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Neil Ryan Sese is taking on a groundbreaking role in the upcoming GMA family sports drama, Kamao, where he will portray a boxer struggling to keep his identity as a gay man hidden.

During the program's recently concluded media conference, Neil Ryan described the role as “very challenging,” marking the first time he has played a gay character in a television series.

He said, "To date, ito na yung pinaka-challenging na role na naibigay sa 'kin at talagang nagpapasalamat ako sa GMA na ipinagkaloob sa 'kin ang challenging role na ito na kumikiliti sa aking kaluluwa bilang artista. 'Di ba isa siyang boksingero na kailangan kong ipakita yung tigas niya bilang isang boxer pero bakla siya."

To prepare for the role, Neil Ryan required constant collaboration with Kamao director LA Madridejos to find the right balance in portraying the character's masculinity and vulnerability.

According to the actor, they decided that his character would shift depending on who he is interacting with—becoming more masculine around his rival, played by Wendell Ramos, but softer and more vulnerable with his lover, played by Ahron Villena, with whom he becomes embroiled in a scandal in the series.

Neil Ryan went on, "So kailangan maging sensitibo rin siya so eto yung pinag-uusapan namin ni Direk lagi, may collaboration kami na papaano natin kukunin 'yung balanse na hindi siya caricature o kaya stereotype na bakla. So napagdesisyunan namin na kapag may certain kaming kausap na character, halimbawa si Wendell, nagiging lalaki ako pero 'pag yung lover ko yung kausap ko, do'n ako nagiging malambot."

Moreover, Neil Ryan underwent intensive training to authentically portray the physically demanding role of a boxer in Kamao, revealing that he and Wendell accidentally landed real punches on each other while taping their fight scenes.

He shared, "Tapos physically demanding nga siya bilang boxer so nakakapapagod pala yung pagiging boksingero kaya physically demanding din 'yung role. May mga 'di maiiwasan kami ni Wendell noong boxing fight na nagkakatamaan kami. Mahirap kasi i-estimate 'yung gloves, iba 'yung distance. Buti na lang, napakabait ng co-actor ko. Kung iba siguro, baka nag-away na kami talaga."

Despite the exhaustion, Neil Ryan said all their hard work paid off after seeing the final output of their scenes in the series.

"No'ng nakita namin 'yung output, sobra kaming masaya kahit nakakapagod siya dahil maghapon kaming nagba-boxing do'n sa scene na 'yun."

Kamao is headlined by Kapuso dramatic action star Anton Vinzon who will play Makmak, a young boxer chasing his dreams while facing family struggles and personal conflicts. In the series, Neil Ryan will play as MakMak's father.

The cast also includes Bruce Roeland, Katrina Halili, Amy Austria, Wendell Ramos, and Anton's father, Roi Vinzon.

Kamao is set to premiere on May 25, 3:20 p.m. on GMA Afternoon Prime.

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