Dennis Trillo’s dedication pays off

CEBU, Philippines - That Dennis Trillo is a sensitive actor has never been in question, but TV viewers seem to have seen him in a new light and appreciate him anew since his turn in the GMA-7 primetime sensation “My Husband’s Lover.”

One measure of that are the wilder screams and warmer reception that Dennis has been receiving in each mall show he and his co-stars have appeared in.

“I would get shrieks from fans before, but there’s a difference this time since the audience that could relate to my character has become wider. It feels great because we all feel how phenomenal the show is, which was really unexpected. It feels better when you didn’t have expectations, and then it suddenly happens,” quipped Dennis.

In MHL, Dennis is Eric, an openly modern-day gay man who has had an affair with Vincent, a closet homosexual portrayed by Tom Rodriguez.

As in each project, Dennis would not harbor any expectations. With MHL though, he was surprised that even Filipinos abroad were looking forward to watch the series.

“I went to Seattle with the ‘Temptation of Wife’ cast and we showed the teaser for MHL. When I would go out on stage, there were a lot of excited fans and they knew about MHL. When I would mention the show, a lot of them would scream even if it wasn’t on air yet,” he recalled with a grin. “I think because the story is universal and many could relate. While it is about two males who are in love, it also tackles family issues. Every day, I feel even more amazed at the results of our hard work – not only the hard work of us actors, but those of the crew, the writer and the director.”

The awarded Filipino-Chinese actor had played the gay son of a politician in the special GMA Lenten drama “Unico Hijo.” He also famously acted the part of a cross-dresser in the period drama “Aishite Imasu 1941,” where he collected nine awards for all his efforts. How did he prepare another gay role this time? “Since I’ve done gay roles before, I already had an idea how to portray it. I just did a few adjustments since my gay role in ‘Aishte Imasu’ occurred during the Japanese occupation, while Eric in MHL is living in contemporary times. I would also meet and mingle with many gays in the industry and from observing them, I would pick up from that how they behaved.”

Asked if there were instances he’d imbibe his character’s nuances in real life, Dennis cracked that yes, his little finger would sometimes protrude when holding a glass of water, just like most with feminine tendencies would. He said, “Of course you’re acting that way on a daily basis, and also because I take each I do seriously.”

Dennis said he has no clue when the series will end, adding he won’t be surprised if they get extended. “When Lally finally caught Eric and Vincent together, people were asking if we were about to end. But not anytime soon because if you notice, the series doesn’t have the typical antagonist; the conflicts brew from the situations of the characters. A lot will still happen and there are more surprises. Viewers should watch out who else would discover Vince’s secret, if his parents would find out his true orientation, what will happen between Vince and Eric and to their respective families.” (FREEMAN)