MAXimum appeal

CEBU, Philippines -  She’s not a household name yet. In fact, when young actress Max Collins was announced the new female lead opposite Dingdong Dantes after Kylie Padilla backed out from their drama series, her name drew a blank for those not closely following local tinseltown.

The star of GMA7’s Pahiram ng Sandali may not be up there in the fame barometer yet, but she’s already living her dream working alongside veterans Lorna Tolentino and Christopher de Leon, and being paired with Dingdong, now a two-time MMFF Best Actor awardee.

Beginnings

Max is not new to the scene though, and had actually begun her showbiz journey at 13 years old. Going by her real name then, which is Isabelle Abiera, this niece of former actress Ana Abiera was born in California, USA to a Filipina from Kalibo, Aklan and to an American of Irish-Italian roots. Her folks split when she was four, and her mom remarried when she was nine.

The move to the Philippines along with her mom and younger half-brother happened when she was 10. They lived in the island of Boracay for three years, with Max describing her stay there as one of the best times of her childhood.

“It was amazing! Ang saya lang. Wala kang iintindihin. You’re just a kid running around the beach and hanging out with friends. I was exposed to different cultures there, like the Germans, the Swiss and Americans. It was a simple life, but we had to move to the city because the school I went to there didn’t have high school at that time,” said Max, who already dabbled in commercial modeling even before her family relocated to Manila.

With her looks, she was bound to be discovered by talent scouts. How it came about is stuff for the movies: She accidentally walked into a Kim Chiu-Gerald Anderson film shoot inside a mall boutique. The staff thought she was one of the actresses. Realizing she wasn’t, they convinced her to audition for Star Magic. ABS-CBN’s talent arm signed her up and made her undergo an intense three-month training program on acting, dancing, singing and voice drama. “Sabi ko sa sarili ko, susubukan ko lang kung magugustuhan ko,” Max said.

Max was 13 when she was launched as a member of Star Magic Batch 15, same group as Jon Avila, Martin del Rosario, Bela Padilla and Jessy Mendiola. She did small roles in a slew of shows and enjoyed a hosting stint in Channel V.

When her contract with Star Magic ended in 2010, Max left for the US to figure out what she really wanted to pursue.

While there, the Fil-Am earned her upkeep by working with her aunt who is a general contractor in the construction business. She also auditioned for some Disney shows.

Comeback

“After working different jobs, I realized that I loved acting. It wasn’t just because one of my aunts used to be an actress, it was more because I really loved working in front of the camera,” she recalled.

Max returned to the country to relaunch the career she had put on hold. Her comeback was via a regular hosting stint in Wowowee, and a villain role in the afternoon soap Rosalka.

She later sought new management, signing up with Perry Lansigan’s PPL Entertainment, Inc. (same agency that handles Dingdong), which then changed her screen name to Max Collins.

“We felt there were already a lot of Isabelles in GMA-7, and also to give me sort of a fresh start. Fresh network, fresh management, so fresh everything! Max was my management’s decision. I don’t know why they chose that, but I just knew it had to be short. I guess it suits me more, because the name sounds strong, and I consider myself to be a strong person. It boosted my confidence. And my career did become better when I was already Max,” she explained.

“I felt like a different person. Everytime I hear my name Max, I just felt stronger because Isabelle sounded very girly. Isabelle made me think of a refined girl, which I can be. At first, it felt weird. Kung tatawagin akong Max, hindi ako lilingon. Eventually, I was able to make Isabelle and Max just one person. I used to separate my showbiz personality to my off-cam persona. But now, I’ve managed to merge them.”

Her first project with the network was the afternoon soap The Good Daughter, where she played Kylie’s bestfriend. Coffee Prince came next. This time, she was lead support to Kris Bernal and Aljur Abrenica.

Acting chops

Max, blessed with full lips and big expressive eyes, shared one Coffee Prince castmate’s compliment that she would never forget.

“I got a comment from Ms. Celia Rodriguez who told me na ang galing kong umiyak. Sabi niya din, ang sarap kong panoorin sa TV and that the camera loves me. I was really touched. She said, ‘Believe me. I’ve been in the industry forever so I know what I’m talking about.’ Sabi ko nga, puwede na akong mamatay. I felt I did justice somewhat to the character I was playing then.”

Maybe Celia Rodriguez’s instincts were spot-on, because before Max’s final taping day for Coffee Prince, she would receive the good news that GMA-7 bosses chose her to be Dingdong’s leading lady in Pahiram ng Sandali.

There was a time Max thought this opportunity would never come. It was because her strong mestiza features would normally have her pigeon-holed for the rich, snooty or sophisticated characters.

“I do feel my foreign looks limit the roles I’m considered for. That’s why my dream is to have more challenging, complex roles away from the stereotype. I’d like to play characters that have nothing to do with my real-life personality, para mahirapan ako,” she said. “At the same time, I think my looks also make me different because not everyone can do the roles that are fit for me to play.”

Main billing or not, Max would have been content with getting a steady stream of gigs.

She said, “All I wish for is continuous work. I don’t think you can improve as an actress if you don’t always have acting jobs. Nalulungkot ako kapag wala akong trabaho, because this is really my passion. I’d love to be recognized as a respectable actress and one day win an award. Then maybe become a producer later on. Ultimately, I want to be an inspiration for others.”

Max named Anne Curtis as one personality she had always admired. “I’ve liked her ever since she was still starting out. Until now, she’s still very active. I don’t want to say I’d like to follow her very same path, because she has a different image to how I am.”

Her own person

And while she may have the appeal of a temptress just like her idol, the 20-year old feels “going sexy is not my path. I want to be a dramatic actress and prove that I can act. That’s my goal.”

She stays laser-focused on that goal by not dwelling on anything that distracts her from work. That includes having to deal with difficult people on set. “I’ve had my share of working with those kind of stars, because I started at a young age. I understand why they act that way. But then again, we’re all working, so I hope we can just all get along. I just don’t mind them, since I’m not the type to confront or let someone get to me. I’d rather focus on work.”

But that’s not to say the ugly side of the biz didn’t get to her too. “It’s how plastic showbiz can be,” Max replied with a hesitant laugh when asked what got her culture-shocked at first. “The industry is very competitive, so doon mo makikita yung ka-plastikan ng mga tao. But that doesn’t mean everybody’s like that.”

Speaking of the tough competition, what indeed separates her from the plenty mestiza actresses? “I’m myself. I don’t attain to be somebody else. I just want to be the best that I can be,” she firmly said.

Max describes herself as having a right mix of Pinay warmth and American openness. “Malambing ako, which I think I got from my Pinoy side. I can say that I’m also a respectful and humble person, which Filipinos are known for. We’re caring and accommodating. I’m American when it comes to being open-minded. I wouldn’t say liberated. I just feel I’m more aware of other cultures. I’ve noticed that people think I’m kikay, maarte or mataray. I’m actually the easiest person to please. Mababaw lang ang kaligayahan ko.”

She further illustrates her low-maintenance personality by listing off her other interests. “I’m so boring. I like yoga, reading, watching movies and hanging out. I love learning, that’s number one. But I’m more of a homebody. I don’t really like going out so much, because I already see so much people in my line of work. So during my free time, I want it quiet and private.”

Of what she looks for in a potential boyfriend, Max shared: “Someone malambing, maalaga at madaldal. Kasi ganyan din ako. I like nice, kind eyes. I like guys who are spiritual, driven and focused on their career.”

Surely, for this gorgeous Kapuso actress on the rise, she’ll have no shortage of admirers hoping to make the grade on those trait requirements!