The 2025 Academy Awards honored the late Filipina acting legend Jaclyn Jose in its “In Memoriam” section, which remembers the “artists and filmmakers lost in 2024-2025.” Jose, who made history in 2016 as the first Filipino and Southeast Asian to win Cannes’ Best Actress Award, passed away in 2024 at age 60.
Jose’s daughter, former actress and content creator Andi Eigenmann, shared a screenshot of the Academy’s “In Memoriam” webpage via Instagram Stories. “My nanay is among other Hollywood artists and filmmakers who are remembered by the Academy this year,” wrote Eigenmann.
Born Mary Jane Santa Ana Guck, Jose made her acting debut in 1984 by starring in provocative films such as William Pascual’s Chicas and Chito Roño’s Private Show, the latter of which earned her a Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Award nomination. She went on to deliver exemplary performances in acclaimed films such as White Slavery, The Flor Contemplacion Story, and Patay Na Si Hesus. On the small screen, Jose made waves in Filipino teleseryes, most notably as the secretive matriarch Magda in Mula Sa Puso.
After nearly four decades in the industry, Jose earned global acclaim for her performance as Rosa, a sari-sari store owner turned meth dealer, in Brillante Mendoza’s Ma’Rosa. Her powerful portrayal led her to win the Best Actress Award at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, beating Hollywood A-listers such as Charlize Theron and Marion Cotillard.
Beyond the accolades, Jose made a significant impact on the Philippines’ cinematic landscape. Because of Jose’s Cannes win, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada led the filing of Senate Bill No. 1032 or the proposed World-Class Filmmakers’ Incentives Act. The bill seeks to “promote the production of world-class Filipino films by granting tax perks,” according to Estrada. The senator called Jose’s death a “tragic loss” to the entertainment industry, echoing Filipino actors inspired by Jose such as Alden Richards, Gina Alajar, Dimples Romana, Kylie Padilla, John Arcilla, and Gardo Versoza, among others.
