Supreme's 20 Questions Supreme: Mylene of another caliber

From playing a lesbian lover to a strong woman afflicted with cancer, Mylene Dizon has showed a wide range of acting ability we don’t usually see from former teen stars of late. Call it a stroke of indie-credibility, Mylene just won the Cinemalaya Best Actress plum for her emotional calisthenics in Chris Martinez’s Bucket List film, 100.

Here at Supreme, we love doing little experiments. At the Headshot Clinic event by QTV’s Living It Up last Tuesday, we had a couple of hundreds who all lined up to put their best face forward in front of the cameras, for use on their social networking profiles. When Mylene came, we chose another profile. We turned the sounds down, took out the colorful background, and just focused on her raw emotions. Photographer Niccolo Cosme served as voyeur to Mylene’s stripping off of emotions, one layer after another. For that deafeningly silent 30 minutes, it was just Mylene and her emotions, organically drawn out by an actor of her stature. The whole room froze, I saw Mylene’s veins tense up, and then tears began to stream down slowly on her cheek.

But what drove the critics to applaud her in each performance does not stem from her crying capabilities, but her ability to tackle every role with strength. That even if her assigned characters are on the surface, weak, she gives it multiple dimensions.

We grew up watching her as a troubled yet passive teen at Gmik, got a more mature fluid performance in Gatas and then got us intrigued with her gay portrayal in Rome and Juliet before jumping into her sweet death in 100. Now, Mylene the actress is reborn.

Here, the popular and critically acclaimed actress who is seen daily as Dyesebel’s nemesis Dyanga answers Supreme’s 20 questions. Mylene, answer away…

What was your reaction when your name was called Best Actress?

Reaction to best actress: Overwhelmed. Like I said in my acceptance speech (although it didn’t come out right as I wasn’t able to finish any of my sentences), all I wanted when I entered this industry was to be part of the list of good actors to be considered for great projects like 100. Winning is so much more than I wished for. I shook. I waited a while before standing up because I wanted to absorb the moment, to take it all in. Then I replayed the speech in my head, making sure that I was able to thank everybody who meant everything to me in this project… Sadly though nothing came out right!

How do you prepare for a role?

I try to do a little research about the roles that I play. Mainly just some backgrounder, or nuances that I have to look out for to enhance my work further, but I say I only do a little because I don’t want to lose spontaneity that may come as a surprise. Unless of course I am playing a non-fictional character, then I have to stick to the facts.

How do you detach yourself from a role after you’ve shot your scenes?

I have learned to cut myself right away from the scene. I don’t like overextending the character to reality, I don’t think it’s healthy! Chicka moments in between takes help a lot!

The movie 100 talks about death and preparation for it..

There is no way to prepare for death. No matter how much you’ve carefully laid out your plans, once the moment comes, each person will react differently. For sure, nobody can act cool in the face of death.

What are your thoughts on it?

Silliness always makes me laugh.

What makes you laugh?

Family, friends, mostly anything about relations and the human emotion make me cry.

What makes you cry?

Stupidity. That’s why Im always angry at myself!

How do you deal with sadness?

I cry. I go to my corner and give myself a bongga cry!

Who makes you happy?

My son Tomas has given me so much joy. I never thought it was possible to be this happy and content, he is funny, kengkoy, sweet, intelligent, charming. My world revolves around him, I have changed so much (I’d like to believe I am a better person now because of him).

If there’s anything you regret, what is it?

Regret? Not having kids earlier maybe? I always say nga na had I known that it was this amazing sana I started earlier and had 10 children! But if I did naman then I wouldn’t have been able to do half of the things that I had done in my 20s, which were altogether crazy-fab anyway!

How’s life as a telenovela actress?

Schizo. Many sequences are shot in a day, and you know that I play mostly the villainess.

How has motherhood changed you?

I stay at home a lot now. I don’t waste my time with things that don’t really matter. I value family more now. I have come to terms with myself, and learned that love is really all that matters.

As an actress?

I am nicer to the kids on the set. Hehe! I’m always on the lookout for the welfare of the kids at my work. I wish there were better rules and conditions that would protect the children working as actors. It’s being overlooked, and it’s not right.

As a person?

People already think that I am an evil woman. Our audience tends to believe the characters too much that they sometimes find it hard to see the good in the real person. I don’t like defending myself naman, because it gets tiring so I just sometimes let them think and believe what they want. It’s not that I don’t like it, I love playing the kontrabida, I think it’s where an actress can play her role the most and have fun doing it.

Who do you look up to in the acting field?

I look up to all the actors, especially Filipino actors and actresses. Versatile and talented, we continuously try to improve. Everybody is just amazing that is why everybody should be given a chance to show their craft and therefore, shine.

Who are the good ones among the younger, up-and-coming actresses?

What’s up-and-coming ba? Kasali pa ba kami dun o the bagets lang? Matanda na ba kami? Ganito, I love Eugene Domingo, Iza Calzado, Kim Chiu, Anne Curtis. Sarah Geronimo pa, is there anything she can’t do?

What other roles do you want to play but have never been offered you?

I haven’t played ’yung may down syndrome o kaya yung may sira sa ulo. Singer hindi parin kasi ata hindi ako marunong kumanta!

Please choose.. Telenovela fame or critical acclaim?

Critical acclaim with telenovela paycheck! Pwede ba ’yun?

Who did you dedicate this Best Actress award to?

I dedicated it to my family, who even if they are far away I know and feel their love. My father who always watches me from heaven. And my son, my happiness.

What’s next for Mylene Dizon?

I don’t know yet what’s next for me, mahilig magbigay ang Diyos ng mga magagandang surprise e!