From child actor to cancer survivor: Filipino star Miles Ocampo shares all
When Miles Ocampo was just a little girl, she would beg her mother to take her to auditions. Her goal was simple: to be on television, or as she called it, to be “inside the box.”
That dream came true when she landed her first TV commercial at just 6 years old, launching a career that has now spanned over two decades.
“My only goal when I was a kid was to go inside the box… the television, I thought it was just a box. I wanted to go inside,” Miles recalled in an exclusive interview with Global South World.
Unlike many child stars, who were pushed into the spotlight by their parents, it was Miles herself who pursued the acting world. “Some of the artists that I've worked with when I was a kid, it was their parents who wanted them to be in the industry. In my case, I am the one who asked my parents to bring me to the auditions,” she shared.
Over the years, Miles evolved from a child star into one of the most influential actors in the Philippines, appearing in movies, and TV shows, and even gracing the covers of magazines. In 2024, she ranked #9 in Global South World's list of the 60 most powerful actors on Instagram in the country. But with fame comes responsibility, something Miles has always taken seriously.
“Being a personality is such a big responsibility for me, especially with the influence,” she explained, acknowledging the weight that comes with being in the public eye.
In March 2023, Miles faced one of the toughest battles of her life: a diagnosis of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma, the most common type of thyroid cancer. This diagnosis came after she experienced difficulty breathing and discomfort in her throat, which at first didn’t seem serious.
“I felt dizzy all the time… like someone's grabbing my throat,” she recounted. “I was not aware that it was so serious. I was not aware that it was cancer.” Miles underwent surgery to remove her thyroid glands, a procedure that saved her life but also introduced new challenges.
Following her surgery, Miles faced another battle—depression. The removal of her thyroid glands led to fluctuations in her weight, a sensitive issue for someone working in an industry that emphasises physical appearance.
“I went through depression at the time because my thyroid case affected my weight. In our industry, you have to look presentable all the time. You have to look sexy. You have to look fit to fit into this industry,” she said.
Online comments criticising her weight gain only made things harder. “I've been reading comments that I look like a mom already… was I able to eat and eat,” she revealed. However, with the support of her loved ones, Miles found a way to cope. “With the help of the people around me, especially my partner, I just woke up and I don’t want to care anymore… why do I pressure myself so much with something I really can't control?”
Despite the challenges, 2023 ended on a high note for Miles. She starred in the movie “Family of Two”, a role that earned her the Best Supporting Actress award at the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival.
She also returned to television as a co-host of “Eat Bulaga!”, the Philippines’ longest-running noontime variety show, airing for 45 years.
“I was supposed to be a guest host for a week only. And it’s my second year now,” she said. “Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine hosting a noontime show. It was life-changing for me.”
Miles expressed that her recent project, "Padyak Princess”, was the most memorable because of the responsibility she felt as the titular character. The show revolves around Miles’ character “Princess” who is determined to make the lives of those around her better.
“It's the first time that I was able to have a project that the title of the show was named after my role so it was a big responsibility,” she said.
At 27, with a career that has already spanned two decades, Miles Ocampo is in it for the long haul—exploring different roles as an actress. “I love this industry and I want to work in this industry because I live for the longevity,” she explained.
A career behind the scenes as a scriptwriter could be on the cards when she is not gracing the screens. “One thing that I'm sure of is I really want to write my own screenplay someday,” she disclosed her interest in life behind the scenes.
But for now, her focus remains on acting, using her platform to make a positive impact and trusting in herself. As Miles put it, “I will just love myself and accept myself because no one will.”
Watch the full interview here:
