What's with Marco's sexy image?

MANILA, Philippines – Marco Alcaraz never planned to take the bold route, not even if he has the body for it. None of his films, among them, Aishite Imasu 1941, Manay Po and Shake, Rattle & Roll 2K5 so much as hinted on it.

So why did he agree to two eye-popping love scenes with leading lady Paloma in the indie film Pitik Bulag?

“I want to explore acting some more,” he replies. “I want to be a true actor. You see, my role is only 20 percent bold. It’s 80 percent drama.”

Sex in the Gil Portes film happens to be the icing on the cake. The real deal is the story of a bank heist that cost the lives of innocent people. The story is real, with Portes and a friend seeing the crime happen right before their eyes.

And Marco is no sexy stud in the film. He is a downtrodden movie stuntman who accidentally stumbles upon a bagful of millions taken from the bank heist. Paloma is Marco’s wife. Hence the love scenes, get it?

Marco knows accepting the role might mean getting tagged as a bold actor for a good part of his career. But he’s not scared and he disagrees. All he knows is that he’s playing the role, not just because he wants to show off those rippling muscles and to-die-for abs. He’s doing it because he believes in Pitik Bulag’s story (by Palanca awardee Eric Ramos).

Direk Gil liked what he saw in his male lead.

“Marco will surprise the audience here,” the director predicts.

Even with such encouraging words, Marco won’t be pushed into playing more sexy roles for now. He’s not keen on taking the gay-themed movie route like other sexy actors have either. Marco doesn’t want those who see him in Zorro, and soon in Rosalinda, to get the shock of their lives.

Variety, for him, is the only way to go. And character roles will take him there. After all, character actors last longer in showbiz than leading men/matinee idols.

Away from the cameras, Marco’s low profile and intrigue-free life hardly jives with a matinee idol image. Yes, he keeps Isabel Oli company, now that she has broken up with his friend, Paolo Contis. But Marco swears he doesn’t ruin her trust by giving their group dates a romantic meaning.

“Isabel is in a sticky situation these days,” muses Marco. “It’s hard for her to jump into any relationship.”

They’re close, yes, but only as friends. And he’s happy keeping things that way.

Marco always stayed out of trouble. He’d rather play basketball or work out in the gym than squire lonely ladies who just broke off from their boyfriends.

It’s hardly your image of a ladies’ man who does everything – including flaunting his physical assets and exploiting a lonely woman’s feelings, to attract her. Oh yes, Marco the person is poles apart from Marco the new sexy actor in town.