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Is Lupin a bad guy? What are his weaknesses? iGMA grilled Richard Gutierrez at the set of the hottest new show on primetime TV!
Is Lupin a bad guy? What are his weaknesses? iGMA grilled Richard Gutierrez at the set of the hottest new show on primetime TV! Text by Jillian Q. Gatcheco. Photos by Mitch S. Mauricio Andre Lupin made his debut appearance in the pilot episode disguised as an artsy museum enthusiast. He then donned an orange jumpsuit and rappelled over a swimming pool full of sunbathing girls. Afterwards, he changed into a pilot’s uniform as he flew a helicopter filled with enemy robbers. In the latest heist, he was clad in a white uniform a la Leo Di Caprio in Catch Me if You Can (2002) as part of a ship’s cabin crew. Richard enjoys playing dress up in the series, and the best part about being a thief for him is “getting to portray other characters, trying to deceive the bad guys, being on a mission, and being precise with everything. It’s all fun, from the planning of the heist to doing the heist, tapos pag may konting pagkakamali, may mga twists, so masaya pag ginagawa namin.” What do you mean by “deceiving the bad guys?” Aren’t you a “bad guy” yourself, Lupin? “I’m a thief in a good way,” Richard answers defensively. “I was brought up to be a thief but I’m not really a thief. I steal, but for a reason.” And what are those reasons? “Sometimes it’s revenge (against) my dad (Ka Duroy, played by Tirso Cruz III). Actually ‘yung first heist namin was actually revenge… I did (it) to get back (at) my dad ‘cause I want him to be put in jail,” he explains. Ka Duroy masterminded the assassination of Lupin’s bride, Angeli. “And for the succeeding heists, we’ll make sure that Lupin won’t look like a bad guy; you know, Lupin does everything for a reason,” Richard notes. “The realization of Lupin when he grew up was that he was molded to become a bad person. He was molded to become a thief and then everything that Duroy told him was just a lie so that’s where he’s coming from.” Lupin’s flaw Richard’s last TV role was in Mars Ravelo’s Captain Barbell, and before that, it was the mythical creature Aguiluz in Mulawin. We asked him how he grew acting-wise in his evolution from a winged creature to a superhero, and finally, to someone whom super heroes would love to capture. “Yeah, I mean if you’re an actor, there’s nothing else to do but to improve on your acting skills. Every time I have a project, as much as possible, I try to recreate myself, challenge myself to become a better actor. Sometimes, it’s really draining but I try my best to give the people what they expect, to give the people the best,” he says. Given that Richard portrays his Lupin role well and eventually makes stealing look like a “cool” thing, does he ever worry how this might affect his fans, especially the younger set? “Surprisingly, from the feedback that I’m hearing, people (like) the show. For me, when people get attached to a show (like Captain Barbell), and when the show ends, siguro iba na ‘yung pagtingin nila sa akin. I’m happy naman na people are still liking the show, and accepting my character. If you really watch the show, you’ll know naman the history of Lupin, his character, where he’s coming from. He’s not just an ordinary thief,” he stresses. What makes Lupin different is his capacity to love – something that greatly flaws his character at the same time. For instance, he wanted to stop stealing altogether because he was engaged to Angeli (played by Abigail Cruz), the love of his life. But due his father’s treachery, Lupin lost Angeli and vowed to avenge her death by all means. To act out this type of complex role, actors usually gather up their emotions using a particularly moving real-life experience to make the acting genuine onscreen. Has Richard ever gone through an experience as painful and traumatizing? “Yeah, I’ve been depressed. I mean, all of us siguro have been emotionally...you know, scarred. I’ve had my days like that especially when you’re young. You go through different stages in your life. I’ve been on that path before.” Don’t miss Lupin every weeknight, after Super Twins! Text the master thief himself! Key in RICHARD to 4627 for Globe, Smart, Talk N Text, and Sun at PhP2.50 per text.