Two gays in Mark Herras’ life

MARK Herras plays a straight guy pretending to be a gay hairdresser in “Conan: My Beautician”

Mark Herras has no reservations playing gay roles, perhaps partly because of the fact that he was raised by two gay men—his uncle (on his mother side) and his partner.

“When I was little and had yet to fully understand the situation, I remember feeling a bit awkward when we went out,” Mark said. “But I was never ashamed of them; I was proud. They had a big impact on my life.”

That is probably why Mark, who plays a straight guy pretending to be a gay hairdresser in his new comedy series, “Conan: My Beautician,” has no qualms putting on frilly dresses or wearing full-face makeup.

Walking in stilettos, however, is an entirely different story.

“I’m afraid of them (stilettos). I’m always worried about tripping! I prefer flats. We had a lot of scenes where I had to run…so better safe than sorry!” he told a group of reporters at a press conference for the said GMA 7 show, which airs Sundays at 5 p.m., starting today (June 26).

In this case, being in a romantic relationship with Winwyn Marquez—who finished in the Top 15 of Binibining Pilipinas 2015—may have its perks. Has Mark’s girlfriend tried teaching him how to navigate those dreaded heels without breaking an ankle?

“Not really, but I’ve watched her walk the ramp…I visualize her when I’m in character and try to imitate the way she walks—with a little exaggeration, though,” related the 29-year-old Kapuso star, adding that Winwyn was “speechless”  when she first saw him in drag.

“I couldn’t tell if she wanted to say something positive or negative, but she was on the verge of laughing!” related Mark, who won the first season of the talent search, “StarStruck,” in 2004.

MARK in drag

Directed by Adolf Alix Jr., the show has Mark playing the eponymous character—a skilled barber in the province forced to take on a more lucrative gig at Salon Paz in Manila, to pay for his sick mother’s hospitalization. Although he tries to keep a flamboyant façade around coworkers, Conan eventually ends up falling for Ava (Megan Young), a customer and soon-to-be bride.

“I’ve done gay roles before, but this is the first time I’m playing someone who cross-dresses. It’s very challenging. Of course, I had to get over feeling weird when wearing women’s clothing. But I didn’t think twice when I was offered this project,” Mark said. “I usually do heavy dramas where I play a rich man fighting for his relationship with a poor girl or vice versa, so this is something new for me and my supporters.”

Meanwhile, asked if he would be willing to play a gay character in a more serious show or film that involves being intimate with another man, Mark said: “I can’t see myself doing that right now, but I’m not closing my doors.”

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