Paolo Ballesteros dedicates Best Actor trophy to LGBT community
Paolo Ballesteros was noticeably absent when he won acting awards as best actor conferred by different local award giving bodies for his credible performance as Trisha, a transgender in “Die Beautiful.”
However, the Eat Bulaga host and makeup transformation artist was present during the 40th Gawad Urian held last night at the Studio 10 of ABS-CBN.
“Nagkataon lang siya. Kasi noong last Eddys, pupunta talaga ako noon. Nawala lang sa isip ko dahil ang dami kong ginagawa dahil nagre-rehearse kami lagi sa Eat Bulaga. Akala ko kasi next week pa iyon, iyon pala iyong night na iyon na, so I was not able to make it,” he pointed out.
“Ito naman kasing sa Urian, nag-ask sila na maging presentor ako. Ako naman, lahat naman ng awards, gusto kong puntahan kaya lang most of the time, my conflict sa schedule,” he added.
He also clarified that he does not discriminate against any award-giving body.
“Of course not, walang ganoon. Naa-appreciate ko iyong nare-recognize nila iyong achievement ko as an artist, so thankful ako sa recognition,” he said.
According to Pao, he owes his fans and the LGBT community for their continuous and unwavering support to him in his breakthrough project, “Die Beautiful.”
“I dedicate my award sa LGBT community. This award is for them. Glad ako na nabigyan sila ng representation through my movie. Noong ipalabas nga siya, sinuportahan na siya ng mga tao pati ng mga LGBT dahil laging puno ang sinehan. Glad ako na open na ang mga tao sa ganitong pelikula na straightforward ang paglalahad sa buhay ng bakla o transgender dahil walang paliguy-ligoy itong tinalakay sa pelikula.”
Although he already got his dream role in the said movie, he still wants to explore other characters that would expand his range as an actor.
“Siyempre naman, gusto ko ring gumanap ng ibang roles kahit straight guy o straight guy na pabakla. Sa lahat naman ng projects ko, gusto kong nagtra-transform ako kahit everyday sa show ko sa Eat Bulaga kahit sa physical na aspect. Gusto ko rin kasing i-try ang ibang characters na hindi ako mata-typecast sa isa lang,” he explained.
Asked why he chose to transform himself as a Kardashian last night, the actor had this to say:
“Akala ko kasi si Christian, magpa-Paris Hilton kaya nag- Kim Kardashian ako. Siya ang pinili ko kahit I want an appearance na buo like big girls para believable naman,” he concluded.
