Josephine “Jo” Berry is playing her third titular role as a Kapuso actress in the upcoming legal-drama series “Lilet Matias, Attorney-at-Law” - nothing short of an impressive feat for someone who had just started acting in 2016. Even more inspiring is the fact that the Berry-bannered series follows the moving life story of someone whose righteous cause is anchored on the pursuit of becoming a lawyer, an ‘art-imitates-life’ moment for aspiring rights defender Jo Berry.
ACTING JOURNEY
The 30-year-old actress, who had her acting debut in 2016 after a surprising callback for a lead role in “Magpakailanman,” never had any prior acting experience. She even recalled not having the slightest idea what goes on in an audition.
“First-ever audition ko Magpakailanman. 'Tapos ang goal ko lang no’n is ma-try mag-audition kasi inaasar lang ako ng Kuya ko na panganay na may nakita siya sa Facebook page ng little people, 'yung Papa ko kasi 'yung president no’ng time na 'yon ng Little People Association of the Philippines,” she said in a ‘Kapuso Profiles’ interview with GMA Network.
It took only two years for the then-rookie actress to land her first lead role - in a GMA Prime series, no less. She portrayed the character of “Onay” in the 2018 family-drama “Onanay.” That would be followed by seven more shows that occupied her from 2018 to 2022, until she was casted for another titular role in “Little Princess.”
LILET MATIAS, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW
Playing Lilet Matias will be the third time Jo banners a serye, made incredibly special by the revelation that the series was inspired primarily by Jo’s life story.
“Nakita namin na may documentary si Jo Berry before and her dad… pangarap niya maging lawyer. Napagisipan namin, sakto meron nang ‘Abot Kamay na Pangarap’ na medical milieu serye, gawa tayo ng milieu serye na law system naman, o justice system at si Jo Berry as yung representation doon,” head writer J-Mee Katanyag said on February 24 during the show’s grand media conference.
“Sobrang kinilig ako, ngayon ko lang narinig yon, salamat ate J-Mee. Sobrang overwhelmed po ako kasi ang laki ng tiwalang binigay niyo sa akin, na ginawa niyo ito for me. Thank you po,” reacted Jo Berry, smiling from ear to ear.
The Kapuso actress has always been vocal about wanting to pursue a career in law, a dream she shares with his late father.
Asked how she’s able to put up and maintain an incredible acting career despite starting late, Jo credited her dad for believing in her ability to hone what once was an unfamiliar craft.
“Siguro ang pinanghuhugutan ko is yung last na sinabi ng Papa ko, na ituloy ko lang yung laro ko, kasi nakita niya gaano ko na-enjoy po yung craft… hindi ko inexpect na mapupunta ako dito, pero right now binibigyan ako at patuloy na pinagkakatiwalaan ng GMA ng magagandang roles,” she told GMA Regional TV News.
“Yun yung hugot ko dun, yung tiwala na binibigay nila, gusto ko lang suklian,” she added.
Playing lead in the first-ever legal-drama series on Philippine television, Jo found it challenging to shift her demeanor and approach as ‘Lilet Matias’ transformed into ‘Attorney Lilet Matias.’
“The way she speaks, kasi pag andun na po sa korte sobrang iba eh kesa yung Lilet Matias pa lang siya, nung naging si Atty. Lilet na siya, parang ibang tao na, syempre as an actress po, aaralin mo kung paano. Dapat kilala mo yung karakter mo, so parang dalawang tao siya for me. Si Lilet na Lilet Matias lang, at si Atty. na Atty. Lilet Matias na,” she explained.
AN INSPIRATION
Jo Berry’s moving life story has become an instant north star for many who have once doubted their capabilities.
She has taken upon herself the role of representing the community of Filipinos who have dwarfism, a meaningful follow-through on her late dad’s advocacy, who’s also a former president of the Little People Association of the Philippines.
“Kada role, niingatan ko and sini-see to it ko na magagampanan ko nang maayos, na mapapangalagaan ko, especially po para sa mga taong may dwarfism, parang kine-claimi ko na po na ako yung representation nila ngayon. Isa yun sa iniingatan ko palagi, sa pagtanggap ko ng iba’t ibang karakter, na hindi maging masama o degrading for me and for them - the people with dwarfism,” the Kapuso actress said.
She also relates with Lilet Matias’ willingness and ability to show unapologetically her love for things that matter.
“Yung pagpapakita ng love niya for something na gusto niya talagang maabot before. Lahat naman tayo ganun, pag may gusto tayo, pag nakuha na naten, mas mamahalin pa natin,” she said when asked what nuance in Lilet’s character she found the easiest to portray.
Jo Berry is an embodiment of inspiration. Her impact goes beyond how she is perceived as an actress, and that is because she is foremost a kind and genuine dreamer.
“No dreamer is too small, and no dream is too big. For everybody po ‘yan,” Jo said.
