Opening Tom’s cabin
“It’s a lot of firsts for me,” says Tom Rodriguez of the recent developments in his showbiz career. He is now a Kapuso star and topbills the groundbreaking primetime series My Husband’s Lover. “That’s why all of it is a challenge for me.” Tom’s contract with his previous network ended “December of last year,” shares Tom whose appearance in Be Careful
With My Heart is on a guesting arrangement. “I already did the exit of my character.”
Breathing life into the gay character named Vincent on the small screen is a whole new world — and a whole new experience for Tom, who played the title
role in Atlantis Productions’ Disney’s
Aladdin.
“I’m really impressed by the material which is well-written and well-made,” says Tom. “I’m honored and proud to be part of this show.”
Tom was invited to audition for the role and asked to do the confrontation scenes with Carla Abellana and Dennis Trillo’s characters. Carla is Lally, the wife, while Dennis is Eric, the lover. Tom fell in love with the script at first reading. “When I read the scene, I found it beautiful,” he recalls. “Even as an actor, I wasn’t sure if I was ready to take that kind of role — maybe (I was thinking that) I wouldn’t be able to give it a justice… I thought I can’t let this pass. At least, I just have to give my best and give it a shot. It is something groundbreaking… And I wanted to be a part of it.”
Even before his management received the confirmation of Tom’s inclusion in the series, he had gone the extra mile of studying the character. He immersed into Vincent’s psyche by talking to those who have gone through the same situation in life and have loved the same way. This is how Tom created Vincent. “What I found out is (gay relationship) is not different from heterosexual one,” Tom says. “The only difference is (the gays’) preference — how they love and how they feel.”
According to Tom, Vincent is not only physically attracted to Eric but “he (also) genuinely loves Eric.”
Just like all other relationships, gender bending or not, the issue of infidelity always comes into the picture. It could make or break the marital bliss. “I believe that infidelity is wrong,” Tom says. “I make it a point that I never judge my character. My character is just a human being and he just wants something.”
If televiewers feel that Carla’s character is a victim of deceit and desires, they cannot also discount the fact that Eric and Vincent are also victims of social norms. They are expected to assume certain roles and cannot deviate from certain expectations. “I feel it when doing some scenes,” says Tom of the difficulties living the “pink” life. “If this is what gays feel, I really feel bad and sorry for them. It’s not a good thing to hide who you are.”
Tom is in the learning mode, understanding the complexities of a gay life and the challenges of doing a meaty role.
“If you’re gonna accept this, you have to accept this for all or nothing,” Tom reminds himself. “You can’t shortchange your character. You don’t wanna shortchange the story. Expect the worst and hope for the best.” The former reality show graduate is dead set to bring all the “magic tricks” he had gained from stage to TV in giving Vincent a three-dimensional look and feel. This is possible since Tom likes the concept of “being an actor, more than being a celebrity.”
(My Husband’s Lover will premiere on June 10 on GMA Telebabad.)