Susan Africa shuts down ‘ubo-ubo’ stereotype, shines in ‘Blood vs Duty’

Susan Africa may be a meme online, but on set, she’s a mentor—guiding rising actors while redefining her narrative.

Netizens were quick to crown her the “Star for All Ubo,” a comedic nod to Susan Africa’s notorious “ubo-ubo acting” or dramatic coughing fits in classic soap operas.

So, when it was announced that she would be playing Dr. Theresa Reyes in the new action-drama series “Blood vs Duty,” fans humorously celebrated her long-awaited “promotion” from sickly patient to medical professional.

However, the 66-year-old veteran actress is finally setting the record straight.

“That ubo-ubo acting is like a farce. It’s like satire because I don’t even remember any role where I was coughing,” Africa shared in an exclusive interview with radar Entertainment. “I don’t know where that came from, but anyway, I call it the Mandela Effect.”

By this, Susan meant that repeated jokes and memes about her supposed “ubo-ubo” scenes snowballed into a shared false memory, turning it into a classic Mandela Effect.

Beyond the meme

Behind the internet jokes lies a formidable acting career spanning four decades. After a runner-up stint in the 1980 Binibining Pilipinas, Africa rose to fame through her landmark performance in “Mara Clara,” establishing herself as a versatile powerhouse who could seamlessly pivot from a supportive mother to a snooty kontrabida.

That versatility is rooted heavily in the stage. As a seasoned theater actress, she has performed with the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), Bulwagang Gantimpala, and Dulaang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (DUP).

“My theater background helped immensely in terms of discipline, in terms of characterization,” she noted, brushing off the viral caricatures of her work. “That’s basically what helps me also move forward going into television and film.”

Championing the next generation

This same theatrical discipline makes Africa a vital guiding force on the set of “Blood vs Duty,” where she shares the screen with a fresh roster of rising stars.

“Working with young actors is always a pleasure for me because I learn so much from them,” she admitted. “I try to impart as many values as I can, [and] as many lessons as I can also to them.”

Her faith in the youth isn’t limited to television. After watching the debut of Dulaang UP’s “Ang Kaliitan ng Kasalukuyan” on March 12, Africa challenged young stage creatives to “make more plays” and tackle pressing issues like mental health and the struggles of the LGBTQIA+ youth. She urges the new generation at the helm of Philippine theater to “keep churning and churning new and original plays with your insights, so that we can understand more the generation that we have now.”

Ultimately, stepping into new characters and collaborating with fresh minds is what keeps the veteran star going. “That’s what gives me life,” Africa smiled. “That’s what inspires me to continue on.”

 

 

Working with young actors is always a pleasure for me because I learn so much from them, and I try to impart as many values as I can, [and] as many lessons as I can also to them.

 

 

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