Joseph Marco, face to watch?

Slowly but surely, bit player Joseph Marco is making his mark in showbusiness. From small roles in past TV projects, he’s getting bigger assignments and now has two indie films in progress. He talks to tabloid! about his career prospects and that recent buffed-up photoshoot.

Your career is picking up pace. Congratulations. What changed?

I am so thankful to ABS CBN for giving me a lot of projects. And the roles have become meatier. With my new project now, Honesto, I play the brother of the lead actor; and my role is kind of offbeat, so it is great. It is something similar to Tom Hanks’ character in Forrest Gump. When it was actually first offered to me, I doubted my capability to do justice to the role.

Thankfully, director Jerry Sineneng motivated me and assured me I will be able to do it. The last one before this, Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala, I was Judy Ann Santos’ brother and I had a lot of exposure. It’s getting better and I hope it continues. I guess it happened because I was able to show network executives that I am a hard worker and somebody they can rely on. I guess there is a bit of talent that they saw in me, too.

You’ve also changed image a bit, posing “sexy” for a men’s health magazine?

Well, that could be another reason. I am glad people are noticing because I do take care of my body. I make an effort by eating the right food and going to the gym regularly. With so many actors in the business, more than the available projects, you do what you can to get noticed. And it was done in good taste, nothing sensational really. I’m glad I made that decision.

What about film projects?

On that front, my career is also progressing well. I was cast in two new indie films. One is for an action flick, Saka-Saka, an entry in the New Wave section of the Metro Manila Film Festival. I co-star with Ejay Falcon and we’re wrapping up this month so we can make the deadline for the film festival in December.

The other one is with Rayver Cruz and Matteo Guidicelli, and is tentatively titled Saturday Night Chills. We haven’t started filming yet and I am hoping it pushes through. It’s another big break for me.

Are you willing to take on sexier, more daring roles in your films in the future?

Anything that is done in good taste and is called for by the role, I am willing to do it. If it will help boost my career, I will not hesitate.