Kit waiting for his big break

Although he was initially introduced as part of a love team, Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition 2012’s Kit Thompson is excited by the possibility of establishing himself on his own as an actor and following in the footsteps of his favorite Hollywood star, James Dean.

And, why not? Kit, only 15, but already tall and mature-looking for his age, has that same brusque and mannish yet youthful appeal as the late star of Rebel Without A Cause. Kit was introduced to Dean’s movies as a child. “Maraming nagsasabi sa akin n’un,” he says when told that he has the look of the Hollywood star about him. “I first knew of him noon pa, when I was 13. Me and my dad were watching his movies before. Parang ang angas, parang kahit nakatindig lang siya, iba ang dating niya.”

Kit is so fascinated by Dean that he wants to follow in his idol’s bad boy image, but not just any bad boy —he wants to be “a bad boy with a good heart.” Born Keith San Esteban Thompson to a Bicolana mother and a father who is part Kiwi (from New Zealand) and part Scottish, Kit dreamed of entering show business since he was seven. But the problem was, as he grew older, he started to put on weight. The pounds crept up on him, little by little until he was 14, when he noticed that his weight ballooned to over 200 lbs. “Noon, wala akong pakialam (if I was fat),” declares Kit, who later admits that being a teenager and being image-conscious was part of the reason that pushed him to try and lose weight. He went to the gym, and for three months, he ate only salad, chicken (white meat) and fruit.

When he lost weight, Kit started modeling. It was in a show for Bench that he was spotted by stylist Ton Lao who introduced him to his current manager Erick Raymundo.

Although he was eliminated early in PBB, Kit doesn’t consider it a total loss when he thinks about what he gained after that. Aside from Kahit Puso’y Masugatan, he has several other projects coming up. Kahit Puso’y Masugatan was the launching pad for his love team with PBB Teen grand winner Myrtle Sarrosa, but eventually Kit would like to be able to move past the love team and be recognized on his own. He acknowledges that the love team gives him an identity onscreen. He’s not ungrateful for the exposure he got from being part of the love team, but he would also like to try working on his own the longer he stays in the business. “I want ’yung mga tao na kung papanoorin nila ako, they would say something like ‘Uy, gusto kong maging katulad ni Kit Thompson.’ Gusto ko as myself talaga na may sariling personality and style.”

But like every fledgling actor who needs someone to look up to, Kit idolizes Sam Milby, Gerald Anderson and Kahit Puso’y Masugatan co-star Jake Cuenca. He admires them because they have been able to establish their own identities, apart from their leading ladies. Gerald perhaps is the best example, because even after the breakup of his love team with Kim Chiu, he staged a successful solo turn in Budoy and is now gearing up for a new teleserye where he will be working with no less than Maricel Soriano. “They are what I want to be like,” says Kit, “Yung parang they have their own identity, na when you say Sam Milby, Sam Milby talaga. If you say Gerald, Gerald talaga. If you say Jake Cuenca, known siya as himself din.”

But then there’s that Dean comparison. Kit clarifies that the “bad boy” or “rebel” tag is just an image he wants to follow. He’s a normal teenager, but not really a party boy who loves to go out drinking every night. “Some people would mistake me na parang ‘Ang angas n’yan, masama ugali n’yan.’ Pero when you get to meet me more, hindi naman talaga gan’un.”

In the meantime, as he waits for his big break, Kit is trying to improve himself as an actor, taking workshops under Star Magic and with Malou de Guzman. He is definite about wanting to become the best actor he can possibly be. “I’m still young naman, and I have my whole life (to pursue my dreams),” says Kit. “I still want to finish my studies, but this (acting) is my dream.”