VETERAN actress and stand-up comedienne Tessie Tomas never forgets she is in the entertainment business, on and off camera. No wonder, she always puts on make-up every time she leaves the house.

The star of director Neil “Buboy” Tan’s forthcoming drama, ‘Senior Moments,’ loves the acting industry that she never thinks of going anywhere else and embarking on a different career.

Her advice to younger talents, “Do not face the camera without make-up,” Tessie said. “Especially to female stars, hindi talaga maganda. Nagkukulay-nana ka if you don’t have any makeup.

“To me, it is a crime to face the camera without any make-up. Ako nga, lalabas lang ako ng condo, I will always get reminded, si Tessie Tomas pala ako. Si Doña Cielo pala ako.

“Maglagay man ako ng powder, a little blush-on and very bright lipstick. Because I am an actress. We are not ordinary people. We are actors and actresses.”

Tessie does not deny that she walks with a limp after her left and right hip replacement. “My acting is from the waist up,” Tessie told her fellow actors in ‘The Blood Sisters’ (2018). “But I feel that I’m a good actress.

“With ‘Dirty Linen,’ it’s the same thing. Even Judi Dench or Helen Mirren walks with a limp. I can’t be pretending because people will also see it.”

Tessie uprooted in 2018 to stay in the UK for good with her husband of 30 years, Roger Pullin, founder of Manx Wildlife Trust at the Isle of Man. That is one of Roger’s advocacies.

“Let’s say Manx Wildlife Trust saw Sagada and the big chunk of land there,” Tessie explained. “They will offer an affordable amount to buy the land and turn it to a nature reserve, where they will place species of birds, fish pond, plants.

“Isle of Man is really beautiful. One of the most pristine islands in the world. It won the Biosphere Award from UNESCO for being a well-preserved island.

“Through the fire, to the limit, my husband allowed me then to shuttle back and forth every three or four months. That was during COVID days, without vaccine yet. My mother, (radio talent) Laura Hermosa, was not good at that time.

“She was always looking for me. That was really very hard. My mother eventually passed away (in 2021).”

Tessie stars in ‘Senior Moments’ with Nova Villa and Noel Trinidad. The film might be an entry in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) this December. If not, it will be shown this October as part of the Senior Citizen’s month.

Megged by direk Neil “Buboy” Tan, ‘Senior Moments’ originally meant to cast 73-year-old singer Darius Razon.

“Darius and I saw each other in the birthday of Liz Alindogan last year,” shared Direk Neil. “Ang galing pa niyang mag-perform, but I don’t think he can endure doing a full-length film anymore.”

It was only last year when first-time producer Sucil Nipa decided to embark on his maiden production venture. It was Darius who convinced her. He even suggested that they partner in the film venture.

A&S Films stands for Alyssa and Sucil. The first name is Sucil’s daughter, who is also part of the young cast of ‘Senior Moments.’