Benjamin Alves on why acting hits different now

Benjamin Alves can attest to that usual small-screen road trodden by an actor.

- By JERRY DONATO

It starts from apprentice, where one learns the ins and outs of the trade, to emergence, where the thespian finally finds his or her foothold in it.

There's a time for doing teeny-bopper roles and also for mature ones. However, the time of progress and transition may vary.

"Honestly, I've only really felt like an actor the last five years, perhaps," said Benjamin, one of GMA's reliable and versatile actors, in a chat with The STAR, acknowledging the patience and trust of his home network for him to flourish in the profession.

He has been tapped to be part of GMA Prime and Afternoon Prime shows that have made him more equipped and see further the importance of collaboration.

His portrayal of Basil, one of the Palacios' heirs in the successful mystery crime drama, "Widows" War," was remarkable.

"I knew it was gonna three weeks only," he looked back on the character's short yet somehow ubiquitous presence. "Parang kang guest sa isang party, tapos alis ka na bago siya matapos (you were like a guest in a party, who would then leave ahead of everybody)." Even if Basil's French exit was already predetermined, Benjamin came inspired and delivered in every frame.

"I only found out that he had that bale (interesting twist in his persona) on the story con," recalled he.

"I've only gotten the script only before the story con(ference). I only got two weeks of script, wala siya dun. The revelation would have happened when he passed away.