The evolution of John Estrada

MANILA, Philippines - ‘You can’t afford to be a show-off because people expect humility in movie stars who are looked upon as role models as well.’

“When I was just starting in showbiz, I would say I did it just for kicks and to earn a living. Now, I love what I am doing and I guess I am on my way to achieving my goal which is to become a better actor.”

Thus says John Estrada who is appearing in another special role in Trophy Wife with Cristine Reyes, Heart Evangelista and Derek Ramsay, among others.

Asked how he regards trophy wives in real life, John qualifies his answers. “When you mention trophy wife, it connotes basically someone you can show around. But if your intention is just to display your wife as one of your acquisitions, that’s where the husband can go wrong. It would be a lonely life for the woman and one-way satisfaction for the husband. With my wife (former Miss Earth from Brazil, Priscilla Meirelles), I would say she is my trophy wife but I love her truly and I bring her around because I love to be with her. She is in this presscon mainly because she helps me manage my business concerns as an actor. She is not just for display. She is 100 percent a part of me and I am proud of her with or without her beauty title.”

(Co-star Heart Evangelista adds her input: “Trophy wife has a good connotation when man shows her around without a selfish reason. If his intention is just to impress his friends, then he deserves another kind of trophy wife he is worthy of.”)

Indeed, John has gone a long since he won a Mr. Body Shots competition, which paved the way for some initial modeling jobs.

Born in 1973 and grew up in Basilan City in Mindanao where his parents were city councilor and a public school teacher, John got wider audiences in assorted noontime shows.

Suddenly, he stopped being the noontime funnyman when he was cast in assorted teleserye roles in Agua Bendita, Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin (opposite Lorna Tolentino) and now as Don Gonzalo Miraveles in the hit soap opera, Ikaw Lamang.

Between teleseryes and films, John spells out the good sides of both mediums. “I enjoy doing both but they have their own separate demands from the actors. In teleseryes, the daily taping that often ends early in the morning could be very stressful. You will need a big patience for all these. But I think doing a film role is a more satisfying assignment. You have time to explore your character and make the best out of it. But in a teleserye, you need to have a good grasp of your character because the taping continues as the rating goes up, and you discover the new twists right there on the set on the day of the taping.”

He is happy that his role as Don Gonzalo Miraveles in Ikaw Lamang is getting some notices. “I like my part because it is a villain role where I can convey my nature without noisy dialogues. I like it quiet but dangerous and expressing your dark side through your eyes.”

John has logged 25 years in showbiz and has come to terms with the profession’s ups and downs.

“Contrary to what people think, being an actor is a tough job,” he points out. “You enjoy the good income but you also lose most of your privacy. But I have long accepted this as part of the job. You can’t afford to be a show-off because people expect humility in movie stars who are looked upon as role models as well. But I have a good way of enjoying another life by bonding with my non-showbiz friends. After taping for days and nights and weeks extending into months, you will indeed need time for yourself and your family.”

For now, he can’t figure out what he wants to achieve in showbiz but he is sure of one thing.

He concludes: “I love this job and I make sure every project I do is a recommendation for next project. Yes, there are people in showbiz I look up to. I like the dedication, discipline and professionalism of Eddie Garcia. I know I can’t match his credentials but I would like to follow a path like that he trod on in his life and times in showbiz.”

(Trophy Wife opens in all theaters on July 30).