Mike Tan Considers His Role In 'The Rich Man's Daughter' As Marian Rivera's Beki Brother Very Challenging

WE HONESTLY Mike Tan has a potential to be a top leading man as he is good looking, tall, can act convincingly, and now possesses a buff bod that makes him the perfect underwear endorser of Boardwalk. He was the big winner in Starstruck Season 2 in 2004 and he has also played lead roles in soaps like in "Kung Aagawin Mo ang Langit" and "Faithfully", but he's still not considered an A-lister among GMA actors. His last regular show was "Kambal Sirena", where he's one of the two leading men of Louise de los Reyes, and it's only now that he's given again another show, "The Rich Man's Daughter" starring Marian Rivera. But he doesn't play Marian's leading man. Instead, Marian plays a lesbian girl and he is her own equally gay brother. How does he feel about it?

"Okay lang kahit hindi ako leading man," he says. "I find my role very challenging. Nakaganap na ako ng gay role in an episode of 'Maynila' pero very light yun, unlike this one na mabigat talaga. Considered black sheep ako ng family namin dahil nga bading ako at hindi nila ako matanggap kahit hindi naman ako swishy gay kundi discreet beki pa rin. At okay lang kahit matagal akong walang regular soap. Hindi naman ako pinababayaan ng GMA kasi I do guestings sa 'Magpakailanman', 'Wagas' and other shows. Lagi rin akong nasasama sa regional shows."


What if he's required to do a love scene with another guy? "Wala pang napag-uusapang ganun. Sa isip ko, parang hindi ko kaya. But it all depends kung ano ang mapag-uusapan namin ni Direk Dominic Zapata. Open naman ako but I don't think it'll be really controversial kasi TV ito. Maski sa 'My Husband's Lover', wala naman silang ganoong intense na eksena."

How is it working with Marian? "Okay na okay siya. Second time namin to work kasi nakasama niya ako noon sa 'Marimar'. She makes her co-stars very comfortable with her. Siya pang unang makikipag-usap sa'yo. Siya pang lumapit sa'kin sa last taping namin to say Hi, Mike. I really love being part of this show kasi first time ko rin to work with a legend like Tita Gloria Romero na siyang lola namin at ang sarap-sarap ding katrabaho."