Solenn Heussaff on raising kids offline, growing up online

For Solenn Heussaff, modern parenting begins with a firm boundary and it’s non-negotiable.

Speaking candidly on Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, the actress and mother of two revealed her rule at home: No personal gadgets for her children until they’re adults.

“'Di ako nag-g-gadget sa kanila. Their first phone will be maybe at 18 or 19. Sana. iPad, I don’t want,” she said, explaining that she wants her kids to grow up present, curious and engaged with the real world.

The stance comes from a place of concern she sees every day. “I get so frustrated because it is so sad, like this is what we’ve become,” Heussaff shared, referring to families sharing a table while glued to screens. To her, the problem isn’t technology itself — but what it trains people to crave. “We just want the fast, short-term dopamine and it’s really horrible that these multimillion dollar companies, that’s what they’re selling.”

As someone who straddles two eras, Heussaff calls herself part of a “transition generation.” “We went from no phones to having everything at the tip of your fingers with AI pa lalo ngayon. I don’t know,” she said. While she recognizes tech’s benefits, there are moments when nostalgia wins. “I really feel like I just wanna go back to the past.”

That grounded outlook extends to her relationships, too — especially her bond with Anne Curtis. Though part of the same social circle for years, closeness came later, after Curtis married Solenn’s brother, Erwan. “I’m really happy, actually, that they married,” she said. “Before naman we were friends, same barkada, but I was never very close to her.” Motherhood — and the pandemic — changed that. “It’s only when she married my brother… and we had our kids at the same time… that we really got to know each other.”

These days, they see each other often and share the same compass. “We’re very close, very aligned with our values and the things that we want in life and yeah, that’s very chill,” Heussaff said.

Once labeled an “it girl” alongside a tight circle of friends, Heussaff believes the title was never about clothes or clout. “Very natural naman,” she reflected on their shared transition into motherhood. “We’re all kind of evolving at the same time.” For her, the real definition is simpler — and rarer. “Kasi natural friendship, no competition… we all pull each other up.”

At home, that same clarity shows up in her marriage to Nico Bolzico — and in the viral humor they share online. The “bullied husband” and “wifezilla” skits? His idea, she says. “Si Nico ang nag-conceptualize dahil medyo strict ako pagdating sa bahay.” Clean floors, no shoes inside, order everywhere — quirks that became punchlines. “He’s so fun. He comes up with all the concepts,” she added. “Ako wala akong masyadong comedy bone… pero siya talaga ’yung meron (I don't have much of a comedy bone... but he really does).”

Asked about jealousy, Heussaff didn’t hesitate. “Parang wala (like nothing) because we communicate a lot.” From dating to marriage, the rule stayed the same: know who you are, say what you need, and trust the partnership.

Whether she’s setting limits on screens, redefining what influence looks like, or finding humor in the everyday, Solenn Heussaff’s message is consistent: slow down, stay connected and choose presence — online fame optional.