“I’M 26 now. I wish that by this time, people would get to see the real Xian. A lot of people still don’t know me.”
Thus said actor Xian Lim, who was at the Inquirer office recently to promote his concert, “A Date With Xian,” on July 9 at the Kia Theatre in Quezon City.
“Maybe because in press conferences people usually ask me only two things—my relationship with Kim (Chiu, his onscreen partner) and my reaction to rumors that I’m conceited and difficult to work with. This time, I want to be open. I want people to watch me and discover who I really am.”
Xian has noticeably become more accessible these days, indicative of the positive feedback he has been receiving from netizens and from articles published in newspapers and magazines.
Asked how he was able to turn things around for himself, Xian replied: “To be completely honest, I don’t know what started it.”
He added: “I can point out a period when I really felt so down—that started in 2013. It’s good to hear that things are different now, but at the time, I was so confused. I kept asking those close to me, ‘Why is it that people don’t accept me?’ I’m not a saint; I’m not saying that I’ve never committed any mistakes, but I felt like everything I was doing was wrong.”
Xian attributed this to his being naturally quiet and reserved. “The people I meet for the first time would often say, ‘Xian, ’di ka pala suplado.’ I’m not used to having a lot of people around me. I would rather have an intimate conversation with people, like now. After receiving all those comments, I said I must be doing something wrong. I can’t just tell people, ‘This is me! I don’t care if you don’t understand.’”
The actor said things changed for him when the Joyce Bernal movie, “Everything About Her,” was released.
“I got to reflect and realized a lot of things. The TV series, ‘My Binondo Girl,’ was a turning point. Before that, I was getting projects here and there, but they’re not that big. Then, ‘Ina, Kapatid, Anak’ came. After that, it was so hard to land on projects. That experience gave me time to reflect,” he said.
Excerpts from our interview:
Some people thought you deserve an award for your performance in “Everything About Her.” It must be fulfilling to prove a lot of people wrong.
Before I did that movie, I would keep asking my managers if there was anything else for me. There was no guarantee. It’s not like the network has a five-year plan for its talents. Maybe I was just hungry to land a project. I kept asking myself, “I know I can do it like the others. How come I don’t have work like them?”
Some people told me, “kuhang-kuha mo ang pagka-stressed ni Albert (his character in the movie).” I guess it worked out eventually.
Does your being a musician help you as an actor?
I think so. I’m a shy guy. With my music, I get to open up to people. I remember when we started doing “My Binondo Girl,” Kim would always tell me to mingle more with people. You know Kim—she really speaks her mind. She used to say, “Hey! Show some personality. Why do you just stay in one corner when you’re not a tree?” I can say that I have more confidence where it concerns my music.
Do you think your good looks get in the way of turning in good performances?
I don’t think of it that much. I’m an insecure guy. That’s one of the reasons I don’t go out. I don’t party or go to bars. I do get my center, but I don’t have that mentally like, “Hey! What’s up? Look at me!”
What do you do in your downtime?
I like watching romantic comedy and horror movies. I’ve watched Rachel McAdams films (“The Notebook” and “About Time”) many times already. I just have this fascination with rom-com.
As for horror films, I like them because they’re engaging. You get your money’s worth because watching a horror film is like a roller-coaster ride. The feeling doesn’t end when you leave the moviehouse. You’re still frightened when you get home.
I also love watching videos on YouTube, particularly DIY (do it yourself) videos. I play the piano and the guitar for hours. By the time I’m done, the day has also ended. I also paint.
What kind of music do you like?
I like classical, but I also want to learn pop—which has a different feel. Classical music is an acquired taste. I remember doing a couple of classical songs in a mall show. Everyone was quiet, but when I started playing the intro of a pop song, people immediately reacted. I said I needed to learn pop because it works. I also hope to learn to play the piano while singing.
How old were you when you started playing the piano?
My mom is a piano teacher. I started playing it at either 8 or 9 years old, about two to three hours in a day. I enjoyed it.
Now, I have a collection of instruments—harmonica, djembe, guitar, melodica, trumpet, drum set, among others.
My love for music officially began in middle school when I studied in the United States. In our elective class, kids can choose to study a musical instrument for free. I chose the trombone. I got to play it with the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra in 2012.
I will have Morissette Amon, Dawn Chang, Richard Poon, Abra and Kim, as well as the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra as my guests at the concert.
By knowing that, you will already have the feel of the show. I want it to have ballads, and at the same time, I want it to have a hip-hop feel.
Abra is one of my idols. I don’t know him personally, but I like how he writes songs. There will also be dancing.
Which is closest to your heart—music or acting?
I can’t choose between them because they have different flavors. It’s different when you’re acting onscreen. For “The Story of Us,” I nurtured my character Macoy and felt sad when the show came to an end. I felt like someone really close to me died when I was fixing the costumes I wore as Macoy in my closet.
I like live performance because the response is immediate and spontaneous. I’d like to think that what people see onstage is the product of hard work. I have many idols, Sir Martin (Nievera) and Sir Gary (Valenciano). One day, I want to be like them.
Is that why we will also see you dance?
Goodbye, Rayver Cruz! Goodbye, Enchong Dee! (laughs) It’s something new and out of my comfort zone. I keep telling myself that I can do this. I just need a place to showcase my talent, just like everyone else.
What’s next for you?
After the concert, management said we’d go back to pitching. I’m not sure yet if my next project would be with Kim or someone else. I want a really good story. It would be great if it’d be with Kim, because we already know each other so well. If it’s with another leading lady, that would also be something new for viewers.
What have you learned from working with Kim?
I would always hear people say that I’m like a man in a shell. Kim and I are completely different in the sense that she’s loud, energetic and can actually carry a party on her own. I guess that’s why we complement each other. It’s OK that I have someone who, from time to time, tells me that I’m like this or that. I get to check myself, whether or not I’m on the right track.
E-mail mcruz@inquirer.com.ph