Keempee de Leon: 'Gusto ko namang mag-kontrabida.'

Keempee de Leon is back to playing a role na nagbigay ng bagong kulay sa kanyang career—ang pagiging isang bading. And with 'Full House,' he will be playing a new level of kabadingan—as the flamboyant manager of Richard Gutierrez's Justin! Interview by Loretta Ramirez. Text by Marian Molina. Photos by Mitch Mauricio. Matapos ng All About Eve, Keempee de Leon seems to have laid low sa prime time—pero he's now back with a role that will surely knock your socks off sa kakatawa, bilang Mr. H sa Full House. Hindi na bago kay Keempee de Leon ang pagganap bilang bading, dahil na rin sa kanyang naging role bilang Harold sa Bahay Mo Ba 'to?. And he's not afraid of being typecasted or thought gay. That's because for Keempee, hindi mo kailangan maging kung ano ang pino-portray mo. "Parang ano 'yan eh--ang character parang isang damit na sinusuot. 'di ba?" To those who think na pare-pareho lang ang gay roles ni Keempee, the actor assures the viewers that this will not be the case with Mr. H. "Ang sabi nila Direk Mark [Reyes], gusto nilang ilayo sa pagkasobrang galaw-galaw nung Harold dati e. Ngayon naman, medyo tame ng kaunti. Very fashionable 'yung character, strict doon sa [alaga] niya which is Richard—doon lang nagko-concentrate. Hindi 'yung sobrang gaslaw katulad nung Harold dati." Keempee then reveals na he does have a basis for Mr. H sa totoong mundo—that is, when it comes to outfits. "Si Kuya Boy [Abunda], 'di ba pag manamit siya, ganito?" ‘Yun lang naman daw ang ginagaya niya sa kilalang talent manager. "The way [Mr. H] talks, ako na ‘yun." Sa ngayon, Keempee is keeping busy with Full House, pero he does hope na may dumating ring offer na kakaibang roles. "Minsan gusto ko namang mag-kontrabida, para at least iba naman 'yung Keempee na makikita nila." Dagdag pa nga niya, he works out 3-4 times a week in case someone does approach him about doing something different. Patuloy na subaybayan ang pagpapatawa ni Kempee de Leon gabi-gabi sa Full House, pagkatapos ng The Last Prince. At siyempre mapapanuod din siya Lunes hanggang Sabado sa Eat Bulaga. Pag-usapan ang Full House sa pinagandang iGMA Forum! Not yet a member? Register here!