TRINIDAD. “An actor is only as good as his last project.”
TJ Trinidad is grateful for the diverse roles that continue to come his way. We were moved by his performance as the doting husband of a schizophrenic, played by Agot Isidro, in Alvin Yapan’s award-winning MMFF New Wave entry, “Mga Anino ng Kahapon”—and he clinched the Best Supporting Actor prize for his stirring turn in the Cinemalaya entry, “Sana Dati.”
It’s a testament to Trinidad’s versatility that he can portray leads as effectively as he does contravidas, like the one he plays in the afternoon serial, “The Borrowed Wife.” But, he told us that playing a baddie is no walk in the park.
He explains, “I’ve been playing bad guys in teleseryes back to back, first in ‘Genesis’ and now this—and, to be perfectly honest, playing them sometimes gets a little tiring, because it’s physically and emotionally demanding. It’s challenging but, at the same time, it takes a toll on you.”
Character
How different is it acting in the movies and on TV? TJ shares, “In films, you get the script months before the actual shoot—so, you have time to research your character and build from there.
“In a teleserye, you get the script on a weekly basis—so, medyo kulang sa oras. No, I hardly draw from my own experiences, because it feels like I’m disrespecting them when I draw emotions from them.”
Hasn’t his being a family man helped him become more effective in “Mga Anino ng Kahapon,” as a loving husband who leaves his well-paying nursing job in the Middle East to take care of his sick wife? TJ beams, “Absolutely. Taking care of a family teaches lessons in selflessness. Suddenly, it isn’t about you anymore!”
Would he allow his children to pursue acting? TJ replies, “I would encourage them to get a good foundation, at least—because, to be an effective actor, you can’t just rely on the skills you learned from a previous assignment. You need to have a lot of life experiences. You have to keep learning, because an actor is only as good as his last project!”