Wikipedia said you're 49 years old? You look so young for your age.

(laughs) I'm only 38! I was born 1971.

We're so glad that you're an example that talent, more than just fair skin and mestiza looks or a lipo-sculpted body, can actually get you far in this industry.

Oh, thank you! Beauty is only good for five or seven minutes. After that, people are going to look for other things that you can offer. So, in my case, alam ko naman na di ako maganda, di ako sexy. Sapat lang, tama lang sa pangangailangan ko sa araw-araw.

What do you want say to women who are not comfortable in their own skin and feel they are not traditionally 'beautiful'?

First of all, do not believe that you are not beautiful. You may not be beautiful because you do not fix yourself, you have to fix yourself! Acknowledge the fact that you have to fix yourself. Be neat, be pleasant, you need to know how to smile. Just be pleasant and you will be beautiful, believe me.

What's next for Eugene Domingo?

Sleep!  But in the next five years, I want to study again, and I hope to have a sitcom where the cast becomes your second family, like John en Marsha or Chicks to Chicks. And that should be enough for my monthly bills.  I want to do more films, more indie films. And I still want to experience Cannes, I want to experience Cannes in my lifetime, sana next year.

Images by Datu Angeles.   Movie stills from kimmydora.com.