Anna Marie Lukban

Vien King reveals why John Lloyd Cruz and Christopher de Leon are his idols in acting

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Rhea Manila Santos

Push Team

<p>From being a finalist on <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/itsshowtime"><em><u><strong>It‘s Showtime</strong></u></em><strong><u>’s</u></strong></a> BidaMan to starring in the musical <em>Liwanag Sa Dilim</em> and finally releasing his first single earlier this year, Vien King shared he now has his sights set on acting more in the big screen. The &quot;Isa Pang Habang Panahon&quot; singer talked to PUSH ABS-CBN in an exclusive interview about his latest role as Buddy Foster in the Sandbox Collective’s new musical <em>Side Show</em> and what sparked his love for acting on camera again. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-10" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DLVEQvjyXWK/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=675&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A10%2C%22os%22%3A11729778.6%2C%22ls%22%3A420284.60000000056%2C%22le%22%3A420291.80000000075%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="787" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-10" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div> </div><p>“I think siguro matagal ko na din naman siya talaga gusto. Parang na-trigger siya ulit after watching <em>Himala</em>. Yung from the musical tapos sinali siya sa Metro Manila Film Festival directed by Pepe Diokno. Na-inspire ako na sabi ko, ang daming magagaling na theater actors and sobra akong happy na nabigyan ng opportunity na makita na kaya din namin makipagsabayan sa mga film actors. So dun talaga ako na-inspire. Na-inspire ako na mas gusto ko i-try talaga na mas bigyan ng atensiyon ‘yung pag-audition sa mga films naman din,” he told PUSH ABS-CBN. </p><p>Although he was already part of Atlantis Productions 2018 run of <em>Side Show </em>the Musical, Vien says he was intrigued to be part of an older, grittier version of the show in this reiteration by the Sandbox Collective. </p><p>“Nung una, sabi ko before siguro mga isa or dalawang musical magagawa ko lang sa isang year or minsan nga, baka wala akong gawing musical. But after <em>Liwanag Sa Dilim</em>, Toff (De Venecia) invited me to try out for <em>Side Show</em>. I did it before with Atlantis, so nung narinig ko na 1997 version naman ’yung gagawin nila, na-excite na agad ako kasi parang when doing the revival version before, pinapakinggan ko na din kasi ‘yung 1997 version and there were songs na iba. Parang may strong message pa. And may political message sa mga tao talaga. It’s not just about the life of twins, but also leaving the thought sa mga tao na we all have some freak sa ating mga sarili. So ‘yun ‘yun eh,” he explained. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-11" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DJeOZowByb6/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=675&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A11%2C%22os%22%3A11729818.6%2C%22ls%22%3A420284.60000000056%2C%22le%22%3A420291.80000000075%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="877" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-11" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/3/15/exclusive-vien-king-on-working-with-alexa-ilacad-she-s-really-nice-and-chill-2306"><strong><u>READ: Vien King on working with Alexa Ilacad: &#x27;She’s really nice and chill&#x27;</u></strong></a></div><p>When it comes to acting on film, Vien shared he looks up to some of the country’s best dramatic actors the most. “Grabe, number one na lumalabas sa utak ko talaga si John Lloyd Cruz, and si Christopher de Leon. Mahilig ako sa mga lumang films eh. Kasi pag nanunuod ako ng mga lumang films, parang marami pa akong natutututunan. Iba yung puso nila noon talaga eh. Iba ‘yung makukuha ko sa panunuod ng mga veteran actors talaga. Iba ‘yung learnings na nakukuha ko. So I enjoy watching those kinds of films,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-12" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMXOHfaTwHV/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=675&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A12%2C%22os%22%3A11729854.6%2C%22ls%22%3A420284.60000000056%2C%22le%22%3A420291.80000000075%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-12" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div> </div><p>Not a newbie to movies, Vien hopes to be given more opportunities to act in film projects in the near future. “Hopefully, sa film makapag-venture naman ako. I did films din naman before under direk Cathy (Garcia-Molina) like <em>Partners in Crime</em>, ‘yung kay Vice Ganda at kay Ivana Alawi, at saka yung <em>Love at First Stream</em>, both under the Metro Manila Film Festival. So right now, nag-ta-try out ako sa mga indie films, ‘yung mga films na nag-jo-join ng mga film festivals  kasi gusto ko din talaga makilala ako ng mga tao as an actor talaga na film actor din, ganun. Kasi, as much as I love doing theater, I also miss doing acting on camera,” he added. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-13" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DLhqX7wypJn/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=675&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A13%2C%22os%22%3A11731044.000000002%2C%22ls%22%3A420284.60000000056%2C%22le%22%3A420291.80000000075%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="879" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-13" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2025/4/25/meet-the-4-leading-men-of-liwanag-sa-dilim-1355"><strong><u>READ: Meet the 4 leading men of &#x27;Liwanag sa Dilim&#x27;</u></strong></a></div><p>Watch Vien King in <em>Side Show</em> the musical which runs from July 26 until August 17, 2025 at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater, Circuit Makati. The cast also includes Jon Santos, CJ Navato, Vien King, Reb Atadero, Tim Pavino, Tanya Manalang, Marynor Madamesila, Krystal Kane, Molly Langley, Joshua Cabiladas, Marvin Ong, and many more. Directed by Toff De Venecia and produced by The Sandbox Collective. </p>

<p>Side Show the musical actor Vien King talks to PUSH ABS-CBN about his goal of acting in more big screen and television <i>projects </i>after being part of two major musicals this year.</p>

Side Show the musical actor Vien King talks to PUSH ABS-CBN about his goal of acting in more big screen and television projects after being part of two major musicals this year.

EXCLUSIVE: Vien King reveals why John Lloyd Cruz and Christopher de Leon are his idols in acting

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EXCLUSIVE: Vien King reveals why John Lloyd Cruz and Christopher de Leon are his idols in acting

Rhea Manila Santos,

Push Team

Published Jul 27, 2025 01:30 PM PHT

Read More:

Vien King

Side Show musical

The Sandbox Collective

John Lloyd Cruz

Christopher de Leon

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