Model-turned-actor Marx Topacio’s life suddenly took an unexpected turn after he landed the role of Azulan in the top-rating fantasy-drama series Encantadia on GMA.
“It all happened so fast. Before I knew it, I was already in my costume and exchanging lines with the other cast members,” he volunteered when we spoke to him recently. He shared that this is a big opportunity for a relatively new actor like him who has been waiting on the sidelines for some years now.
Encantadia is certainly the biggest break yet for this 6-foot-tall tanned and trendy hopeful. His name might already be a byword in the fashion circuits, but he has been waiting for the right acting role and the right project to come.
“Four years ago, I gave acting a try, and landed a few small roles. I’m not really in a hurry, since I’m still very active in modeling. I admit there were times in the past when I asked myself if I should consider other careers. I guess it’s natural to sometimes be anxious if you’re heading in the right direction. I continue to keep a positive perspective and learn about patience,” he shared.
Much of Topacio’s early exposure on television was courtesy of GMA’s rival network, ABS-CBN, where he learned the basics of acting. Topacio was in the cast of drama shows like Kahit Puso’y Masugatan, Maria Mercedes and also a one-season stint in Wansapanatym. He also appeared in movies like Beauty in a Bottle, The Spider’s Lair, Ekstra, Status: It’s Complicated and Bola.
Earlier this year Topacio stepped into the compound of GMA for the first time and acted in an episode of the drama anthology Karelasyon, under the direction of Adolfo Alix Jr.
“Life often surprises us, and all we have to do is embrace the opportunities that come with these detours,” he intoned. “I’ve learned to live a day at a time. I value work, whether it’s modeling or acting or being a brand amabassador, because not everyone is given the privilege to do so. I embrace learning, especially from those in the know and those who came before me. I tend to observe a lot—how people talk, how people deal with situations, how people rise above challenges.”
Topacio knows he has a long way to go in this path that he has chosen. “I’d love to continue to improve as an actor. I’d to take on roles that will make me a better actor. I would love to work with competent and award-winning actors who inspire me with their body of work. I’d love to do more films and, hopefully, after Encantadia, get more prized roles from GMA.”
ON HIS ROAD TO SUCCESS
THE fantasy-reality show The Fiercest of Them All is on its first few episodes on GMA News TV and, surprisingly, it’s not the sexy all-female contestants but the suave, lone male judge who is getting the attention of the viewers.
Scandinavian-Filipino model Matthias Rhoads was invited to take part in the conceptual reality show long before he was cast in that fast-food TVC that went viral during the Valentine season. Rhoads was the guy the female lead character eventually married in the very successful viral video.
“I guess everything is just perfect timing,” he told us during the recent launch of the show on GMA. “When I came to the Philippines, nothing was definite, except, perhaps, for my passion to be able to face the cameras as an actor or as a presenter. I took small, baby steps, and my patience and persistence started to bear fruit.”
He continued, “There were also a lot of rejections. I know very few local words and that continues to be a problem, especially in the various acting fields.” Despite his double degree—a Bachelors in Fine Arts from Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia and another degree in Communication Arts—Rhoads remains grounded. We found out he was also an insurance broker when he was still based in New York.
But there’s something about cinema that fascinates him. “It’s kind of hard to put it in words. What I’m sure of is that I am easily drawn to movies, to actors, to acting, and to the storytelling aspect of film.”
Rhoads also knows he has to be fit and healthy to meet the demands of this new career. “More important than looking good is being healthy. This business has no fixed time for work and many times, it goes on and on and on until the wee hours of the morning. I’m glad this new show is canned, so we don’t have to rush just to be able to show something. But, I think, not all the shows that are airing on local television are canned. I heard that most of them, especially the drama series that are already airing, are always done in a rush, and that’s hard for every one involved.”
The 5’10” newbie works out regularly and is very particular on what he feeds himself. “I’ve always been into sports. Even while I was in high school, I was already running, biking, rowing and skiing. When I got into college, I started to lift weights and got really serious about it.”
He shared that he’d like to see more of the Philippines. “We’ve got a lot of beautiful places scattered all over the islands. It’s a plus if work brings me to these places. But I really plan to save up to be able to see the beautiful islands we have here.”
At the moment, Rhoads is brushing up on his language skills. “I’m a newcomer, and I’m excited to know what’s in store for me in the Philippines. I’m focused and very willing to learn. I really hope that my stint in The Fiercest of Them All will open bigger doors for me in the future.”