Been there, done that and still aiming for the top

MANILA, Philippines - Every successful actor usually has a niche: as a leading man, a heartthrob, the boy-next-door-type, a contravida or even as a funny-guy-who-never-gets-the-girl. That’s just the way the cookie, or shall I say the system, crumbles.

However, GMA Artist Center (GMAAC) talent Marvin Agustin is one of few actors who can say “been there, done that” to all of the above — and more. Marvin is currently seen on Panday Kids playing the role of nemesis, Lizardo. Although the show is a spin-off from the recently shown MMFF hit movie with an almost similar title, Marvin manages to breathe fresh life into a character that had just won an award for industry stalwart Philip Salvador.

“I gave Lizardo a sense of humor to make it more child-friendly,” Marvin said. “Lizardo may have a mean bone but he manages to sneak in punch lines sometimes,” said the actor slash entrepreneur slash athlete. Marvin divulged that for the fight scenes, he and most of the cast underwent Wushu training from an expert. It is recalled that in 2007, Marvin took a crash course in Capoeira to prepare for his role on Asian Treasures.

Artists need to go and seek their breakthrough — literally, that means going outside their comfort zone to find their voice, to make them better performers, and hopefully, along the way, better people. “Learning Wushu challenged me in that its main component is sword fighting. Doing Capoeria requires movements that are graceful, groovy ... rhythmic,” he compared. “I learned a lot from both disciplines.”

Marvin’s Red Shoes

Currently getting critical acclaim for his part in “Red Shoes,” a love story that revolves around one of the stilettos of former First Lady Imelda Marcos, Marvin is also cast in the new Marilou Diaz Abaya film, Ikaw Ang Pag-ibig, which will pit his acting chops against those of Judy Ann Santos’ and Ryan Agoncillo’s.

Ouside showbusiness, Marvin is a restaurateur. Among his many ventures with multi-awarded entrepreneur Raymond Magdaluyo are Sumosan, Mr Kurosawa, John and Yoko and Marciano’s. “That is my way of reinventing. It’s a way for people to see that I have a life outside the ‘biz,” he said.

A well-rounded person, Marvin is into sports, particularly archery for which he had competed in Korea and Bangkok. He will be in Korea this month for further training. “I want to better my scores,” he said. “One day I hope to qualify for the SEA Games.”

It will come. For now, Marvin seems to have already hit bullseye.