Failure not a hindrance for Ethan Salvador

Ethan Salvador

Newcomer Ethan Salvador may not have reached the finals of the reality talent search “Pinoy Boyband Superstar” last year, but it was a crucial step to get his foot in show biz’s door.

The 22-year-old actor-singer quickly proved his naysayers wrong with his buzz-worthy portrayal of Magnus, the mysterious Fil-Am protagonist of Petersen Vargas’ gay-themed coming-of-age drama, “2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten.” The acclaimed indie won best picture at the Cinema One Originals film festival last year.

Ethan, who is the son of ’80s actor Emil Sandoval, takes a moment to answer a few questions for his fans to get to know him better.

What’s your dream role? I want to be able to play many different characters with amazing backstories. That’s a dream in itself for me.

You made heads turn in “Pinoy Boyband Superstar.” Did you also audition for “Pinoy Big Brother”? Yes. Not getting into “PBB” was a big challenge.

Which celebrities do you idolize? Singer: Frank Sinatra, who’s a symbol of Christmas for me. I love Christmas and the family time its symbol suggests. Actress: Angelina Jolie, Marion Cotillard and Bea Alonzo. Actor: I look up to Johnny Depp, Tom Hardy and John Lloyd Cruz.

Favorite hangout? Anything high up, like a rooftop, where it’s peaceful. I love fresh air and great views.

Closest friends in the business? They include “Pinoy Boyband Superstar” alumni Markus Paterson, Joao Constancia and Russell Reyes, and GirlTrends members Kelley Day and Jessica Marasigan. They’re my main amigos and amigas.

What’s your pet peeve? Rain. It makes it difficult to do stuff, like enjoy views on rooftops. I also don’t like overly touchy people when you don’t know them. I like my personal space. I don’t like passive-aggresive behavior. If you got something to say, just say it.

Any favorite food? Steak. For Filipino dishes, I love kare-kare with extra bagoong on the side. It’s “so bomb.”

Biggest crush? Ellen Adarna. Other than the fact that she’s hot, I respect her carefree attitude.

What is your greatest asset? My resilience. I keep going after my goals, regardless of the circumstances that come my way. If I fail, I just keep getting up and doing it again.