Actor on craft: 'Nakakabaliw siya'
MANILA, Philippines -- Unlike a number of celebrities who prefer putting on a veil of youth, John Lloyd Cruz does not mind revealing his real age.
"I'm 29. Wala po akong screen age, wala po akong screen name," the Kapamilya actor said Friday in an interview on radio dzMM.
The "It Takes a Man and a Woman" star also counted in years his experience as an actor, and how his longevity in the business has helped him learn to deal with public interest in his personal life.
"Hindi ko alam kung paano ko nagawa na in the past 15, 16 years na nasa business tayo... Hindi ko naman tinatago relasyon ko, naging open naman ako noon pa, mula noong kami pa ni Ciara (Sotto) at bago palang 'yung team-up namin ni Bea (Alonzo)," he said.
"Magmula noon, naging open naman ako eh. So basically ang sinasabi ko lang is na swerte ako na tinatanggap tayo ng mga tao sa ginagawa natin bilang artista," he said.
However, Cruz, who is currently in a relationship with actress Angelica Panganiban, explained that he still hesitates to talk at length about private matters.
Time and again, Cruz has been the subject of headlines for his romantic relationships preceding Panganiban.
"Kasi kumbaga, sa totoo lang, kaya naman ako very reluctant na pag-usapan ang personal, kasi, you know, what I owe my audience, kumbaga ang expected lang sa akin, ang inaasahan lang sa 'kin ng audience ko is 'yung performance ko," he said.
"Now, 'yung drama ng buhay ko at ng personal ko, hindi na nila [kailangan manalaman]," he said.
As it is, being one of the most sought after leading men of his generation, Cruz is frequently seen in television and on the big screen showing a range of emotions -- from grief, anger to happiness.
Juggling portrayals and shifting emotions too often, the actor said, has proven emotionally taxing.
"Mahirap. Sabi ko nga, nung nabubuhay pa si the great Johnny Delgado, 'Wala ba sa generation niyo na bumigay? Kasi nakakabaliw itong trabaho natin.' Hindi siya biro," he said.
Cruz explained: "Kasi you overexhaust your emotions all in one day especially when you're doing a teleserye. Sa umaga umiiyak ka, tapos inlove na inlove ka sa tanghali, sa hapon naman galit na galit ka, sa gabi... Akala niyo po ang pag-aartista napakadali. nako, mahirap po."
Nevertheless, Cruz said he has learned, over the years, to easily adapt to the different demands of his onscreen personas.
"Isa 'yun so common sa aming mga artista na parang angbilis naming mag-adapt, kasi 'yan ang trabaho namin eh. Pag binagyan ka ng role, binibigyan ka ng chance to be a creator. May nabubuhay na isang tao sa'yo, so 'yung katawan mo, 'yung utak mo, naga-adapt doon sa sitwasyon," he said.
For his latest big screen portrayal, Cruz reprises his role as businessman Miggy Montenegro in the final installment in the series of film starring him and actress-singer Sarah Geronimo.
Directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina, "It Takes a Man and a Woman" is curently being showin in theaters nationwide
