Matteo’s tip: Don’t mix personal, professional stuff

MATTEO Guidicelli (far right) with cohosts Dimples Romana and Xian Lim, and the kids of “I-Shine” Talent Camp

Matteo Guidicelli says the key to staying out of controversies in show biz is to separate personal life from one’s job as an actor.

He admitted that, after being jealous of his girlfriend’s coactor once, he has learned to separate his profession from real-life relationships. “They are two totally different things,” Matteo told the Inquirer during a recent media gathering for ABS-CBN’s reality talent search, “Promil I-Shine,” which he is currently cohosting with Dimples Romana and Xian Lim.

Matteo learned his lesson the hard way. He got involved in a controversial brawl with fellow ABS-CBN contract artist Coco Martin at the 2011 Star Magic Ball. The two actors fought over actress Maja Salvador.

“You have to change your mindset,” Matteo said. “You can’t think, ‘She’s my girlfriend; she’s off limits.’ You have to understand that everything is just work. You have to be professional.”

To avoid petty quarrels, he said, he always discusses work with Maja now. This was true of his coming drama series “Precious Hearts Romances Presents: Isla” in which he will be paired with young actress Jessy Mendiola.

Respect

“Maja and I have good communication but the most important thing is that we respect each other,” Matteo stressed. “When we work on our respective projects, we give our 100 percent attention. But when it comes to our relationship, we’re truthful and honest.”

Matteo said he felt extremely proud of Maja when she bagged the best actress award from the recent 35th Gawad Urian for her performance in the independent film, “Thelma,” directed by Paul Soriano, about a runner.

“Maja worked very hard on that. Her skin got darker because she was always training under the hot sun, with the best running coaches, including Elma Muros. She really transformed herself into a runner,” Matteo said.

The actor added that he wouldn’t mind, should Maja decide to take on more mature roles, or those that would require her to bare skin. “If she believes she can do it, I will support her.”

New look

During the “Promil I-Shine” event, people noticed that Matteo was sporting the mullet—a hairstyle that’s short at the front and sides but long in the back. He explained it was for the new character he would be playing in “Isla.”

“I just wanted to create a new me for the show,” he said. “My character’s name is Brennan. He comes from a rich family. He’s cool and fearless, until he gets stuck on an island with an attractive girl (Jessy). Brennan is married, though, and as the show progresses, we’ll see how he relates with Jessy’s character.”

Work on “Isla” has started; the production spent a week on the Caramoan Islands in Camarines Sur.

(The “Promil Pre-School I-Shine Talent Camp” helps 12 kids hone their talent potentials through fun workshops and mentoring by Kapamilya stars Karylle, John Prats and Luis Manzano. The winner gets a Star Magic talent contract, plus P500,000 in cash.)