JAK ROBERTO is now one of the Kapuso Network’s more promising leading men and he’s thankful to be given the role of Glaiza de Castro’s love interest in “Contessa”. “After doing the romcom, ‘Meant to Be’, which is very light, naging big challenge para sa’kin itong ‘Contessa’ kasi heavy drama siya about revenge,” he says. “Puro pa magagaling at beterano na sa aktingan ang mga kasama ko kaya added challenge yun. Napipilitan akong pigain ang sarili ko para makasabay naman ako sa kanila at di nila ako basta lamunin sa eksena.”
He’s thankful to Glaiza for making him feel comfortable in his scenes with her. “Mas senior siya sa'kin sa showbiz so she guides me. Buti na lang nakapag-bonding kami when we did shows sa Singapore so kilala na namin ang isa’t isa,” he says. “Also, nagkaroon kami ng familiarity workshop para mas ma-relax kami when acting with one another. Thankful akong very encouraging talaga ang mga kasama ko rito. Ngayong ilang months na ang show, mas comfortable na ako with them.”
So how is his girlfriend, Barbie Forteza? “Bihira kaming magkita kasi MWF ang taping nila ng show niyang ‘Inday Will Always Love You’ at TThS naman ang taping namin ng ‘Contessa’. Nagkikita lang kami pag weekend sa ‘Sunday PinaSaya’ at dinadalaw ko siya at yung puppy na binigay ko sa kanya sa bahay nila.”
He was paired before with Barbie in the indie movie "Laut", for which Barbie even won an international acting award. Did their love affair start in that movie? "No, we played husband and wife there pero ni hindi pa kami close noon. Naging close lang kami when we did 'Meant to Be'. Dati hi-hello lang kami but dito, lagi kaming magkasama sa taping kaya we got to know each other better. Actually, humanga ako sa kanya kasi big star na siya compared sa'min ng mga kasamahan niya sa'yo, pero wala siyang arte at all. She approaches us and even jokes with us. Doon nagsimula ang closeness namin."
