Sam is good when he is bad

MANILA, Philippines — While most dramatic actors shine when portraying ideal or role model characters, Sam Milby is the complete opposite. He turns out so good when he is “bad.” One memorable acting performance of the actor was his portrayal of the grey shaded character Eros in the ABS-CBN melodrama Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala with Judy Ann Santos and KC Concepcion wherein he epitomized an angelic-looking guy with a “devilish” inner personality.

Televiewers will once again see Sam in another grey character in the Kapamilya network’s newest primetime offering Halik that is set to air beginning Aug. 13. The drama series also topbills Jericho Rosales, Yen Santos and Yam Concepcion.

During the media call, Sam expressed appreciation for people who took notice of his acting talent. He said that it was not intentional on his part to accept roles that are offbeat since he also did a good boy role in Doble Kara. It just so happens that such characters are often being assigned to him.

“I’m happy to be doing something offbeat and I’m really thankful to direk Ruel (Bayani) and his unit for offering me this role,” said Sam. “Because when he offered me this, he also realized (and said), ‘Sam, mas nag-sha-shine ka sa mga offbeat roles, sa mga grey character.’ (Like) in my first teleserye, Maging Sino Ka Man, and then Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala – more offbeat and more serious.”

Giving life to such characters is a lot challenging, Sam admitted. “I enjoy doing roles like this. Nahihirapan lang ako intindihin yung mga karakter ko minsan; ‘yung sobrang grabe ganun pala ‘yung character ko. You can’t judge your character but at the same time, I’m having trouble understanding. But yes, it’s a challenge and I’m enjoying it.”

With directors Cathy Camarillo and Carlo Po Artillaga (third and fourth from left) and co-stars (from left) Yen Santos, Yam Concepcion and Jericho Rosales

The actor also stressed that these types of characters are not exactly villains. “He’s not a contravida but he has evil inside him and you have to understand him while watching (the series). You need to understand why he is doing such thing.”

 In Halik, Sam is Ace, a rich, married man whose sweetness hides a secret. His illicit affair with the ambitious and headstrong Jade (Yam) is the beginning of conflict between two couples connected by their past. Jade is married to Lino (Jericho) whose former girlfriend Jacky (Yen) is the wife of Ace. From the show teaser alone, Sam clearly has steamy scenes with both Yam and Yen.

“This is the sexiest role I’ve done,” confirmed Sam and continued, “bilang ako ‘yung pinakataksil. There was one scene that’s very passionate, mapusok talaga.”

It was Yen who revealed that the passionate scene Sam was pertaining to also happened to be her most unforgettable kissing scene to date “kasi parang sobrang totoo na parang konti na lang kakainin na n’ya ‘yung buo kong lips.”

But Yen was quick to add that Sam never took advantage of her in any of their love scenes.

The Kapamilya actor, on the other hand, said that he has no qualms about doing sexy scenes or flaunting his toned physique for Halik. “It’s not new to me since I’ve done a lot of shows and movies with sexiness but I can say that this is my sexiest role as compared to all the roles I’ve done before.”

Meanwhile, director Cathy Camarillo clarified that Halik is not in any way espousing infidelity. “We’re just trying to highlight different views on how is a relationship in a certain scenario. We will showcase different facets of a relationship and then the viewers’ moral compass will be tested. It’s somehow finding that virtue kung hanggang saan tama ang tama at hanggang saan mo tutuldukan ang mali.”       

(Halik also stars Amy Austria, Alan Paule, Precious Lara Quigaman, Romnick Sarmenta, Cris Villanueva, Almira Muhlach, Christian Bables, Hero Angeles, Chai Fonacier, JC Alcantara, Jane de Leon and Gab Lagman.)