At the media conference for Mahal Kita Beksman, which LionhearTV covered on October 20, actor Christian Bables affirmed that he isn’t afraid of getting typecast in gay roles.
Bables talked about what he learned portraying LGBTQIA+ roles throughout his career.
“Opo, lagi po. May mga tao na nagsasabi na, ‘Ah si Christian Bables, typecasted na.’ ‘Yung mga ganon-ganon, pero ako kasi bilang isang actor, hindi ako naniniwala sa typecasting. Although dumaan ako doon sa phase na ‘yun na natakot ako na baka hindi na ako mabigyan ng mga ibang mga character na alam kong kaya ko pang gampanan.”
He then highlighted his learnings and realizations as an actor while portraying LGBTQIA+ characters.
“Pero, habang nagma-mature ako dito sa industriya, parang na-realize ko na there’s no such thing as typecasting pagdating sa mga actor. For as long as, binibigyan ka ng mga makabuluhang character na pwede mong, alam mo ‘yun, pwede kang makatulong through your craft, I think ‘yun ang main na objective namin eh bilang mga actors.”
He then differentiated his role in Mahal Kita, Beksman from his previous projects dealing with sexual orientation and gender identity.
“Ang pinakamalaking pinagkaiba ay dahil ang sexual orientation ni Dali ay straight. He identifies himself as straight guy. ‘Yung kanyang expression, ‘yun lang ‘yung parang wala doon sa standard na nakaugalian ng society natin na kailangan pag lalaki ka dapat ganito ka. ‘Pag you’re gay, dapat ganito ka.
“Labas kasi doon si Dali, ‘yung character na Dali, so kaya noong inoffer ni Direk Perci and ni Direk Jun ito, sabi ko, sabi namin ni Tito Boy, ang ganda ng script, ang ganda ng gustong iparating ng kwento.”
He then shared his reaction to people who acknowledged the number of LGBTQIA+ characters after doing Barbie in Die Beautiful, with some comparing him to the King of Comedy, Dolphy.
“Masaya, masaya ako kasi isang tao lang naiisip ko, si Tito Dolphy. Oo, si Tito Dolphy, kumbaga parang before kung iniisip ko, sabi ko, ‘Oh my gosh, nakakatuwa naman ‘yung nangyayari sa akin kasi pinagkakatiwalaan ako ng mga character na tingin, hindi po sa akin nanggaling ito, pero tingin daw noong mga taong gumagawa ng project na ‘yun na parang iilan lang kami na mayroong lakas ng loob, buong puso na paggawa ng mga ganong character.
“I feel so honored na ako po ‘yung isa sa mga napagkakatiwalaan nila. I’m excited with what about to happen in the future. Kung saan ako dadalhin ng ano na ‘to, ng karera na ‘to.”
Bables starred in various LGBTQIA-themed projects such as Die Beautiful, The Panti Sisters and Big Night.
Now, he stars in the Viva film Mahal Kita, Beksman Viva artists Iana Bernardez, Katya Santos, and Keempee De Leon.
The upcoming romantic comedy film from Viva and IdeaFirst, directed by Perci Intalan, premieres in cinemas nationwide, starting November 16.
