How fatherhood has changed Matt

Anyone who watched Matt Evans on Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition’s first season 10 years ago knows he was born on Oct. 22, 1986 to American Talmadge Evans and Filipina Vivien Nicolas. The former, who was serving in the US Air Force at the time, left the latter before Matt was born. Matt tried to get in touch with him during his time as a housemate in the summer of 2006, to no avail. Talmadge eventually died of heart attack four years later, which Matt learned of only when he spoke to one of his uncles.

?Meanwhile, Matt’s mother did what she could to provide for Matt and his half-siblings Akira and Mark. She eventually found work abroad and left them in the care of their grandmother. Because Vivien wasn’t around a lot when he was younger, Matt was unable to develop a strong bond with her.

However, these days mother and son try their hardest to make up for lost time. “Mom and I aren’t really close because I grew up with my Lola,” Matt shares. “Now that I’m married, I still don’t get to see her all the time, but I show my appreciation by calling and texting her. I also take her out if I have time.”

?It’s fitting that Matt is serious about building a better bond with his mother because his latest project, a teleserye titled The Greatest Love, revolves around the story of a mother (played by Sylvia Sanchez) and her children (played by Matt, Andi Eigenmann, Arron Villaflor and Dimples Romana).

?Matt’s last TV appearance was in the James Reid-Nadine Lustre vehicle On The Wings of Love. Before that, the last time he was part of a teleserye’s main cast was in 2014, when he played Jake Espiritu and the Scheduler in Pure Love. Matt is excited about his return to ABS-CBN’s Primetime Bida block, especially since he’ll be a series regular.

“I’m honored and happy,” he says. “My last show where I was part of the main cast was two years ago. After that, hindi naman ako nabakante because I played supporting roles in Dream Dad and On The Wings of Love. I’m really excited for this project. Aside from being part of the main cast, ka-close ko pa yung mga kasama ko dito, especially Tita Sylvia.”

Matt reveals that his character Andre Alegre is gay, and that it’s his fourth time to take on a gay role following his stints in Must Date the Playboy, Pare Mahal Mo Raw Ako and The Reunion.

“My character and Tita Sylvia’s character, Gloria, are super close. That’s all I can say about Andre. You’ll have to watch the show to find out more,” Matt teases. “I’ve done gay roles in movies before, but this one will be different because it’s a teleserye. This is so challenging for me since the gay roles I portrayed before were all in romantic comedy movies. This one is a heavy drama.”

?But Matt didn’t back down from the challenge. He even asked his wife for help. “For me, this is challenge accepted because there’s no small or big roles. Whatever is given to you, you should give your best performance. Isa yun sa nakalakihan kong ugali sa showbiz kasi para sa akin, blessing lahat. My wife made me watch a movie called Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List, which is all about two best friends, a girl and a gay. The gay (character) there is my peg. I practice how he acts and talks, even his style,” Matt shares.

?Matt enjoys doing shows about families because he’s now married with three kids, and he says fatherhood has changed him.

“I used to go out and party with friends all the time. But now that I’m a father, I’d rather stay at home with my wife and kids. The only time I see my friends is when we play basketball in the morning. I already know my priorities. My wife and kids are No. 1. I work harder now for them. Though I miss them when I’m on the set, I make sure I get to spend time with them, especially my kids,” he says.