Role playing with Kapuso stars

Good actors play numerous roles. The better ones don’t want to be stereotyped as heroes or villains. One goal of the best actors is to connect with their audiences so that whether they’re bida or contrabida, viewers empathize with them.

On the big and small screen, emotive eyes, wide gestures and quivering voices are part of an actor’s arsenal. There are some, however, whose simple glance or turn of the head is enough to convey their message. 

We asked several GMA artists what their favorite roles are and what they liked about them. 

Dingdong Dantes chose Alyas Robin Hood where he plays the title role. Masaya syang gawin. ‘Yung genre niya ay talagang pinakagusto ko. Marami siyang napasayang tao.” 

Regine Velasquez-Alcasid said her deglamorized role in Diva was one of her most memorable. Hindi ko ma-explain pero medyo malapit-lapit talaga sa puso ko yung role ko as Sam and ‘yung soap na ‘yun.”

Benjamin Alves said his role as Lawrence Castillo in Beautiful Strangers came together beautifully.

“I had just finished a workshop with director Laurice Guillen, and signed my extension with the network. I felt more equipped and ready to take on the role, especially alongside our star-studded cast. It was a personal goal to close the gap between me and my co-actors, acting wise,” Benjamin said.

“My character also grew with direk Albert Langitan and our writers, who wrote Lawrence’s arc really well. I saw my investment in the character continually get rewarded with the challenges they presented Lawrence in the script,” he added.

For Max Collins, her lead role in Innamorata is her most memorable. “I loved my character Esperanza because she had a skin disease, which required me wearing prosthetics every taping day; it was very challenging physically. The show was a fantasy so it really appealed to children and that also made me happy.” 

Ruru Madrid considers all the roles he has played as important but if he had to choose one, it would be his role as Ybarro (originally portrayed by Dingdong) in Encantadia. 

“Nagustuhan ko si Ybarro kasi feeling ko dun ako mas natuto at mas lumalim bilang aktor... feeling ko mas naging mature ako.” 

Ruru recalled how director Mark Reyes told him that for him to successfully pull off this role, he had to be a “king” in real life. “Kumbaga, kailangan kong maging responsible sa lahat ng bagay, hindi lang para sa sarili ko. So mas naging responsable ako, at iyon ang nakatulong sa akin na maging mature as an actor.” 

Christian Bautista enjoyed portraying Winston in My Love From The Star with Jennylyn Mercado. “That really gave me a comic side and I really enjoyed working with both direk Joyce Bernal and actor Gil Cuerva.” 

Rafael Rosell counts his first guesting role as Anton in Aso ni San Roque as his most memorable because of the stunts he was required to do.

“I got to fight imaginary monsters on a moving truck and do lots of action scenes and stunts with goblins and aswangs in a studio filled with lights and special effects equipment. Not something I get to do every day. I really had a blast.” 

For a good actor, there are no small roles. Whether it’s a bit role or a full-length lead role, how you tackle it and how much of your time and effort you give are what really matter.