JMFyang spotlighted: Next-gen loveteam reflects on fame, pressure and ‘Almost Us’ success

Rising stars JM Ibarra and Fyang Smith, collectively known as JMFyang, reflect on their growing careers and the pressures that come with the newfound recognition as new actors during the latest episode of the Star Magic Spotlight presscon held last May 21.

- By LARA CHARMAINE LAGORRA

The onscreen couple has quickly become one of the most sought-after loveteams of the new generation, with projects showcasing not only their onscreen chemistry but also their exceptional acting, earning praise from fans and audiences alike.

They also recently starred in their debut romantic-comedy film “Almost Us,” directed by Dan Villegas, which surpassed P30M at the box office within its first two weeks and continues its extended cinematic run nationwide.

JMFyang is also currently appearing in another new romance-drama series, “Love Is Never Gone,” now streaming on Prime Video, supporting characters, together with main leads Joshua Garcia and Ivana Alawi.

During the press conference, the pair admitted they never expected their debut film to reach its impressive box-office numbers, revealing that pressure outweighed expectations throughout production.

“Wala kaming expectation habang gumagawa ng film, eh, parang mas lamang yung pressure — ganon na ginagawa namin siya hanggang matapos na wala kaming i-ni-expect ganon,” JM said.

“Actually, pinag-usapan namin right after kami matapos ma-film yung buong movie, totoo, ‘pag first film mo, kakabahan ka talaga and kami nung time na pinag-usapan namin, sobrang na pre-pressure kasi ang daming expectations,” Fyang added.

Coming from their first project as JMFyang in the 2025 series “Ghosting,” the duo reflected on how they transitioned into their first film together and how different their new characters were compared to their earlier roles, and on embracing more layered and emotionally driven roles.

JM described his character RR in “Almost Us” as significantly more complex than the roles he previously played.

“Mas malalim si RR. Kahit isang straight yung backbone niya as a best friend lang. Pero yung lalim niya, mas complicated siya compared dun sa dalawang character na pini-play ko sa ‘Ghosting.’ So, challenging,” he said.