Paulo Avelino opens up, just a bit

“I WANT to enter Robert de Niro’s mind and find out what makes him such a great actor!”

Paulo Avelino never fails to deliver. I was particularly impressed with his portrayal of a mentally disturbed lover in “Walang Hanggan.” He certainly deserves his own teleserye.

But the Kapamilya actor would rather keep it low-key and steady. He’s out to wow the audience again in his upcoming film, “The Bride and the Lover,” which opens on May 1.

Read on to unravel the mystique, that is distinctively Paulo…

What was a defining moment in your life?

When I was five years old, I remember watching the kids in “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” and I thought, “That’s so much fun! I think I can do that. I wanna do that.”

What makes you fall in and out of love?

I think that no one can consciously decide when, how and with whom one falls in love. The mind cannot rationalize nor control how the heart feels. It just happens!

In my new movie “The Bride and the Lover,” Vivian (Lovi Poe) is engaged to be married to Philip (my character). But he has a secret lover—Vivian’s best friend Shiela (Jennylyn Mercado). Philip knows it’s wrong, but he falls in love anyway.

How do you manage to keep your private life to yourself?

I just appeal to the press to help me keep my family and friends away from the public eye.

You were very impressive in “Walang Hanggan.” Don’t you feel that you deserve a show like Coco Martin’s “Juan de la Cruz”?

Coco is a master. I’m just a novice. There’s no comparison.

If you could trade places with one famous person even just for a day, who would it be and why?

Robert De Niro. I want to enter his mind and find out what makes him such a great actor!

What do you want to change in yourself or improve on?

My skills as an actor. I just want to be the best actor I can be.

What’s your pet peeve?

Opinionated people who have no respect for other points of view.

What makes a woman sexy to you?

The sexiest part of a woman is her brain.

What was the worst intrigue about you?

The worst intrigues are those that taught me the best life lessons.

What’s your advice to aspiring actors?

Looks fade. Talent blossoms with age.

What are your unfulfilled dreams?

I dream that one day, a Filipino film will win an Oscar.

How do you like to be remembered? 

As an actor who inspired others to become better human beings.