4 character actors explain why reinventing oneself is important to their craft

Edgar Allan Guzman, Bernard Palanca, Adrian Alandy and Ryan Eigenmann

Just because they mostly play supporting or character roles in soaps, it doesn’t necessarily mean they can afford to be complacent. For Ryan Eigenmann, Adrian Alandy, Edgar Allan Guzman and Bernard Palanca, reinvention remains imperative.

“It’s important to reinvent yourself, on- and off-cam. When you regularly do soaps, you’re bound to encounter a character that you have played before,” Ryan said in a virtual conference for GMA 7’s prime-time drama crime series, “Widows’ Web.” But while the roles end up being similar once in a while, there is still room for changes, he pointed out.

Versatility

“You can do lots of things with your physical appearance, way of speaking or other nuances to give the audience something new every time,” Ryan said, adding that his coactors’ versatility is the key to their longevity. “I think I speak for everyone [when I say] that we wouldn’t be able to give varied portrayals, if we deliver stagnant performances. The people and the industry will easily get tired of us,” he said. “It’s important to adapt, especially now that we have younger audiences.”

Adrian said reinvention was especially important now that he’s 42 and no longer getting any younger. “We try, as much as possible, to add something different to the portrayal, especially when you’re doing a multilayered character that you have to pick apart and differentiate. I think it’s our responsibility as actors to reinvent ourselves as we go toward being veterans,” he said.

And this is something he also tries to impart with his younger colleagues.

Challenging

“When the younger stars seek our advice about work, or how to attack certain roles, we share with them what we think they can do and what can help them stay longer in showbiz,” he said. Edgar Allan added that coming up with different character approaches can be more challenging when time between shoots for different soaps is limited. “As actors, we have to be aware and conscious about how we deliver each character and attack each scene. I want to give viewers something new, especially when I do teleseryes. It has to be different all the time, especially if [the shooting for different soaps] is just a few months apart,” he said. “I love my craft and it’s important to really study your role.”

Meanwhile, at 45, Bernard is just grateful to still be getting new roles that test his mettle as an actor.

Passion as fuel

“I love my job. So no matter what character I’m asked to play—and if I know I can do it and it’s challenging—I will say yes to it. It’s like you’re a different person from yesterday and then a different one again tomorrow. It’s nice to be able to do that onscreen,” he said.

At the end of the day, it’s passion that fuels him to continue pursuing and honing his craft.

“The love for the job makes things easier for me. I can’t be more thankful than I am today. Considering how old I am now, I’m still able to get work and do these things,” he said.

“So I try to do the best I can. Seeing a smile on people’s faces feels like an achievement. And that inspires me to do this for as long as I can,” Bernard added.