Why Bela Padilla can’t stay put, launches makeup line

BELA BY BELA

Now based in the United Kingdom, Bela Padilla finds herself flying in and out of the Philippines whenever there’s work or project offers. While it can be tiring, this kind of setup is for someone like her who simply can’t stay put.

“I get antsy when I’m not doing anything … It’s one of the reasons I pursued scriptwriting and directing. I can’t stay put doing just one thing. It can be tiring and I have had my share of low moments. But if you genuinely like what you’re doing, then it feels good doing it,” she told the Inquirer at the recent launch of her makeup brand Bela by Bela.

The actress, who relocated to London in 2021, is currently in Manila and expects to stay here until January primarily for an upcoming drama series whose details she can’t divulge just yet.

“I’m home starting a new teleserye very, very soon. It’s one of the biggest reasons I’m here. What I can tell right now is it’s going to be topbilled by four women. I’m not allowed to reveal who the other three are. It’s not a love story or family drama… It’s really different. From the first draft alone, I can already tell it’s going to be good,” she said.

To just be yourself

The 34-year-old actress is also back on the variety show “It’s Showtime,” which taps her once in a while for hosting stints. The job—if she can even call it that—is something she looks forward to because gets to let her hair down.

“It’s like being in a standup show. You just laugh the whole time. It’s an avenue to just be yourself. There’s no time to pretend or overthink what you say, because everything’s on the go. And if there’s positive feedback, that just means that the viewers love you for who you are as a person,” she said.

You do you

Bela makes sure to find time for her business endeavors, the newest one being Bela by Bela. The makeup line currently has two products: a color-changing lip balm and the dot perfection cheek tint. These two items, she said, are all she needs when she’s off duty.

There’s no elaborate or deeper messaging here. “It’s just supposed to make you feel at your most beautiful,” Bela said, adding that it’s good to see more celebrities launching their own brands or venturing into businesses. “Entertainment isn’t forever, unless you find a way behind the cameras. So you do you.”

Did she feel nervous about putting her name on the product? “I worked so hard for the past 16, 17 years. The roles, the things I’m doing today weren’t just handed to me. I had to pay my dues,” Bela said. “I’m in a more comfortable place in my life, my career now, so I’m careful where I put my name.”