Keempee de Leon on the LGBT community: “I just admire them for being who they are.”

He was a popular matinee idol during the 90’s, having done various top-rating soaps and being paired with the era’s most popular leading ladies. Now, Keempee de Leon shows a totally different side of himself by portraying Zandro a.k.a. Zsa Zsa in My Husband’s Lover.

In an exclusive interview with GMANetwork.com, Keempee talked about the challenges of playing Zandro, and extended his support to members of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual) community.

“I’ve done a lot of gay roles before pero more on comedy, pero this one is very serious,” said Keempee, referring to his latest role.

“Beforehand, I called Ms. Suzette Doctolero for information on Zandro, and she explained na more on naniniwala si Zandro na babae siya, pusong babae siya,” explained the Kapuso actor-TV host.

The challenge for Keempee was to give his role a fresher take and attack it differently. His aim was to veer away from his comedic gay performances before. He admitted that it was not easy for him.

“Kinabahan talaga ako dahil I did not do any serious roles for almost two years, at ito ang inoffer sa akin. Napapanood ko [ang My Husband’s Lover], maganda talaga ‘yung pagkasulat and directing,” shared Keempee.

He did not have any pegs for his Zandro portrayal. He relied on research and observations.

“Preparation-wise, I always talk to the director and the writer. I always see to it na talagang pag-aralan ‘yung script, ang humihingi din akong pointers, plus siyempre, nakikita ko sa ibang gays kung paano sila [kumilos], kung paano sila in real life,” stated Keempee.

Though Zandro is a supporting character, Keempee believes that his role in the series is vital because he is a witness and instrument to Vincent’s turing point in the story.

“Malaki sigurong factor ‘yung character ni Zandro dito dahil parang dun kukunin ni Vince ‘yung lakas ng loob niya, kung ano ‘yung dapat niyang gawin. Meron na siyang kakampi at ate na makakaintindi sa kanya,” Keempee said.

Keempee also commended My Husband’s Lover for depicting cross-dressing gays as regular, good people. It is very timely for him, since members of the LGBT community are now more accepted. He believes that they should be respected just like anybody else.

“I just admire them for being who they are. Hindi nila ikinahihiya kung ano ‘yung gender nila. Kasi before, hindi accepted eh, talagang minamaltrato sila, minamaliit, binabastos. Ito, it’s parang a way of freeing anyone, na i-pursue nila ang magpapasaya sa kanila. ‘Yung lakas ng loob nila, it’s there,” he declared.

The Eat Bulaga host is also glad that his character, Zandro is positively accepted by members of the LGBT community.

Keempee shared, “Nakakatuwa lang na tuwing makikita ko ‘yung mga Super Sireyna, tatawagin nila akong Zandro or Zsa Zsa at kukumustahin nila ako, ganyan. So, makikita mo ‘yung glow sa mukha nila that shows na parang eto na, we’re accepted at meron silang lugar sa society.”

Keempee de Leon currently appears in Eat Bulaga, from Monday to Saturday at 12 noon, and My Husband’s Lover, weeknights after Mundo Mo’y Akin on GMA Telebabad. For more updates on the show, visit the official website at www.gmanetwork.com/myhusbandslover -Text by Samantha Portillo, Photo by Bochic Estrada, GMANetwork.com