COS shirt. Photographed by Regine David for the August 2024 Issue of Vogue Man Philippines
Kelvin Miranda reflects on his journey from background actor to passionate artist.
Kelvin Miranda recalls his early days with a mix of nostalgia and pride. “Before, I was only a background character in films, and I didn’t care what role I had to take, so as long as I was able to earn that day,” he says.
It was in 2019 when he says he fell in love with acting. “Until now, I’m still doing it, still earning, but it’s more than that—it’s about sharing new energy and new learnings with others.”
This transition from merely participating in the industry to becoming an artist marks Kelvin’s greatest achievement. It’s a shift that required not just a change in mindset but also a deep commitment. “Creating a character is very difficult, but it’s fun, you learn a lot and I [think] that’s the most fun part.”
Preparation is key to his approach, and goes beyond memorizing lines. Kelvin immerses himself in his roles, often isolating himself to build his character’s background. It’s a mental and emotional journey where isolation and research play crucial roles. “I isolate myself. I look for the most comfortable thing that can help me create the background of my character,” he shares. “Like for example, if I have to play a doctor, I’ll try to reach out to doctors to get their perspective. You need time to do some research, and if you don’t, it gets very obvious on set that you haven’t prepared.”
This deep dive into the psyches of his characters has had its challenges, too. Kelvin speaks openly about the toll it can take. “I’ve experienced breaking down a few times. It’s easy to build a character, but it’s hard to get out. That’s why you need to put a bit of yourself in every character so that you still have something to hold on to, something that keeps you grounded.”
Grounding is essential, especially as Kelvin’s roles have become more prominent, with the pressure to maintain his composure amid growing success being something he now navigates carefully. Recently, the young actor has gained attention as the leading man in films such as Chances Are, You and I and Missed Connections as both Soleil Sikat and Norman respectively. His Mark Sta. Maria in Dead Kids, the first Netflix original produced locally, also drew eyes.
“I want to experience true-to-life stories, play more [recognizable] roles. A historical film, a biopic—those are the kinds of projects I’m looking for. I want to immerse myself in a role, to study the biography of someone real and then bring that person to life.”
By GABRIEL YAP. Photographs by REGINE DAVID. Vogue Man Editor: DANYL GENECIRAN. Stylist: Neil de Guzman. Makeup: Bea Mocorro. Hair: JA Feliciano. Actors: Elijah Canlas, Cedrick Juan, Kelvin Miranda. Producer: Anz Hizon. Photographer’s Assistant: Akira Watanabe. Stylist’s Assistant: Marga Bautista. Shot on location at Balara Content Studio.
