A new leaf for Baron Geisler

Controversial actor Baron Geisler has frequently been on the headlines for all the wrong reasons, mostly for getting into brawls, or for some other dubious reason. Lately, though, the tides seem to have turned for the self-confessed alcoholic.

Geisler recently won the Best Actor Award at the Cinemalaya Indie Film Festival in Manila for his stunning performance in Jay, which put him in the limelight when the film was chosen, along with another Pinoy indie flick Melancholia, to serve as opening and closing films of the Orizzonti section of the 65th Venice International Film Festival from August 27 to September 6.

When asked for comment about the recent spate of good fortune in his life, Geisler said, "It's great to finally be seen in a different light after having been typecast literally as the bad boy of the industry. It's a relief."

Once considered one of the most promising actors of his generation, Geisler wasted an opportunity to become a really big star when he turned to alcohol after splitting up with his girlfriend.

Since then, he has become involved in one nasty brawl after another, while still managing to play bit roles in soaps and movies. His "resurrection" came last year when he was chosen as one of the celebrity housemates in Pinoy Big Brother.

He confessed on national TV, while inside the Big Brother house, that he was an alcoholic and vowed to change his ways.