• Nickname: Chard
• Birthday: January 21, 1984
• Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
• Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
• Nationality: Filipino/American
• Height: 5’11"
• Weight: 170 lbs.
• Color of Eyes: Dark Brown
• Color of Hair: Black
• Distinguishing Marks: None
• Father: Eddie Gutierrez
• Mother: Annabelle Rama
• Brothers and Sister: Ruffa, Rocky, Raymond (his twin), Elvis and Ritchie Paul, plus half-brothers Tonton Gutierrez and Ramon Christopher
• School: La Salle (Zobel), graduated from high school in 2001
By this time, these basic facts about Richard Gutierrez should be common knowledge among his growing legions of fans who are mostly pre-teen and teenage girls who religiously tune in late Saturday afternoons to GMA 7’s youth-oriented show Click, directed by Mac Alejandro, which features a dozen of so-called "stars of tomorrow."
Richard stands out among the Click gang and it’s not only because of his height. He has become so popular that even his family has been caught by surprise, what with fan mails increasing everyday. Even his Ate Ruffa conceded. "Once, I wanted to buy a copy of Candy magazine with Richard on the cover. I couldn’t believe it. The newsstands had run out of copies! The magazine was sold out within minutes after delivery!"
There was no escape for Richard. Showbiz is in his genes so it’s in showbiz where he had landed – on his feet!
Besides Click, he’s also in the new GMA soap Habang Kapiling Ka (which replaces Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin where he played a supporting role as Gina Alajar’s son) and in the sitcom Beh Bote Nga. He’s under contract with GMA (for two years) and with Regal Films (three years) for which he’s now shooting his movie debut, Bakit, Papa? with Allan K. and his Click colleague Chynna Ortaleza as love interest.
Look around and it’s Richard’s smiling face in those giant billboards for Bench of which he’s the newest endorser (good for two years).
Meanwhile, let’s take a closer look at the boy and find out what makes him click.
How did you get into Click?
"It was Jun (Lalin, a movie reporter) who told me that GMA was looking for new talents. That was last year. So I auditioned. They made me act a bit, then there was an interview. During the final casting, they asked me to act some more. Nothing heavy, parang play-acting lang. Before I knew it, I was in na."
Among the Click barkada, you’re the most popular, you have the most number of fans (especially pre-teen and teenage girls). How do you handle it?
"Wala. It doesn’t affect me at all. Actually, I don’t want to say that I’m the most popular because we are known as a group; Click is popular as a show. Sa mga fans, I just smile at them. If they ask for it, I give them my autograph."
How does it feel being asked for your autograph?
"Nakakapanibago. Before, they asked only for the autograph of my Ate (Ruffa). Now, kasali na ako."
Do you answer fan mails yourself?
"I do. But so far, I’ve answered only one. I get loads of fan mails and I hope to answer each one of them as soon as I have time. I’m very new in the business, more than six months pa lang, and I’m still trying to adjust."
Among the Click guys, who’s closest to you?
"AJ (Andrew James) Eigenmann (son of Gina Alajar and Michael de Mesa). Actually, close naman kami lahat sa isa"t-isa."
How similar are you to or different from Enzo, the boy-next door you play in Click?
"Enzo and I are very much alike. The writers saw to it. Like me, Enzo is friendly, active in sports and close to his parents. That’s why I don’t have a hard time portraying him."
Have you always wanted to be an actor?
"Oh, yes. From the very start."
Why did you decide to join showbiz only now?
"Kasi feeling ko ngayon kaya ko nang i-handle."
But you have had offers before haven’t you?
"Yes, but I wasn’t ready yet."
At age 4 or 5, you and Raymond did a movie, Golden Lions Films’ Takbo, Dali, Takbo!, where you played twins.
"Parang laro lang ’yon."
Who are you more like, your mom or your dad?
"Mixed, e. ’Yung pagiging patient, I think I got it from my dad; also, his being happy-go-lucky. ‘Yung sobrang pagka-caring, I think I got it from my mom. Sobra ang pagka-caring ko sa mga brothers ko."
‘Yung pagka-fighter (ng mom mo), hindi mo namana?
"A bit. I haven’t been tested yet. I mean, ’yung pagka-fighter ko hasn’t come out yet."
You seem so cool, like your dad. Don’t you know how to get angry?
"Oo nga, e."
What makes you angry?
"Small things. I haven’t really been that angry yet – not very, very angry, ha. Not in all my life – yet."
What’s the best advice that you got from your mom?
"For me not to forget who my true friends are. My mom always reminds me that now that I’m in showbiz, I’ll be meeting a lot of people but it’s hard to find real and true friends. Kaya dapat ko raw i-treasure ’yung true friends ko. Most of my friends were those I made back in high school. Wala pa ako sa showbiz kilala na nila ako."
