Ryan in uncharted territory

Unlike other stars who try to live up to their good role model image, Ryan Agoncillo has undergone a drastic change. The change is seen in the way he dresses up. He has exchanged his formal get-up for a simple shirt and tattered jeans with matching sneakers. He has totally gone “bad” as well. And fiancée Judy Ann Santos doesn’t even mind at all.

Does Ryan find his old self too boring? Or is he trying to reveal what’s behind the angelic look? Don’t judge him too quickly. Ryan is just living up to the character of Rigor, which the late Ace Vergel popularized in Carlo J. Caparas’ Pieta.

This time, televiewers will see how Ryan gets out of his comfort zone to breathe life anew to Rigor as ABS-CBN presents Pieta as part of its afternoon TV drama series to air starting this afternoon after Wowowee.

“The first time the role was offered to me, I didn’t realize how tough it would be. I just accepted the offer,” Ryan says. “But when I read the script and found out how heavy it is, I began to get nervous. Actually, when I came from Argentina, I spoke to the big bosses and asked them again if the role was really meant for me because okay lang kung hindi. But they said yes, sa akin daw.”

He, too, spoke to the writers and confessed his nervousness. What boosted Ryan’s confidence is direk Carlo’s nod about his portraying Rigor. He compared Ryan’s acting to Ace’s performance and was convinced Ryan has more depth.

“Wow, I can’t compare myself to Ace Vergel. I won’t be able to do this without the 100 percent support of ABS and the creative team. Buti na lang may blessing tayo ni direk Carlo because this is classic and mahirap at mabigat sya gampanan but I am just happy I was given the opportunity to do this,” Ryan offers.

And since Ryan is totally different from Rigor, he deemed best to attend an acting workshop under direk Laurice Guillen. He, too, heeded direk Laurice’s advice: Let go. It worked. Ryan threw caution to the wind and acted as if he grew up in an environment where shouting matches from warring neighbors and gangsters normally occur.

Action, Ryan admits, is uncharted territory but the inclination for martial arts like taekwondo (where he has already competed) and jujitsu proved beneficial. He enjoys scenes that require him to move in rough and fast pace.

“We cannot do action the way it was before like in one whiff all the opponents easily fall. This is why I asked my team from URCC to be on the set to give me tips on how to show that small ones like me can fight and topple challengers,” Ryan explains.

Pieta is a heart-tugging story about the pains and sacrifices of a mother who unconditionally loves her son as he grows up without a father’s guidance. He often gets into trouble and makes his mother grieve.

Asked if he appreciates his mom more with the kind of role given him, Ryan answers, “I’ve always been a mama’s boy growing up but now that I’m an adult, I appreciate my mom’s presence even more. Of course, I know how to do things on my own but it’s different if you have a mom who cooks for you, prepares things for you and I love it when I get home and she’s there waiting with a smile.”

A fine reason why during the first day of taping, Ryan finds it hard to speak harshly to Cherie Gil who plays his mom Amanda in the series.

Does Judy Ann know about his love scenes with Krista Ranillo as Martha, his lady love?

“Yes, Judy Ann has been in the biz for the longest time. She is the least who will react to the sexy scenes,” he replies.

Would he say there’s not a single similarity in his personality to that of his role?

“I guess all actors sometimes draw from personal experience but in a different level. I may not have anything to draw from real experience but it’s my obligation to have something that could be a peg to my character.”

Rigor, he adds, is a bad character. “At mabuting tao ako. At least iba talaga yung ginagampanan ko.”