jasmine was presented to the press at the TV5 Christmas party last year and come July, she will be seen in the remake of the Vina Morales-Robin Padilla film.

Jasmine is now in year 11 at the Australia where she’s studying. She left for Australia last Tuesday but she will be back to do promo for “Ang Utol Kong Hoodlum.” She had shot all her scenes except for the ending which might be shot in Australia.

A lot of people told her that she looks like GMA Star Jackie Rice. She hasn’t had the chance to meet her although Jasmine said she googled her the first time she was told of that. Others told her she looks like Coleen Garcia, a Kapamilya star.

She’s using her dad’s surname Smith as part of her screen name and if Jasmine would have her way, she really would love to use it. “In my dad’s family, he’s the only one using the full surname Curtis Smith. Kaya ako gusto ko rin na ito ang gamitin for the sake of my dad. Although it’s fine with me if we would use Smith only kasi mahaba nga po ang pangalan pero I prefer that I be known as Jasmine Curtis-Smith,” she said.

What did your Dad say when you told him that you want to follow your sister’s footsteps and join showbiz as well?

“He’s very proud of us both. Mayabang siya pagdating sa amin. Marami siyang pictures namin sa wallet niya. Nagbabakasyon lang po talaga ako rito. One time pumunta kami ng supermarket tapos may picture siya ni Ate (Anne) sa wallet niya. Pinapakita niya sa cashier ‘yung picture tapos sinasabi niya, ‘that’s my anak.’ Ngingiti lang ang sales lady sa kanya.”

Jasmine had been in Australia since 2005. When asked how many siblings she has, she said that counting all the half-sisters and half-brothers, they are 11 all in all. They have older brothers and sisters. She and Anne have a younger brother, and they have a new half-sister, a one-year-old girl. Their 11-year-old brother lives in Australia with their mom.

She can speak with an Australian twang but she only gets to use it whenever she talks with her dad. As far as she knows, “Ang Utol Kong Hoodlum” would be aired sometime in June. By the second week of June, the production staff would go to Sydney to shoot some scenes there, including the ending. She has finished all her scenes although some members of the cast would still have to finish their scenes until the second week of May.

She’s playing the role of Bing, the role originated by Vina Morales in the film version. She was kidnapped by Ben (JC) and while together something will develop between them. In the end, they would admit that they feel something for each other.

How is it working with JC?

“Sobrang gaan ng pakiramdam kasi alam na niya kung ano ang ginagawa niya so parang ako na lang ang mag-si-slide in para mag-blend lahat ng scenes saka lagi po niya akong tinutulungan so that what we do onscreen would match, in every scene. He’s like my second mentor on the set aside from our director. Masaya po siyang katrabaho at sobrang maalaga,” Jasmine revealed.

So he can’t court you? “Hindi po kasi mayroon siyang Danica at happy po sila,” she said.

She had a boyfriend before but Jasmine says she realized that she’s not yet emotionally and mentally ready for a relationship. She’s only 17 so she still doesn’t want to have a boyfriend now. She just turned 17 a few weeks ago. She was only 15 when she had her first boyfriend but her family knew about this.

She stays with Anne while she’s here in Manila and she spent the Holy Week with her in Batangas. They went to Punta Fuego and Tali Beach. “Nanghiram lang po kami ng bahay,” Jasmine said. “We went there with some friends, including Kuya Manzano (Luis Manzano).”

So how did she feel when she was linked to Luis?

“Kuya ko talaga siya so it felt weird that we were linked. Kuya mo siya for so long tapos iisipin ng mga tao na may nangyari sa inyo. I was about 8 or 9 years old when he became my Kuya so kadiri isipin na we were linked,” said Jasmine who’s on a diet. For Lent, she gave up rice and potatoes.

Also playing important roles in “Ang Utol Kong Hoodlum” are Ara Mina, Jay Manalo, Dennis Padilla and Regine Tolentino who plays Jasmine’s mom.