Keempee straightens his act

After playing numerous gay roles, Keempee de Leon is out to prove that he’s just as effective an actor even if straight ang role niya in "All About Eve." . Text by Jason John S. Lim. Photos by Mitch S. Mauricio. Keempee de Leon is Paul, ang executive producer (EP) ng show-within-the-show All About Eve. But while he's been the go-to guy for gay roles for the past years, he is playing a very straight role for this show. "Iba dito, sobrang babaero ako dito," Keempee shares with iGMA nang makausap namin siya sa set prime time drama. "[Paul is a] happy-go-lucky na EP, na parang siya 'yung icebox nung group." He adds na masyadong intense ang mga eksena sa show and his character is there para bigyan ng konting breathing air ang mga viewers. "Hindi naman siya sobrang comic, pero to lighten the scene, in a way, ako 'yung gumagawa noon. [Si Paul] 'yung parang neutral sa grupo," the actor tells iGMA in an exclusive interview. Ganyan rin ba ang mga EP na kakilala ni Keempee? Saan ba niya nahugot ang character ni Paul? "'Yung EP namin dito, si Tita Edlyn [Tallada], tinanong ko siya kung sino 'yung mga EP na lalaki and inalam ko 'yung mga characteristics [nila]." Keempee says medyo iniba niya ang portrayal niya for Paul sa mga kakilala niya, para makaiwas na rin sa comparisons. Besides, with the show already filled with intense characters, Keempee thought na mas okay 'yung mas light na characterization. "Kailangan gawin nating medyo jolly 'yung EP para medyo buhay 'yung character kahit papaano." Inamin niya though na mahirap rin ang ginagawa niyang pag-balance. "Siyempre mahirap din i-pull up 'yung character kasi intense 'yung mga eksena." He continues na ayaw naman niyang masira ang eksena by going overboard with Paul. "So medyo limitado lang siya. Alalay lang." That's not to say na laging happy-go-lucky si Paul. "Nandito ‘yung uminit ako one time na sumabog ako, nagsuntukan kami ni Alfred [Vargas]. (Watch the video here.) "First time 'yun," Keempee notes. "Kumbaga, as a friend, I want him to open up his eyes and his mind kasi blinded siya sa pag-ibig. Hindi niya nakikita kung ano 'yung nangyayari, 'yung ginagawa [ni Erika]." So far, ito pa lang ang outburst ng character ni Keempee sa show, but it might not be the last. He explains na he's a very cool EP sa show, "parang we're at work, pero magkakaibigan tayo. Pero when it comes to work, we should be on our toes, na kailangan focus tayo." But after Erika is selected as the new host of All About Eve, mukhang mag-iiba na ang mundo ni Paul. For now, nagpapahinga muna si Paul while the characters of Alfred and Sunshine Dizon tour Singapore for the show-within-the-show's anniversary special. Once makabalik na sila from their out-of-the-country trip, marami na namang aabangan ang mga viewers from Paul. "[Baka] si Nieva [his character's Associate Producer] makatuluyan ko. Hindi natin alam. We'll see," he jokes. While Paul is on leave, Keempee leaves a message naman for the loyal viewers of All About Eve: "Thank you sa suporta, sa panonood ng All About Eve. Marami pang mga eksenang mangyayari; mga twist, mga unexpected scenes, maraming-marami pang mangyayari…Sana continuous ‘yung pag-support ninyo sa All About Eve and sa lahat pa ng shows na gagawin namin." For now, catch Keempee every weekday sa longest-running noontime show, ang Eat Bulaga. Catch him in All About Eve every weeknight pagkatapos ng Totoy Bato, part of GMA Telebabad.