Article posted September 26, 2008
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Paolo Contis is finally in the limelight where he belongs. He’s been there, all right, but not as one of the hottest bachelors in town, a host for an international show, or a Best Actor awardee. With everything that’s been happening in his career right now, we’re definitely in for more surprises, because one of GMA’s most bankable stars is on the rise! Text by Jillian Q. Gatcheco. Photos by Mitch S. Mauricio.
A sexier image
iGMA couldn’t help but notice Paolo’s buffer bod, and he admits it’s a product of long hours at the gym. What made him decide to take on a sexier, more macho image?
“Syempre, nandiyan na, e. Bakit hindi pa ituluy-tuloy, 'di ba? It’s also nice para sa sariling kapakanan--hindi lang for your showbiz image, 'di ba? [It’s for yourself, too].”
Paolo reveals that he has been working out twice a day, every day! “Plus the diet. But now I’m relaxing. After [a] week, diet ulit. Ayokong forever dyeta! It’s not healthy. Ang goal ko naman sa katawan is [for it to be] healthy. Kung puro ka dyeta, [hindi na yun] healthy.”
For those who do not know yet, Paolo actually made it to Cosmopolitan magazine’s Top 10 Bachelors (2008) featured in its much-awaited annual centerfold.
“Actually, they invited me sa pictorial three weeks before I did it,” says Paolo. “And they wanted it that day. Sabi ko, ayokong pumunta doon tapos me-make-upan niyo lang din. Give me time to get ready. They were nice enough to give me three weeks, and okay naman. Sana nabigyang hustisya ko rin [yung] pictorial na 'yun!”
His girlfriend Isabel Oli was present at the shoot, and Paolo says she was really supportive with his decision to pose sexy. “Nandoon siya. Tuwang-tuwa!” he jokes.
Does a more muscular bod mean racier roles for this actor?
“Hindi naman siguro,” he replies. “It depends on the kind of offer or project. I will not be sexy just for the sake of being sexy. Kasi sa TV, 'pag sinabing kailangan kong mag-topless, ginagawa ko naman, e.
“Basta hindi lang maging pangit sa reputation ko, sa career ko. Ayokong magmukha na ginagawa ko na lang yun para mapag-usapan. Ayoko ng ganoon. Basta kailangan ba.”
His Isabel
What’s the status of his relationship with fellow Kapuso Isabel?
“[We] take it day by day. Happy naman kami sa kung ano mayroon kami ngayon, pero syempre we have to be stable in all aspects--spiritually, financially, etc. Sana siya [na]. I’m praying for that. Pero we’ll see.”
What’s the sweetest thing that Isabel has done for him?
“Madami. Ako kasi, rule ko kay Isabel, ayokong nireregaluhan ako. Trabaho ko 'yun. Pero still, nireregulahan niya ako. Isa sa mga sweet na nagawa niya para sa akin, [binigyan ako ng gym bag]. Kasi baduy na baduy siya sa gym bag ko! Kaya binilhan niya ako ng gym bag! Sabi niya, para kang baduy, nagji-gym ka sa EDSA Shang, tapos yung backpack mo, sira!” Paolo recalls fondly.
“Plus, hindi siya nagpupuyat, pero 'pag dumalaw sa taping yan, nagpupuyat 'yan. Small things like that.”
Hosting for the first time
Aside from being an actor, Paolo is also a newly turned host.
“Actually, natutuwa ako sa GMA--iba-iba yung pinagagawa sa akin. Kasi for a kontrabida [actor] to be a host, parang weird, e. So happy ako na gawin yung ganitong opportunity,” he says.
“Happy ako, no. Tapos sabi sa akin, madali lang ang hosting, pero napagod ako noong first taping day ko! Iba siya--iba makipagusap sa camera, na alam mo dapat sinasabi mo, trying to entertain the audience. Sana naman magawa ko siya nang mabuti.
“Isa pa sa mga [suggestions] ko [yung] pag mayroong nangyayari, may mga ina-annotate ako, na para sa akin, komiko talaga 'yun. Marami akong pinaggagagawa! Kaya kabado!”
Is he ready to take on greater hosting challenges like the Binibining Pilipinas, perhaps?
“Diyos ko! Himatayin ako doon!” Paolo jokes. “Tingnan natin--it’s a very good start. It’s my own show, ito muna iniisip ko--hindi ko pa iniisip 'yung pagkatapos nito.”
He expresses his gratitude for everything that’s been happening in his career. “Nakakagulat na ibinibigay sa akin ang mga ganitong break ng GMA. Ever since nag-GMA ako, there was never a week na hindi ako nagtrabaho. Kung one week lang na pahinga ko, nagkasakit lang ako. So grateful ako sa kanila.”
His shows
Paolo is known for being an excellent character actor, especially with the various roles he has portrayed through the years. This is an actor who doesn’t mind donning prosthetics or cross-dressing, all for the sake of being true to his roles.
He recently won Best Actor in the 24th PMPC’s Star Awards (2008) for his portrayal in Banal. Will he be pickier with his projects now that he’s “Best Actor” material?
He answers, “Hindi naman. Kasi 'yung pagkapanalo ng Best Actor, ‘plus’ na lang yun sa career mo, e. Mas maraming roles na dumating noong nanalo ako, pero ang pagpili ko kasi, per schedule. Hindi dahil ayoko yung project o maliit 'yung project. It’s work. It’s my job to act, so kung kayang gawin sa schedule, e di gagawin.
"Pero syempre, kahit noong hindi pa ako nananalo, mapili na talaga ako., I make sure gusto ko gagawin ko. Kasi lalabas sa TV kung hindi mo gusto yung gagawin mo, e.”
He recalls one particular memorable role in Dear Friend, where he played a gay guy together with Mark Herras. “Habang pinapanood 'yun, tuwang-tuwa silang lahat! Hindi kasi kami pinag-kiss ni Mark, sumama [loob] ko doon!” Paolo exclaims, laughing.
“Hindi, kasi, ang taping noon, when I got the script, serious 'yung drama. Sabi ko kay direk, ‘Direk Mac (Alejandre), gawin nating iba. Gawin nating parang Love to Love.’ 'Yung to some extent, kikiligin ka. Ang daming nag-text--sina Miss Wilma (Galvante), ‘[Nakakatawa] kayo!’ Tawa [sila] nang tawa! Tapos kinikilig ka kahit papaano. 'Yun lang naman, para iba!
“Kasi lahat ng naging gay role ko puro loud, ito hindi, lalaki [kahit papaano]. Saka in love sa isa’t-isa! Pero tawa kami nang tawa ni Mark noon! Pag magtitinginan na kami, sabi ko kakadiri ito, ha!”
Does he get scared that he might get stereotyped as a gay character, since the aforementioned role was not his first time playing someone gay? “Well, doon naman 'yung iingatan ko. Normally I do mga bading once, twice a year lang pag TV. Iingatan rin natin 'yun, syempre.”
Mondays to Fridays, you could watch Paolo in Codename: Asero. “[Sa storya], Dumating na ako sa Pilipinas [mula Dubai] para guluhin ['yung characters nina] Richard (Gutierrez) at si Heart (Evangelista)! Sana wag nila patayin 'yung TV dahil sa akin, kasi napakasama ko na naman! Ang dami ko na namang ginawang kasamaan sa Asero!”
