For many actors, being associated with one type of role can feel limiting. But for Jake Cuenca, whose career has been shaped by layered and compelling kontrabida portrayals, typecasting is far from a setback.
Known for his intense and transformative villain roles, Jake has brought to life complex antagonists such as Miguelito Guerrero in FPJ’s Batang Quiapo, Cyrus in What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?, Edong in What Lies Beneath, and Franco in Ikaw Lamang, among many others.
Having portrayed numerous kontrabida and bida characters throughout his career, Jake opened about his thoughts on typecasting during an interview with Hot Takes.
Reflecting on his early years in show business, the actor shared that he never viewed antagonist roles negatively, especially because of the challenges and opportunities they carried.
“For me parang kasi when I started in my career, like I really considered everything a blessing. Ako kasi, my path, I really was a struggling actor at first. So, everything was a blessing, every guesting, every opportunity was really a big deal. So, for me, I always held being a kontrabida [role] in high value. Kasi if you look at the breakdown for an actor, the kontrabida and the bida gets equal amount [of] scenes. So you're gonna have to carry a side of the story. I always saw that as a big responsibility.”
Jake said much of his artistic orientation came from watching Hollywood films as a child, where he often found himself fascinated by the story’s antagonist. He also looked up to the late Eddie Garcia as one of his mentors, further shaping his appreciation for playing antagonists and confirming that being a kontrabida was where he felt most drawn.
His recent projects, where he portrayed Miguelito in FPJ’s Batang Quiapo and Edong in What Lies Beneath at the same time in primetime, only strengthened his perspective that repeated casting in villain roles is more of a blessing than a disadvantage.
“Like I said, parang it's perspectives, 'di ba? Kasi in this day and age, in this landscape, I can't really say that to be typecast is a bad thing, kasi there's a lot of actors not working,” he continued.
“It’s kind of hard to call yourself an actor if you're not working… Maybe back then you can say that kasi ang daming trabaho, eh. In my case, I'm so grateful kasi saan ka nakakita ng ibang artista na dalawang teleserye yung ginawa ng sabay? And if I was playing the good guy, I don't think they'll give me those two roles. So, it's really a question of what you want to do. What do you want to be? And like for me, as an actor, if you last 25 years in this industry, if you're receiving 20-year awards from ABS-CBN, if you're receiving acting awards, then how can you really say that that's bad?”
For Jake, the discussion surrounding typecasting ultimately comes down to perspective rather than limitation.
“So for me, it's a question of perspective. I think for kids today, you can't be afraid of that stuff, when they say typecast or mumbo jumbo. Like, the more important thing is be a working actor, kasi in this day and age, not a lot of actors are working. That's the truth.”
He also pointed out the realities many actors face while waiting for projects and why embracing opportunities, no matter the role, can help open more doors.
“'Di ba, there's a lot of actors that are really waiting just for a small part. You know, like buti na nga lang they're making those vertical things (short dramas). It's kind of like opens new casting doors for them. But like there's not a lot of those. The one good thing about doing multiple roles or like opening multiple doors is that you're proving yourself to different productions. Now, when you prove yourself to different productions, it's like more people want to hire you. So, are you going to wait for that one thing or are you going to try to open all the doors and try to have all the opportunities?”
“And then in those roles that you do, you prove to that production now if you're capable of doing other roles on top of just being a kontrabida, which in my case, that's what I did in 25 years,” he said.
Jake described typecasting as a double-edged sword, something that may become tiring, but can also serve as a platform to showcase an actor’s range and commitment.
Despite juggling two primetime productions simultaneously, he maintained that professionalism and discipline remain essential.
“When you're doing two shows at the same time, you can't use being tired as an excuse. Kasi to work a lot in this industry, you have to be easy to work with... There's only a few actors who are household names nowadays. But I hold mine of value, because that's years, eh… And parang not everyone's fortunate to get fame right away. Not everyone is blessed like that na pagdating mo pa lang sikat ka na agad. That's not the only path of success.”
“I for one like to show the younger ones that hard work really pays off… I really show the young ones. Now, if you really want to work, you have to be versatile.”
More than fame or recognition, Jake said acting remains deeply personal for him, allowing him to transform life experiences into his craft.
“Para sa akin, I really feel blessed to do what I do, to be in front of the cameras. To have a voice, to be seen. I'm lucky because even though I go through things in my life, I'm able to put that in my work. And then, make amends that way. I really hold like my job on high value, and I'm very personal with my work… You can be versatile, you can be good, but really, to be an artist, is to be personal with your work.”
Asked on his hot take on typecasting and life in the industry, Jake maintained: “I think casting has a whole different meaning nowadays for an actor. I think you'll be very fortunate to have work, kunyari you're doing back-to-back projects, even if you're doing the same role over and over again, it's also going to depend on you how you're going to make it different.”
“To put everything in a nutshell, it's like be happy with what you have. And thrive with what you have, and if you're going to be in that position, be the best at it.”
Jake added that one philosophy that continues to guide him is the Japanese concept of “Ikigai”.
“It's dedicating your life into mastery of that one thing, it's putting that and making that thing your sole purpose in life. And for me, like I said, with acting or whatever you do, whatever you're dealt with with life, you have to make the most of what you got, and if you have something, like anything, try to be the best at it. Use it to try to be the best at what you're doing.”