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It’s not typical that you meet a woman who looks like she has everything in control and who doesn’t give a crap about what you think, and you won’t get at least a bit intimidated. And even though actress Annicka Dolonius exudes those qualities, she has that innate “sweetness” in her that makes you chose to be her ally rather than her foe. She’s a fuckin’ badass and she loves it, that’s actually one thing that sets her aside from the rest.
I asked her regarding her start in acting because I was guilty of stereotyping her to be more of a rockstar than an actress. I confessed that thought before we started the interview and she just laughed and said that she gets that a lot. “I was in high school and I decided that I didn’t want to go to uni. I found out that a friend of mine was going to drama school, then I was like ‘Tangina, you can go to school for that? I thought that was shit that you’re born into,’” says Annicka. She was 18 during this time of realization and was studying in Switzerland. She decided to stay here in the Philippines and her mom accompanied her to her first audition. Her first movie was Pisay, a coming of age film directed by Auraeus Solito about the individual lives of some students studying at Philippine Science High School during the Marcos regime. Annicka’s breakout role though was playing the happy-go-lucky Enid del Mundo in Marie Jamora’s Ang Nawawala. Nowadays, she’s getting her hands dirty, both literally and figuratively speaking, since she spends her mornings tending to her garden and working on a production project. She’s busy but she’s probably one of the most relaxed people that I’ve talked to in a while.
We met up at this swanky looking restaurant in Salcedo Village, Makati called La Creperie because apparently, Annicka’s favorite drink is hot chocolate. I’m not really a hot chocolate kinda gal and I haven’t had one in a long time, so I was really looking forward to talking to Annicka as we both set aside our brutish persona and have our pinkies up while taking a sip on our dainty cups.
HOW DID WE MEET?
Annicka’s version:
I’m not sure completely because I was drinking a lot, but I’m pretty sure we met because of UNO. My sister Sanya had a lot of fun with her shoots for you guys and that gave me the confidence to go ahead to give it a try as well. The shoot ended up really fun.
My version:
I know I’ve met Annicka several times before meeting her at that shoot she’s talking about, I’m just not sure when exactly because like her, I was also drinking every time I’m out. I’m sure I’ve met her at a gig, but I first saw her at Fully Booked in BGC. She was with her then boyfriend and I was with a few of my co-editors. We were all wondering who she was until we found out that she’s the sister of Sanya Smith, whom we’ve all worked with in different occasions.
WHAT’S YOUR MOST FAVORITE THING ABOUT BEING YOU?
Annicka: My meanness, that part of me is so very Annicka. I dunno. That’s a strange question. My heartbeat? I really don’t know. I think I’m alright. I’m kind of an asshole, I’m trying to work on it. I struggle a lot with liking myself. I don’t think I could stand to be in the same room with myself for a very long time, but I think I’d look at myself and be like “dude, that person is pretty cool.”
D: It’s fine. It’s okay to be an asshole occasionally.
Annicka: Thank you for that! Maybe I will be an asshole again.
D: I mean, you can’t be nice all the time. You’d get abused easily.
Annicka: Yeah. And there’s something fishy about someone who’s too nice. It’s almost like “what do you want?”
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’D BE BETTER AT, A WIFE OR A MOM AND WHY?
Annicka: I have no idea, I’ve never considered either.
D: You don’t think you’d be good at both?
Annicka: It’s not that I won’t be good at them, I just don’t know which one I’d be better at. Hahaha!
“I think I’m alright. I’m kind of an asshole, I’m trying to work on it. I struggle a lot with liking myself. I don’t think I could stand to be in the same room with myself for a very long time.”
WHAT’S THE WORST KIND OF PERSON THAT YOU’VE ENCOUNTERED?
Annicka: The worst kind of people I’ve ever met are vampires in every single way. They suck the life out of you. They make you feel that you’re amazing and then they’re like “there’s that good energy I need.”
D: Narcissists. Sociopaths.
Annicka: Yeah. Those. Although it’s hard to say because I have a little of those things in me, I truly believe that I might be a little bit psychopathic. There are surgeons and CEOs of companies that are a little bit psychopathic so maybe I can accept that, but I just don’t like people who abuse the shit out of other people. They’re liars, selfish, just no.
IF YOU CAN ASK A GENIE TO GRANT YOU THREE WISHES, WHAT WOULD THEY BE?
Annicka: I would ask for a lot of money, as in gold bars and money. And then I would probably ask for the ability of flight for me and my family, that would be kind of cool. Then the last thing that I would ask for would be the ability to play any instrument at any given time. I’m just noticing now that it’s just so much fun to have somebody who can play an instrument at any time, any song, at every party.
WHAT’S YOUR MOST FAVORITE TIME OF DAY AND WHAT DO YOU USUALLY DO DURING THAT TIME?
Annicka: My favorite time of day is sunrise.
D: Anung ginagawa mo?
Annicka: It depends. Am I waking up? Or am I about to go to sleep?
D: Hahahaha!
Annicka: Normally, I’m up and I’m in my garden.
WHO DO YOU GO TO FOR ADVICE IN LIFE?
Annicka: My sisters. We’re all trying to figure out life, we’re all trying to be like “uggghhh, what’s happening?” but I know they’re always to be like “hey, it’s okay, we’re here.” Them, for sure. And of course, my parents and I have older friends that I look up to. Oh, and my cats.
“I just don’t like people who abuse the shit out of other people. They’re liars, selfish, just no.”
IF THERE’S ONE THING THAT YOU’RE ADDICTED TO RIGHT NOW, WHAT IS IT?
Annicka: Yosi and sugar. I’m trying to quit. I just can’t stop thinking about wanting something sweet. Yosi? I’ve been really trying to cut down, and it’s working, but sometimes, you just really need a cigarette.
WHO WOULD YOU WANT TO BE ON YOUR SIDE IN A BAR FIGHT? WHY?
Annicka: Duh? The Rock and John Cena on my right and left, or the entire gang in the movie From Dusk Till Dawn.
WHY IS HOT CHOCOLATE YOUR FAVORITE DRINK?
Annicka: Because it’s chocolate that you don’t have to chew, you just drink it. It’s warm; it’s like drinking blood but it’s chocolate. Unless you’re allergic to chocolate or chocolate did something horrible to you in your childhood, I can’t think of a better drink. I mean, alcohol is nice too, but it’s nice to keep a clear head, right? And also, Jack (Daniels) was taken, so hot chocolate na lang.
Denise J. Mallabo 