Ruru Madrid is thankful to have taken what he calls intensive exercises from New York-based acting coach Anthony Vincent Bova.
Ruru Madrid
The actor said the teacher not only instructs about the craft but he even tackles “the core of life.”
"Parang sinabi niya 'pag hindi masyadong kumpleto 'yung buhay mo wala ka masyadong mahuhugot," he said in an interview with him during the Panagbenga Festival which had events featuring Kapuso stars.
Bova is a protégé of famed acting coach Eric Morris. Ruru said that more than teaching technique, he encourages students to be themselves.
"Parang how to react sa kung anong nangyayari sa paligid natin," he shared. "Ang galing niya, sobrang iba. Nakaka-praning."
Ruru claimed Anthony complimented him for all his efforts.
"Kasi the first time he was here, that was last year, parang nu'ng nakita daw niya ako I was so stiff na parang masyado daw akong may wall at nagbo-block daw sa sarili. Nagulat siya sa akin na parang sobrang going with the flow na daw ako (now)," he said.
He stopped holding back after Anthony asked him to play a drag queen as exercise.
"After that nawala na lahat, as in nag-loose lahat nu'ng blocks at 'yung mga ayokong ipakita."
Because of his burning passion, Ruru overdid one of their exercises during which he felt like passing out.
"Pagkagising ko parang 'Nasaan ako.' Sobrang hindi ko na alam nangyari, nagising na lang ako na nakayakap silang lahat sa akin," he recalled.
Since then, Anthony has been praising Ruru.
"Sabi niya everytime daw na may pinapagawa siya sa akin I'm just doing it daw, wala na daw akong second thought, hindi na ako nagho-hold back at bigla bigla na lang akong nagju-jump. Ang term kasi nila is 'edge work' – like andu'n ka sa pinaka-edge ng bundok na pwede kang malaglag at 'pag sinabing talon dapat tatalon ka kahit gaano pa kataas 'yun," he shared.
Ruru said that after the intense workshops, he feels he is a "bigger" person.
"Parang mas iba akong tao. Mas kaya kong gawin kung ano 'yung ipapagawa sa akin ng director," he explained. "Feeling ko 'yung senses ko mas nag-heighten din. Parang ako si Spiderman---may naririnig (kahit malayo)."
Soldier boy
Although his dream to become a soldier won't happen in real life, Ruru Madrid hopes to play that role.
It was his mom who refused to allow him to serve in the military.
"Dahil nga from Zamboanga siya, alam niya 'yung buhay ng pagiging sundalo. So sana dito (sa TV) na lang," he said. "Hanggang dito na lang siguro sa trabaho ko ma-experience ko man lang kung paano maging sundalo."
Hopefully, it will happen soon. Meantime, Ruru is doing an action drama show, kind of close enough.
Ruru with Anthony Vincent Bova, Ana Feleo and some of GMA Artist Center stars
"Sobrang gustong-gusto ko ‘yun kasi nu'ng bata pa lang ako, talagang pangarap kong maging action star."
In preparing for the role and making it more interesting, Ruru is transforming his image and becoming bolder as actor.
"Actually nasa edad na rin naman ako. Sabi ko nga ever since naman talaga ayoko naman ng pa-tweetums. Ako kasi 'yung tipo ng tao na sobrang overthinker na dati, nu'ng bata pa lang ako feeling ko matured na ako. Ganu'n ako eh pinapatanda ko 'yung sarili ko," he said, laughing.
Ruru believes GMA will be giving him more action roles as "nakita siguro nila na it's better na maging man ako kaysa boy." He thinks this shift in his career all started when he appeared in the reboot of "Encantadia" in 2016.
"Nu'ng time na I'm doing 'Encantadia,' nag-start 'yung role ko bilang bata na walang pakialam sa buhay, happy go lucky lang. Pero habang tumatagal nu'ng naging prince na siya then naging king, si Direk Mark (Reyes) mismo 'yung kumausap sa akin. Sabi niya 'For you to be able to pull off this na parang king ka kailangan maging king ka din sa totoong buhay,’" he recalled.
After that, Ruru has become more responsible as actor and as person.
"Mas naging maalaga ako sa sarili ko, mas iniisip ko kung ano 'yung mga mas magiging okay sa akin, naging business-minded din akong tao," he said. "Feeling ko talaga malaking tulong sa akin 'yung 'Encantadia' kasi 'yun 'yung nakapag bago sa akin."
Ruru is currently seen on “Sherlock Jr.”