And from your dad?
"He always reminds me that I should love my job, that I should know how to appreciate what God is giving me. Sabi niya, I should be responsible."
What about from Ruffa?
"From Ate naman, it’s also about friends. Sabi niya, I should know how to shrug intrigues off; huwag ko na raw pansinin para hindi lumaki."
So far, no intrigues yet?
"None, so far, knock on wood. Too early, I guess."
Will you let your mom handle intrigues, if and when?
"No. I’ll handle them myself."
As far as girls are concerned, what advice do you get from your dad? He should know.
"None yet. We don’t talk about girls. I don’t think there’s any need to."
How do you deal with girls, especially the aggressive ones?
"I smile at them."
What if they flirt with you?
"Hindi ko na lang pinapansin. I prefer to make the first move when I like a girl."
When you like a girl, how do you make her know?
"First, eye contact. From there, if she reacts positively during the eye contact, siguro lalapitan ko na."
At 17, you haven’t been in love, I suppose. Not seriously.
"Hindi pa naman. Puppy love pa lang."
Who’s your biggest crush now?
"KC (Concepcion)."
What do you like about KC?
"Her smile. Sweet, e!"
How was it growing up with a twin brother?
"Masaya. It was great! Especially when we were in the States. We learned independence there. Our only companion was our aunt. We did the dishes, cleaned the house, fixed our beds, everything! Walang maids, e! We studied there for four years."
How was life in the States like?
"Sobrang iba. There, I experienced a lot of things that I don’t experience here, like doing household chores. Since we didn’t have a driver, we had to take the public transportation (bus, taxi, etc.). Just Raymond and me. We depended on each other."
What about the girls? Who are more aggressive, girls there or girls here?
"Girls there, of course! Grade Six pa lang kami, ang dami nang wild girls."
Did you lose "it" there?
"No comment."
Aside from Click, what are you busy with?
"I’m included in the cast (along with, among others, his Ate Ruffa) of the new GMA soap, Habang Kapiling Ka, where I play Basilio, son of Kuya Tonton (Gutierrez) and Camille Roxas. I play a confused, traumatized character. When still a kid, my mom committed suicide in front of me, that’s why. I developed a hidden anger towards my dad whom I’m blaming for the tragedy. May pagka-rebelde ako."
Are you close to Tonton and Ramon Christopher (love children of Eddie Gutierrez by Liza Lorena and Pilita Corrales respectively)?
"Oh, yes, I am. I look up to them not as my half-brothers but tunay talagang brothers."
Who are your role models?
"There’s Cesar Montano, Edward Norton and Tom Hanks. They’re all natural actors."
How are you in school?
"Average."
What are your favorite subjects?
"Filipino and Philosophy."
What do you do with your earnings?
"Nasa bank."
Don’t you contribute to the household expenses?
"No, I don’t. But I give some to my brothers every payday."
What did you do with your first pay check?
"I deposited it in the bank. That’s what my mom told me."
Any embarrassing experience?
"It happened on the set of Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin. I was asked to cry in a scene where I was supposed to learn about my father’s death. Sobrang kinakabahan ako so I couldn’t cry. And they were all watching me, waiting for me to do it! I was very new at that time. In the end, I decided to apply Vicks in my eyes para maiyak ako."
Scary experience...
"It happened in our vacation house in Baguio. Haunted yata ’yon! I was with Ritchie Paul one night when we heard footsteps coming toward us. I could feel my hair standing on end. It was really very scary."
Happiest experience?
"When I graduated from high school."
What do you do at home when you’re free from work?
"Sleep. Sometimes, I go to the gym or play basketball."
What’s your favorite part of your body?
"My nose."
Any part of your body which needs improvement?
"My stomach. Gusto ko magka-abs."
Describe yourself briefly.
"Sensitive... Outgoing.. Adventurous... Simple."
What’s the best way to your heart?
"It’s gonna be a long process. I don’t easily trust people."
• Actress(es): Maricel Soriano and Julia Roberts
• Song: Any by Incubus
• Movies: Gladiator, Rizal and Pearl Harbor
• Food: Pasta
• Sports: Basketball, boxing and golf
• Color(s): Blue and black
• City: Los Angeles
• Friend(s): All of them
• Hangout: Malls
• Drink: Iced tea
• Perfume: Burberry
• Weakness: Driving fast cars
• Fantasy: To own an island
• Expression: Say what!?!
• Type of Girls : Someone I can trust, smart, cute and sexy
• Motto: Life is short so you live it to the fullest.