Xian Lim Enjoys Working With Jodi Santamaria In 'Dear Other Self', Happy That Kim Chiu's New Show With Gerald Anderson Is Rating Well

XIAN LIM is very happy to receive his first acting award as best supporting actor at the Gawad Tanglaw for his performance as Vilma Santos’ estranged son in last year’s “Everything About Her”. “Hindi agad nag-sink in sa akin but I’m really so thankful that all my hard work paid off,” he says. “It’s really an honor doing the movie with the great Vilma Santos, something I will remember for a lifetime. I learned a lot from her and I wish I’d be given the chance na makatrabaho ang iba pang de kalibreng aktor sa ating industriya that will help me express myself on screen creatively.”

Xian is now in a new movie with Jodi Santamaria, “Dear Other Self,” directed by Veronica Velasco. He plays Henry, a guy Jodi meets in Thailand. Jodi initially thought he’s Vietnamese and says aloud: “Ang guwapo naman ni Kuya.” So Xian says “Salamat”, surprising Jodi who exclaims: “Ay, Pilipino ka pala!”

In the movie, Jodi plays Becky, a young woman who is studying her options: whether to resign from work so she can pursue her passion to travel, or to stay for a promotion for the sake of her family who depends on her as their breadwinner. The movie’s other leading man is Joseph Marco as Cris. So how is it working with Jodi?


“You know, there’s always something magical when you work with other actors for the first time. Hindi pa kayo familiar sa isa’t isa and there’s this sense of adventure kung ano ang mabubuo nyo when you do a scene together. Kay Jodi, when I watch her on TV, she’s kind of intimidating kasi ang husay niya. But when we started working together, ang gaan pala niyang kasama kasi sobrang cool niya, she really communicates with you and she made it so much easier for the two of us. Masaya siyang katrabaho.”

How does he feel being second choice for the role that was allegedly first offered to JC De Vera? “Hindi ko alam yun. But I don’t mind. For every project naman, maraming actors na kino-consider, not just one. Ang importante, sa’kin napunta ang project na ito at ang role, kasi na-enjoy ko talagang gawin ito. We even got to shoot some scenes on location nga in Thailand.”

Xian, being a singer-musician, is also busy preparing for another concert after his successful show at Kia Theatre last year. He is also the producer of his gigs on the YouTube channel that aims to show his other musical talents. How does he feel now that Kim Chiu is paired with ex-BF Gerald Anderson in “Ikaw Lang ang Iibigin”? “I’m happy for them. Lalo na’t mataas daw ang rating ng show nila. They deserve it.”