Edgar Allan Guzman tries to reinvent redundant roles

CEBU, Philippines —  Known for his string of diverse roles, award-winning actor Edgar Allan “EA” Guzman has learned a thing or two about switching it up. Since becoming Mr. Pogi in the GMA-7 noontime show “Eat Bulaga!”in 2006, EA has acted in a number of films, both mainstream and independent, as well as in several TV shows.

In a press conference during a recent trip to Cebu with “Dragon Lady” co-stars Joyce Ching and Tom Rodriguez, EA shared how he deals with repetitive roles.

“Sa awa naman ng Diyos,yung mga character na nagawa ko, may twist palagi. Doon ko binabawi kapag nararamdaman ko na bored ako sa character ko. Biglang dumarating yung twist. Doon ako nae-excite,” EA quipped, before backtracking on the term “bored.”

He said that as an actor, it’s his job to bring a different spin and reinvent a certain character so that it doesn’t feel redundant.

“Kumbaga parang second gear. Doon umaangat yung confidence ko, na sige bago ito, challenging, excited ako. Sa awa ng Diyos, swerte ako sa ganun.”

EA has been vocal about wanting to do roles like that of Ken Chan’s “My Special Tatay,” which centered on Boyet, a young man with a mild intellectual disability who fathers a child and goes through life with the help of his aunt and a childhood friend.

“Ang sarap gawin. Hindi naman sa nagyayabang or inaangat ko ang sarili kong upuan, pero tingin ko mag-e-excel ako sa role na yun,” EA mused.

Playing Chinese businessman Goldwyn Chan in the gma-7 Afternoon Prime drama-fantasy “Dragon Lady,” EA is faced with the challenge of subtlety and nuance. Goldywyn, often aloof and stoic, helps Janine Guiterrez’s Celestina become the dragon lady she’s destined to become.

“May emotion pero hindi ganun kalaki. Challenging kasi Chinese businessman, una wala naman akong business at all. Isa pa, yung character ko medyo seryoso. Never ngumingiti kahit kinikilig na. Kumbaga nagugustuhan ko na siya [Celestina], pero di ko kailangan ipakita. Sa akin lang yun. Hindi naman ako ganun sa totoong buhay,” he further shared.