Once again on the hot seat of Tonight With Boy Abunda (TWBA) a few nights back was Gerald Anderson. He is now known as the Universal Leading Man for having been paired up with over a dozen young actresses in film and on TV. This is a rare occurrence. His being called as such left one to wonder: What is it in Gerald that makes him click with his leading ladies? Does his acting approach vary depending on whom he gets to be paired up with?
His recent movie, My Perfect You, with Pia Wurtzbach was a box-office success. For its opening day alone, it pulled over P10M. Gerald was ecstatic. He shared that after his mommy Vangie learned that the movie earned big on its first day, she sent him a text message asking him to give her P1M. His reply was honest: It’s not his money. Nonetheless, everyone was happy.
“It’s very flattering, Tito Boy, because it’s something I really put a lot of hard work into,” he said. “It was during the Christmas break nung nalaman kong tuloy ang pelikula, and then I started on researching even when I was still on vacation. I was researching about my character who’s going through a difficult phase. And every day, even when we were in Zambales for the shooting of the movie, tuloy-tuloy pa din ‘yung research.”
Without having to reveal the story, Gerald once again delivered an excellent acting. Same with Pia whom the actor saw great potential in acting. “First day pa lang, first scene pa lang alam ko na that she’s the new Star Cinema leading lady. She really wants it, Tito Boy, and she deserves to be here. But I also have to give credit to direk Cathy (Garcia-Molina). I’m so glad that this movie with direk worked well because hopefully, I have a new mentor and partner in making movies.”
The movie reviews were positive with Gerald, telling how those who have already seen My Perfect You were surprised with the story “because they never expected it to be like that. They thought it’s just another love story or rom-com but it’s not. It’s the most unique movie that I’ve ever done.”
Aside from Pia, Gerald also hit it off too well with other leading ladies since the beginning of his acting career. It’s no secret that he was discovered by Joross Gamboa during one of his out-of-town shows more than a decade ago. Joining in the Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) opened a lot of doors for Gerald whose love team partner then was Kim Chiu. Gerald placed third in the reality show, while Kim went home as the big winner. After PBB, the two made quite a lot of hit shows and their popularity as Kimerald grew as reel and real-life couple. Sadly, they went separate ways and both Kim and Gerald were partnered with other stars.
Gerald was seen in acting projects with actresses like Sarah Geronimo, Arci Muñoz, Maja Salvador, Shaina Magdayao, Erich Gonzales, Bea Alonzo, Christine Reyes, Liza Soberano, Jessy Mendiola, Julia Montes and Jewel Mische, who is now happily settled in the US.
During the interview, Gerald willingly took part in Name the Leading Lady portion where he would flash the picture of his former leading ladies for his answers. Find out his answers:
Laging umiidlip sa set — Arci Muñoz. She fell asleep in the middle of our scene in Always Be My Maybe. We were shooting the Valentine’s date scene and she was done with her lines and then when my turn came, naglilinya na ako nung nakita ko yung ulo n’ya bumabagsak. Hindi ko alam kung itutuloy ko pa ‘yung eksena.
Pinakamadaldal — Maja Salvador. Cute na daldal.
Laging may dalang pagkain sa shooting — Bea Alonzo. She cooks and ‘yung diet nya healthy food.
Palabiro at mahilig mang-asar — Maja
Gustong makatrabaho ulit — Sarah Geronimo. There are also many fans who want to see us together again. Katulad sa amin ni Kim para sa mga fans na binigay ‘yung Ikaw Lang Iibigin. So I think they deserve another.
Maaasahan mo in case magkaroon ka ng emergency — Bea
Leading lady who taught a great life lesson — Kim Chiu. I suppose, you just never forget where you came from and how you started before all these opportunities and blessings came. Alam ko naman kung paano ako nagsimula at sino ang kasama ko.
Gerald knew that time flies really fast having been in showbiz for 12 years now. His last visit to General Santos where he grew up was only recently.
“Honestly, Tito Boy, I went home because my mother was requesting to see me. She wanted to see me because I was shooting My Perfect You in Zambales on my birthday. Sabi n’ya gusto n’ya akong pakainin ng lunch tapos kahit umuwi na agad ako. But I thought never did I try to have a block screening in GenSan eh taga roon ako so I did and I visited the place kung saan ako tumatambay, yung katapat kung saan ako na discover ni Joross.”
Gerald also wanted to take Bea to the place where he grew up but nothing has been planned yet “because I am afraid of her mother, hot spot kasi ang General Santos. But given the chance, I want her to experience the provincial life, kung paano kami sa probinsya, ganun ka-simple, kung saan ako galing.”