Will Keempee join politics?

Keempee de Leon has always called a spade a spade. He has never dodged issues, resorted to doublespeak and other tactics to muddle a controversy.

Now that he has shifted from playing gay (on La Lola) to a straight role on GMA 7’s All About Eve, questions again hound Keempee. People, it seems has yet to get used seeing him play a no-frills guy again.

Below, Keempee opens his heart again.

You look slimmer, better on TV. Are you on a health regimen? (Jenevive Dator of Lucban, Quezon)

Thanks to a fish and vegetable diet, plus brown and red rice, I’ve lost 10 pounds. I also work out in the gym thrice a week. I feel lighter and better. I can now wear the clothes that didn’t fit me at all. I plan to lose 10 more pounds, with the help of my fellow cast members on All About Eve.

Iza (Calzado), Sunshine (Dizon) and Alfred (Vargas) are also into healthy eating and we help each other stay fit.

Is it hard for you to shift from gay to straight role? (Maynard Legaspi, Sampaloc)

Not at all. I think it’s the audience and the staff who have yet to get used to my new role. You see, an actor must be able to show his versatility. In fact, my dream is to play a villain someday.

Now that you’ve split up with your nonshowbiz girlfriend, will you court your former sweetheart Pauleen Luna again? (Mikee Reyes, Cainta, Rizal)

Pauleen and I are friends. We still get in touch. As to the question of whether I plan to reconcile with her, why not?

What can you say about your playboy reputation? (Vangie Valdes, Tondo, Manila)

Yes, I’ve heard about that. I do admire different kinds of girls. But I have girlfriends one at a time. And I’m not the type who jumps into a relationship soon after I’ve closed the door on one.

Do you plan to enter politics? (Corinne Puyat, Malolos, Bulacan)

I’ve had offers to run for councilor in 2010 and I’ve sought the advice of politician-friends like (Quezon City Vice Mayor) Herbert Bautista, Yul Servo and Lala Sotto. My Dad said it’s okay as long as I can do it. But I won’t. I don’t want to get distracted in my work.

How true are talks that you always have a show on GMA 7 because you exert a lot of power in the station? (Angelina Perez, Manggahan, Pasig)

All I can say is I’m not choosy with projects. They’re blessings, you know. And I follow what my director wants me to do. I give my best. This way, people won’t say I got the job because of connections. I got it because they see something in me.

Work will help me build my dream house, which I want to have a Zen-like design with big windows, too. In fact, I’ve been looking at interior design magazines for ideas.

How similar is your personality with that of your dad’s, Joey de Leon? (Sunshine Pelayo, San Pedro, Laguna)

We’re both artists, so we’re temperamental. I don’t like sudden changes — in schedule, in plans, etc. But I hold back when I feel that my temper will hurt people. I tell myself, “Be still, my soul, be still.”

What are your religious beliefs? (Tata Cruz, Singalong, Manila)

I’m a born-again Christian. It started in 1996, after I went through a rehab and I met Chinkee Tan. I poured my heart out to him and he introduced me to Victory Fellowship. I was baptized last year. —Maridol Ranoa-Bismark