GMA 7’s first ‘Fantastic’ love team: Kim de Leon and Lexi Gonzales

Lexi Gonzales (left) and Kim de Leon

“Starstruck” season 7 alums Kim de Leon and Lexi Gonzales didn’t expect that they would end up getting paired together after the contest. But they’re glad things turned out the way they did. Otherwise they wouldn’t have known that they actually have a good working chemistry.

“I never thought I would be partnered with Kim, because he’s the Ultimate Male Survivor,” Lexi, the show’s female runner-up, told the Inquirer in a recent virtual conference for the new weekly GMA News TV anthology “My Fantastic Pag-Ibig.”

“I have always wanted to work with him since our time in ‘StarStruck’ … I wanted to do challenges with him. So, I was surprised it happened now. I’m happy because he’s easy to work with. I don’t have struggles with him,” the 20-year-old actress added.

It was in their stint in the variety show “All-Out Sundays (AOS)” where creative heads saw potential in them.

“After ‘StarsStruck,’ they were unsure who to pair me with. But after appearing in ‘AOS’ we were told that our partnership was nice. Working with Lexi is a blessing,” Kim said. “She’s a good actress and helps me out in our scenes.”

The two show biz newcomers have witnessed how much each of them has grown, from shy aspirants to actual working actors.

“One thing that stood out was her character. She used to be very eager in the competition. Palaban siya. But she gets stressed when she fails. Now, she’s more relaxed and trusts the process more. Kapag nadapa, bangon ulit,” said the 21-year-old celebrity, who admitted that he used to be intimidated by Lexi.

“My first impression of her was very different from how I see her now. I felt like she was someone who wouldn’t talk to me,” he added. “But we have grown closer and we’re good friends now. There’s no awkwardness now.”

Lexi, on the other hand, sees a marked difference in the way Kim carries himself these days.

“He’s a lot more confident now compared to how he was during our ‘StarStruck’ days, when he was more shy. From a viewer’s standpoint, I can say that he has grown even better in acting. Work seems easy to him,” Lexi observed. “I rarely see him having a hard time or struggling.”

“I see him getting better every day and I couldn’t be more proud,” she added.

Kim and Lexi star in “My Fantastic’s” first installment titled, “Love Wars,” airing on Jan. 30 and Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m.

Pido (Kim) plays a modern-day cupid who believes that finding love on digital platforms only results in broken hearts. And with his role in the brink of extinction because of technology, Pido is tasked to sabotage the dating app called “MatchMaker.” There he meets Lovelyn, an app developer bent on making her project a success.

“I was able to relate to my character, especially her passion for work,” Lexi said. “I appreciate her drive and how she loves, cares for her family. That’s part of our culture as Filipinos … working hard and giving importance to our parents.”

Kim was nervous to return to work after a months-long break because of the quarantine.

“I kept on watching films and observing how the actors portray their roles. I asked myself if I can do what they do. I practice while watching them. Sometimes I do the acting exercises in the bathroom,” he related, laughing. “I’m super nervous and excited. It’s my first project this year, and I’m hoping for more in the future.”