Although he’s been out of the spotlight for several months, actor John Lloyd Cruz found out this week that he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in the 15th annual International Cinephile Society Awards.
Cruz is a critically acclaimed actor in the Philippines and was giddy that he was nominated the same year as English actor Daniel Day-Lewis.
“I think this is the closest I’m gonna get to Daniel Day-Lewis. Totally unbelievable. Utterly blew my mind and profoundly humbling,” Cruz told ABS-CBN News.
Cruz is in the running for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Lav Diaz’s Ang Babaeng Humayo (The Woman Who Left), while Day-Lewis received a Best Actor nod for his performance in Phantom Thread.
Ang Babaeng Humayo revolves around a woman named Horacia Somorostra (played by Charo Santos-Concio) who is released from prison after being blamed for a crime she did not commit.
Cruz said that the nomination was just a plus to the real reward: working on the film itself.
“It was during the time when I was doing all I can to lose myself into (sic) the character. It was tough. I wish I could do it all over again. But that kind of magic you can never simulate or recreate,” he said.
“… Awards and recognition are just mere celebrations of taste and execution. I’m after the rare kind of magic.”
Ang Babaeng Humayo was also nominated in the categories Best Adapted Screenplay and Non-English Film.
The film previously won the Golden Lion at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival in 2016.
Cruz has been taking a break from showbiz but is often seen on the Instagram posts of model and actress Ellen Adarna, his rumored girlfriend
The winners of the 15th International Cinephile Society Awards will be announced on Feb. 4.
with a report from ABS-CBN News
