Playing transgender is on Jake Cuenca’s bucket list

Jake Cuenca: If I do another gay role, it has to be trans. / IG: @juancarloscuenca

Jake Cuenca, it seems, is not about to shirk away from the challenge of playing gay again as he wants to portray a transgender, which is on his bucket list of performances.

“If I do another gay role, it has to be trans kasi nagawa ko na, eh. I’ve done this, I’ve done that. I want to do something that I know I can’t do, I want to do roles that get me out of my comfort zone,” he said during our one-one-one interview for his solo presscon for Metro Manila Film Festival entry “My Father, Myself” on Tuesday, Nov. 29.

Cuenca feels that there is a challenge to “try to look for the things that’s farthest away from my personality or the farthest thing away from my lifestyle.”

“I live for the challenge,” he declared.  “‘Yun ang natutunan ko sa sarili ko rin. (That’s what I learned from myself also). I love acting and I love the process,” he said.

His gay human rights lawyer character in “My Father, Myself” is his third gay role in a movie. First was “Lihis” with Joel Lamangan and “When the Love Is Gone” with Gabby Concepcion and Cristine Reyes where he won best actor. He played a psycho gay guy in that film.

“Actually, this is the most realistic kasi he’s a lawyer, successful, pinaka-close to home. I didn’t have to imagine too many things.  Everything was there na.  I didn’t need to visualize anything,” he said.

Getting out of his comfort zone is what Cuenca is after in terms of his projects.

“I wanna do this role now when people are playing attention, while the attention is still on me. I want this movie to make an impact.  I don’t want it to just fade away. It’s timely for me kasi ngayon ako pinapansin ng tao. I want them to see me doing this.  I want them to see me doing this character,” he said, feeling that “now is the time to do these daring, bold and provocative films.”

Produced by 3:16 Media Network and Mentorque Entertainment, “My Father, Myself” is directed by Joel Lamangan and stars Dimples Romana, Sean de Guzman and Tiffany Grey.  /ra