On October 20, actor Keempee de Leon discussed how he created his persona when taking on LGBTQIA+ roles.
At the media conference for Mahal Kita Beki, which LionhearTV covered, De Leon cited that he grew up seeing his father, Joey De Leon, portraying ‘barbie’ characters in his comedy movies.
“Ako siguro, kinalakihan ko na talaga siguro na ‘yung Daddy ko, gumaganap ng barbie. Siguro depende rin kung talagang pag-aaralan mo din ‘yung character, kung ano ‘yung role na gagawin mo.”
He then recounted taking on the role of Harold in Bahay Mo Ba ‘To? from 2004 to 2007.
“Ako ine-enjoy ko na lang ‘yung ganong character kasi gumanap na ako ng character ni Harold sa ‘Bahay Mo Ba ‘To?’ na sitcom before sa GMA [Network].
“And talaga namang natuwa ‘yung mga viewers, ‘yung mga followers, so kumbaga nakakatuwa kasi effective sa kanila, kumbaga ‘yun nga, nagdadalawang isip, kahit ako tinanong din ‘yung pagkatao ko dati, ‘Ano ba talaga, Bading ka ba?’ ‘Hindi’ sabi ko, role ko lang ‘yun, ineenjoy ko lang.”
De Leon also attributed the inspiration for his role as Harold to his friends in the LGBTQIA+ community.
“Siguro marami rin kasi akong gay friends na siguro ‘yung bawat characters nila doon ko kinuha eh, so pinaghalo-halo ko na lang, siguro ‘yung sa buhay na lang nila, doon ko na lang binase kaya nagiging effective din ‘yung mga pagganap ko ng mga gay roles.”
As for his filmography, De Leon’s first film was the movie Mama Said, Papa Said I Love You in 1985, while his last starring film was in 2008, Iskul Bukol 20 Years After: The Ungasis and Escaleras Adventure.
He then had a cameo role in Yorme: The Isko Domagoso Story in 2021.
De Leon explained that he didn’t receive offers to do starring roles in films at the time.
“Siguro ito ‘yung first time ko ulit gumawa ng movie after a decade siguro. And it’s a good thing also na sa Viva din siya, kasi doon din ako nag-start sa Viva, after so many years, sa Viva ulit ‘yung first movie ko, so thankful ako kay Direk Perci, kay Direk Jun, and sa IdeaFirst for giving me a break dito sa ‘Mahal Kita, Beksman.'”
Now, de Leon returns to film through the Viva romantic comedy Mahal Kita, Beksman alongside Viva artists Iana Bernardez, Katya Santos, and actor Christian Bables.
The upcoming romantic comedy film from Viva and IdeaFirst, directed by Perci Intalan, premieres in cinemas nationwide, starting November 16.
