Albert getting meatier and meatier

When Albert Martinez took a five-month leave from the movies after the sexy flick Ekis and the stageplay Paglayang Minamahal, showbiz observers concluded his time as one of the most bankable leading men in local movies is over.

His radiance, they said, was as quick to fade as the sexy movies.

But that was precisely why Albert took a temporary rest from the movies. After doing daring scenes with top sexy stars Joyce Jimenez in Scorpio Nights, Sunshine Cruz in Ekis, Glydel Mercado in Sidhi to mention a few, Albert thought he was already being identified as a sexy actor instead of an effective leading man.

"So I thought I have to be careful with the next projects I’ll be doing," he says. "Not that I’m regretting doing those scenes because I believe those films are great. It’s just that that time, the sexy trend was getting worse. Ang labanan na was frontal nudity. I think I didn’t work that long in the industry just to be tagged as a bold actor.

"The stage play has nothing to do with my having no movie projects," he adds. "Doing plays is a thing I really want to do. That’s the reason why I gladly accepted Paglayang Minamahal.

Those who still think Albert’s career as an actor is co-terminus with the bold trend should think again. He has his hands full with movie projects.

After starring as a devil-turned-flesh-and-blood in the Viva Films’ horror flick Ika-13 Kapitolo, he is busy promoting his soon-to-be-shown drama movie Gusto Ko Nang Lumigaya also under Viva Films.

Directed by Maryo J. delos Reyes, Albert’s newest film pairs him for the first time with Pops Fernandez. In the movie, he plays a psychotic husband forced by his family to marry a woman he doesn’t love (played by Pops). He ends up abusing her.

Before the year ends, Albert will do ABAKADA... Ina directed by Eddie Garcia. Albert will be paired with Lorna Tolentino again (they co-starred in Pusong Mamon).

Albert is very eager to start the project which he describes as "hindi pa man nagagawa, alam mong magiging classic movie na."

"It’s Lorna’s material," says Albert of the drama movie, which has Lorna playing an illiterate mother who’ll do anything to improve the life of her family. "It shows the setbacks of illiterate people and how they strive to become better."

Albert adds that his character as a spineless husband is nothing new to him, "but I’m excited about the movie because the story is so moving."

Unlike in Pusong Mamon, where most of his scenes with Lorna were light, Albert has emotional confrontation scenes with his leading lady in their upcoming movie.

Albert also greatly respects Eddie Garcia, who will be directing him for the first time in ABAKADA...Ina.

"I know he‘s good because I’ve seen most of his works, like Imortal which starred Christopher de Leon and Vilma Santos, and also his Sharon (Cuneta) movies. His mood and style of directing is perfect for the material. He loves postcard shots," says Albert.