Much-awarded actor Joel Torre ticks a box in his bucket list with his latest role as a transvestite in Darryl Yap’s “Barumbadings.”
In a Zoom press con yesterday, the veteran actor said he accepted the role primarily after finding out he will be among other straight actors who will face the same challenge — how to pull off the flamboyant gay character. He said he found it challenging playing the role of Mother Joy, the kindhearted gay who takes in three younger gays, played by Mark Anthony Fernandez, Baron Geisler, Jeric Raval, as his wards.
“Most of the cast members, hindi gays. There lies the challenge. And it’s a novelty,” he admitted.
“Of course, I was really challenged. In fact, I had a one on one with Direk Darryl kung ano ba talaga ang concept nya about the movie. [Because] I just don’t accept roles. Inexplain niya naman sa akin. So ang peg ko dito is Ru Paul. And of course, I love the idea. Secretly kasi, isa sa mga bucket list ko is to play a flamboyant gay character. My inspiration is Terence Stamp, a great British actor who played Bernadette in the movie ‘The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Dessert’.”
Darryl Yap’s “Barumbadings” shows four straight actors — Raval, Fernandez, Geisler and Torre — who usually play barumbados in the screen — as strong gay characters. He even gets playful with their names, calling them Jerica Raval, Marie Antoinette Fernandez, Baroness Geisler and Jewel Torre.
Torre’s Mother Joy is the tie that binds Izzy (Jeric), Jopay (Mark Anthony), and Rochelle (Baron). Joy is an established fashion designer and owner of the dress shop, House of Joy.
Despite being bullied, he remains kind and forgiving and takes in three young gays under his wing to stop them from getting into trouble.
“It was a challenge for me,” said Torre. “Physically, it was challenging to wear a bra 24 hours or so.
“But the characterization was more important to me. Na in-explain naman ni Direk Darryl kaya um-oo kagad ako. I just wanted to hear his side kung ano talagang gusto niyang ipalabas sa pelikula. So, like I said, I think kumpleto na ako sa bucket list ko, there are no more roles that I’m seeking, except of course ‘yung woman talaga ako, but in my career, I’ve done almost everything. And as an actor, naniniwala ako na you’re supposed to do anything — or you’re supposed to be capable in doing anything as a challenge.”
Just like in any role, the fulfillment he derived from it is knowing that he was able to give life to the idea of the writer and satisfy the requirements of his director. Joel believes he was able to do so as Joy.
“Nag enjoy ako dahil pakiramdam ko nakuha ko ng tama. I was doing a lot of homework, aside from the script,” he said.
He mentioned friends in the industry who became his peg for his characters, including makeup artist Dennis Julio Y. Tan.
He recalled one time he played a gay character alongside established actors and directors Joel Lamangan and Khryss Adalia.
“I was once in a TV show with gay directors Joel Lamangan and Khryss Adalia and I had to ask [about my performance], at sabi nila, ‘Lalaki ka ba talaga or may tinatago ka?’ For me, I was successful in doing the role,” he said with chuckle.
“Barumbadings” is available for streaming on Vivamax starting November 5. It is also streaming on Vivamax Middle East and Europe.
