Kelvin Miranda veers away from ‘chick boy’ roles for a change

Kelvin Miranda

While he admitted to having had two girlfriends from the biz, Kelvin Miranda would rather keep their identities private, so as not to create unnecessary intrigues.

“I don’t want to name names, because I don’t want to get other people involved, or I might say something wrong. I prefer to keep my love life private,” he said at a recent press conference organized by Sparkle GMA Artist Center to promote his new Netflix film, “Missed Connections.”

He did let on, however, that maintaining a romantic relationship in the entertainment industry was difficult. “It’s very different in show biz. People watch your every move. And what you do can be interpreted differently by different people who see you,” Kelvin said. “But as much as possible, I try to show people who Kelvin really is… that what I show in this industry is who I am in real life.”

The 24-year-old actor is currently single and prefers it that way—not necessarily because he has been burned by recent experiences, but because he wants to focus on his dreams.

Obligations, responsibilities

“I want to support and stand firm in my dreams. I can’t afford any distraction right now. Attached to relationships are obligations and responsibilities. Unknowingly and knowingly, you have to make sacrifices. So, for now, I just want to focus and make the most out of the blessings I have been getting,” he said.

That’s why he doesn’t want to put any pressure on his love team with fellow Kapuso talent Kate Valdez, despite the fact that fans have started shipping them. “Not all love teams end up together romantically. Some become good friends. But if it happens, why not?” said Kelvin, who was first paired with Kate in the drama series, “Unica Hija.”

They’re now part of the new sitcom “Walang Matigas na Pulis sa Matinik na Misis.” “But if I ever court Kate, I want to be ready… make sure I have already healed from what I have experienced in the past. I don’t want to get into a damaged relationship and end up damaging another person,” he said. “But if that happens, I will take care of it and give it my attention.”

NGSB character

Directed by Jelise Chung, “Missed Connections”—which is now available for streaming on Netflix—follows a hopeless romantic girl Mae (Miles Ocampo) who turns to a social media app to track down an attractive guy she bumped into at the grocery store. But as it turns out, the guy—whose name is Norman (Kelvin)—is interested in another girl.

“All of us look for connections, not just at work, but in life in general and everyday interactions. But sometimes, misconnections happen,” said Kelvin, whose “NGSB” (no girlfriend since birth) character was a departure from his usual roles.

Miranda (left) and Miles Ocampo in “Missed Connections”

“It’s my first time to play a character in a film who’s not a chick boy or a bad boy. My role is wholesome; no experience at all… He doesn’t know how to talk to women or how to express his feelings. He’s awkward. So that was challenging. I also had to make sure that my portrayal is different from what I have already shown in the past,” Kelvin said.

He had nothing but good words for Miles, whose professionalism and natural feel for acting is inspiring. “It’s as if she wasn’t acting at all. And that makes things so believable. I was so happy working with her, because she’s fun and generous as an actor,” he related.

Concerned costar

Last March, Miles revealed that she underwent thyroidectomy after being diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma, a type of cancer. And Kelvin was relieved to find out that his costar is on the mend and now doing well.

“The last time we saw each other, she told me that she was taking maintenance medicine that she had stopped because of side effects. But we didn’t notice anything during filming that made us think that she wasn’t 100 percent. She wasn’t vocal about it. I was surprised when she underwent an operation,” Kelvin told the Inquirer.

“I finally got to ask her about it when we recently did promos for the film. Thankfully, she’s getting better. She’s a part of my career and I have gotten comfortable with her, so it’s normal to be concerned about her,” Kelvin said.

Aside from “Missed Connections” and “Walang Matigas na Pulis,” Kelvin is also part of the upcoming movies “Poon” and “Ang Mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan.” “I’m happy about this upswing. I’m grateful to have people around me who take care of me and really plan my future projects. That’s why I promise to give my all and make sure I’m prepared for the job—not everyone gets that kind of opportunity,” he said. INQ