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Bela Padilla on why she became a writer: ‘I wasn’t being offered the roles I wanted to play’

Article (news)

Rhea Manila Santos

Push Team

Since moving back to the country last year after being based in the United Kingdom where she attend acting school, Bela Padilla admitted she is slowly getting back into the groove of acting and scriptwriting now that she has returned to local showbiz. “Okay naman. I’ve been very busy since I got back. Ngayon busy sa taping. Nanibago ako nung una, pero ngayon medyo ilang buwan na kami nag-te-taping so ano na, back na ako sa regular rhythm.&quot;I’ve directed two full-length films. One is on Netflix and one is on Amazon Prime already. Meron akong gustong gawin na ganun (na award-worthy project) pero may hinihintay akong tamang timing. Parang hindi pa siya ngayon. May hinihintay akong matapos,” she shared during the Nivea Brightest Spot caravan event held last April 25 in Muntinlupa City. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/12/18/bela-padilla-recalls-experience-living-in-the-uk-0820">READ: Bela Padilla recalls experience living in the UK</a></div>The Fil-British beauty also shared how her love for writing began way before she decided to become an actress.“The biggest influence, I would say, my mom was a big influence. Her love for books rubbed off on me. I feel like I wouldn’t be a writer today if I didn’t like reading first. Also, I felt like there was a gap in the industry for what I wanted to watch and maybe because I wasn’t being offered the roles I wanted to play, parang sometimes, &#x27;di ba, invention comes out of necessity. So I started inventing characters that I wanted to play. So parang dun lang naman nag-umpisa yun eh. Gusto kong mag-play ng certain characters that no one was offering me so I started writing. This year, I’m writing a few things in collaboration with ABS-CBN,” she said. Bela first made her debut as a screenwriter in 2017 with two films Luck At First Sight and Last Night, which she also starred in. She also wrote Apple of My Eye (2019), 366 (2022), and Yung Libro Sa Napanood Ko (2023), and also received directing credits for the latter two. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/2019/2/11/fresh-scoops/bela-padilla-is-proud-of-her-first-valentines-day-34897">READ: Bela Padilla is proud of her first Valentine’s day film &#x27;Apple of My Eye&#x27;</a></div>Now single after parting ways with her last relationship of five years, the Nivea celebrity ambassador also shared where she would love to go this summer and why she loves the sun.“For single ladies, naku kung alam ko yan eh di sana doon ako nagpunta (laughs). Siguro sa beach. Madaming mababait na tao sa beach. Usually, very chill ang mga tao dahil sa water. I would say the beach,” she shared. Bela also added that even though she is not afraid to be under the sun, she always makes sure to use some skin protection.“Always, always! I actually see to it that I have a healthy glow, like a healthy color. But even when I go to the beach, kasi I go to the beach a lot. I don’t know if you guys check my socials but I’m always free diving when I’m not working. I’m always very active when I’m out in the sun. Kaninang umaga bago ako pumunta dito nasa Salcedo market ako nagpapaaraw ako. So I like having a bit of color. But I make sure my skin is healthy so gumagamit pa rin ako ng sunscreen kahit na nagpapaaraw ako lagi,” she explained.

Actress, writer, and director Bela Padilla talks about where her love for writing first began and the real reason she started writing screenplays for her own films.

Actress, writer, and director Bela Padilla talks about where her love for writing first began and the real reason she started writing screenplays for her own films.