Dannyka Manangan

Jef Gaitan on returning to showbiz after childbirth: ‘Mag-re-restrict lang ako sa sexy roles’

Article (news)

Rhea Manila Santos

Push Team

<p>After giving birth last year to her first child, Rodolfo Victor, actress Jef Gaitan shared that she is happy to get back into acting this year, as part of the cast of the upcoming romantic comedy <em>Meg &amp; Ryan</em>. The talented actress talked about her latest role as Rhian Ramos’s best friend in director Catherine O. Camarillo’s latest work. </p><p>“I play the role of Anne, Meg’s best friend. Anne is a toxic friend and yet, she’s a friend (laughs). So she’s always there for Meg. Anne also came from a broken family. ‘Yung escape naman ni Anne is she likes adventure. She’s a thrill seeker. Pero dahil toxic siya sa paghahanap niya ng thrills, kailangan kasama niya ang best friend niya na si Meg. She’s a bad influence and toxic best friend,” she shared during the <em>Meg &amp; Ryan</em> grand presscon held earlier this month.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-7" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DL4U4fTym0F/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A7%2C%22os%22%3A4862741.8%2C%22ls%22%3A3995120.4000000004%2C%22le%22%3A3995625.9000000004%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="800" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-7" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/7/14/exclusive-jef-gaitan-talks-about-her-mother-in-law-lorna-tolentino-akala-ko-lt-is-mataray-1011"><strong>READ: EXCLUSIVE: Jef Gaitan talks about her mother-in-law Lorna Tolentino: ‘Akala ko LT is mataray!’</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>It has been a while since Jef‘s last project. “Parang 2023 ‘yung last project ko. Halos one year din. Kasi may natapos pa akong teleserye nung 2023, ‘yung <em>Nag-Aapoy na Damdamin</em> with ABS-CBN. Tapos after nun, nag-stop na ako,” she recalled. </p><p>Now that she has entered motherhood, Jef admitted that this will definitely have an effect on her accepting sexy roles. “Well, napag-usapan namin ito ng husband ko na si Renz (Fernandez) and sabi naman niya, if nangangailangan sa character, we can always talk about it. But gusto ko naman as much as possible, siguro mag-re-restrict lang ako sa sexy roles. Pero if it’s needed and it’s part of the story, I can always talk about it with my husband,” she explained.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-8" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DL7oVJBybIu/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A8%2C%22os%22%3A4863956.3%2C%22ls%22%3A3995120.4000000004%2C%22le%22%3A3995625.9000000004%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-8" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Apart from being a wife and a mom, Jef admitted that going back to showbiz was also a challenge because it meant going back to her old figure before childbirth. “It was. Hindi lang physical ‘yung going back to your old figure but mentally ‘yung changes. So nagulat ako sa changes. Akala ko ‘pag nanganak ka na, babalik ka na. But then, ‘yun ‘yung mga challenges like I’m breastfeeding also so hindi ako puwede mag-diet, and then I was CS (caesarian) so marami kang kailangan ingatan. Plus, pagod ka na mag-alaga ng bata. So I think it’s more of gusto mo mag-relax, gusto mo mag-slow down, so nahihirapan ka kasi teka lang, kailangan ko bumalik pero kailangan ko din maging mommy. I think nandoon ‘yung mas mahirap na part,” she shared.</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/2024/6/27/lorna-tolentino-s-son-renz-fernandez-marries-partner-jef-gaitan-146"><strong>READ: Lorna Tolentino’s son Renz Fernandez marries partner Jef Gaitan</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>More than the physical changes, Jef said that putting her family above all else in her life was the biggest adjustment she has had to make in her life. Being used to her independence, Jef had to make accomodations now that she is both wife and mother. “Ang laki ng change as a person kasi ‘yung priorities of course nag-iba. Hindi lang naman ako basta naging mom. I’m also a wife. I was independent before this, so ngayon parang every little decision I have to make, kailangan ko pala mag-consult. Siyempre being an independent person to becoming dependent to someone, it’s really a big adjustment for me,” she said.</p><p>Nevertheless, Jef is also thankful for the partner that she has found in her husband. “Pero kaming dalawa naman ni Renz, we’re being gentle with each other. When it comes naman to acting, ang maganda ngayon is meron na akong ka-kuwentuhan na naiintindihan niya yung mga processes ng pagiging artista. Like dito, may mga scenes akong kinukuwento sa kanya. Meron na kaming mas napaguusapan na ngayon na mas technical because he also came from a showbiz family, ‘di ba? So madami din siyang alam, lalo na pointers from his dad and his mom. So madami din akong tips na nakukuha sa kanya based dun sa mga kinukuwento niya,” she added. </p><p>When asked why she thinks <em>Meg &amp; Ryan</em> is worth watching in the cinemas, Jef shared, “This is a story about finding love, looking for love, what is love, how to love, and what do you do after being in love. So lahat ‘yun masasagot ni Meg and Ryan, kaya panuorin niyo po!’</p><p>Watch <em>Meg &amp; Ryan</em> when it opes nationwide starting August 6. Directed by Catherine O. Camarillo,DGPI and written by Gina Marissa Tagasa under Pocket Media Films, the film stars JC Santos, Rhian Ramos, Cedrick Juan, Ces Quesada, Cris Villanueva, Jef Gaitan plus a promising lineup of fresh faces like J-mee Katanyag, Steven Bansil, Poca Osinaga, and Alison Black. </p>

<p>'Meg &amp; Ryan' actress Jef Gaitan talks about the challenge of getting back into acting after giving birth to her first child with husband Renz Fernandez last year.</p>

'Meg & Ryan' actress Jef Gaitan talks about the challenge of getting back into acting after giving birth to her first child with husband Renz Fernandez last year.