CHRISTIAN BABLES has won acting awards playing gay roles as Barbie in “Die Beautiful” and as Darna in “Big Night” (for which he is nominated again in the coming Eddy Awards.)
He now gives another endearing performance as Dali in “Mahal Kita, Beksman”, along with Keempee de Leon who also gives a winning performance as his openly gay father. Isn’t he worried he might be typecast paying swishy gay roles?
“There was a time I agonized about that but I realized that the late Tito Dolphy also got known for playing gay roles, but it didn’t harm his career and he went on to play other roles,” he says.
“Ako rin naman, I’ve won a best actor award at the Hanoi International Filmfest in 2018 for Direk Chito Rono’s ‘Signal Rock’ and it wasn’t a gay role.
"On TV, I play straight roles all the time in various soaps, most recently in ‘Darna’ where I played a killer. So I don’t have to worry at all.
"Besides, acting is really my passion. I worked in an office after college and it’s a good-paying job, but I wasn’t happy. Gusto ko talaga, maging aktor so I followed my heart.”
He is happy with the positive reviews the movie “Mahal Kita, Beksman” is getting after its premiere night at SM Megamall last Thursday.
The movie will now open in theaters this Wednesday, November 16, and he is hoping moviegoers will see it.
“We guarantee that they will have a good time as the movie is so much fun from start to end. Viewers were laughing their hearts out at the premiere night.
"I love my role kasi naiiba ito sa gay roles I’ve played before. Dito, I was raised by my gay father in a very gay environment in our beauty shop but when I met Iana Bernardez as Angel, I realized I’m not really gay, but straight, as I fell in love with her.
"My parents and all our friends are shocked when I announced to them that I am not gay.”
He was riotously amusing in that scene where he insists to them that he’s not bakla or bayot.
“Our director, Perci Intalan, told me that gusto niyang makita si Maricel Soriano in that scene so she was my peg in her famous, iconic scene in ‘ayoko ng masikip, ayoko ng mabaho, ayoko ng putik’ in ‘Kaya Kong Abutin ang Langit’.
"And I’ m really glad nagustuhan ng mga tao yung scene na yun kasi ang lakas ng tawanan nila noong premiere night.”
This is the first time he’s directed by Perci Intalan. How is it?
“Yes, first time namin, kasi ‘Die Beautiful’ and ‘Big Night’ were directed by Jun Lana, but produced by Direk Perci.
"Both Direk Jun and Direk Perci, parang mga kapatid ko sila. We’re good friends kasi sa kanila ako nagsimula.
"So kilalang-kilala na nila ako. I wouldn’t be where I am now without their help and encouragement.”
Christian is from Bacoor, Cavite and a doting son to his mother and a caring brother to his siblings.
“When I am not working, I just stay at home, a regular homebody. I bond with my family and our eight alagang eight dogs. My life is really very simple.”