Newcomer gets ‘Amaya’ lead

MIKAEL Daez, right, with Sid Lucero and Marian Rivera in the Kapuso epic series.

All he wanted was to raise some cash for a day on the beach with friends. Mikael Daez got more than he bargained for: an artist contract with GMA 7 and a lead role in its biggest drama project to date.

“My mom stopped giving me allowance after I finished college. A friend of mine suggested that I join a fashion show. My life was never the same after that,” Mikael recounted during the recent media launch for the epic drama series “Amaya.”

The 23-year-old looker joined Mercator Model Artist Management, which also handles the careers of model-actors JC Tiuseco, Akihiro Sato and Daniel Matsunaga. Mikael made print and TV ads. In October, Mikael got a call to audition for “Amaya.”

He didn’t exactly jump for joy. “I’m not into the arts at all. I didn’t sing or act.” Mikael had taken up a business management course at the Ateneo de Manila University. He is the second of eight kids. His dad passed away seven years ago.

“I agreed to audition just to experience it,” he said. “I saw Marian Rivera. I wondered if that was really her. In December, I was told that I got a part.”

Mikael joined a weekly acting workshop. “Everything was a shock to me. It was decided that I should first work on an episode of ‘Spooky Nights’ with Marian. I was thankful for that.”

No trouble kissing

In “Amaya,” Mikael plays Lumad, the heroine’s friend and protector. “Amaya (Marian) is torn between two lovers—Lumad and Sid Lucero’s character, Bagani. We’re both good guys [in the story]. It’ll be tough for her.”

Mikael is also in the remake of the Joey Gosengfiao camp classic, “Temptation Island,” in theaters this year. He plays Ricardo, a role initially given to Paulo Avelino, who reportedly fell ill before filming started.

Did he have trouble with his kissing scene with French-Filipino actress Solenn Heussaff? “To me it’s just work. I’ve kissed a girl before, Solenn has kissed a boy before—so we’re cool. The director said, the kiss had to look very sexy and passionate. That’s what we did.”