While most actors working on action projects need to shed pounds or build muscle to fit their characters, drama veteran Albert Martinez had to do the opposite for his role in the upcoming ABS-CBN series, “Lavender Fields.” He had to eat and drink more.
Martinez plays top investigator Zandro Fernandez who always makes solves his cases, until he is faced with the most compelling and challenging situation of Lavender Fields, played by Jodi Sta. Maria.
Dedicated to solving mysteries, Zandro couldn’t care less about his appearance. However, Martinez pointed out that while his character might look like a loser on the outside with his unkempt appearance, he is a dedicated and highly effective investigator.
Martinez, determined to look the “lazy” Zandro part, said he purposely let go of his usual diet to be rounder and get out of shape.
n Instead of a restrictive diet, actor Albert Martinez had to eat more and even drink beer, to look the part of investigator Zandro Fernandez in ‘Lavender Fields.’ INSTAGRAM PHOTO/DREAMSCAPEPH
“I was on intermittent fasting and later on moved to ‘one meal a day.’ I usually have carbs, protein and fiber so my plate would have kamote, hard boiled eggs, black rice, and then I have pineapple for fiber. But for this role, I had to eat more,” Martinez said in a special media interview set up by the show’s producer, Dreamscape Entertainment.
“It was challenging because I’m no longer used to it. What I call my diet has been part of my lifestyle for at least 10 years so it’s hard to let go.”
Giving the disclaimer that he’s not a diet expert in any way, Martinez said he binge-ate.
“A faster way would be to eat sweets but that would be not good because it can have a long term effect on my sugar. Again, I’m not a health expert. Eating more than my usual diet for longer period might also have repercussions so I needed to bulk up fast but not through sugar. So, my way was to drink three bottles of beer a day to get that belly needed to look the part for Zandro.”
What the 63-year-old did not change, however, was his physical activity. He even doubled his training and consistently ran and lifted weights, among other exercises. All these helped him sustain stamina, which he desperately needed for the more action-packed scenes required.
“It’s a very physical character. I even have bruises in my body.”
All these sacrifices are worth it for the actor, who revealed that he has already entered semi-retirement.
“I’m 63 years old now, and I told my manager that maybe it’s time for me to retire. However, my manager suggested that instead of fully retiring, I could semi-retire by choosing projects I like that could contribute to my legacy. This particular project, Lavender Fields, fits into that category.”
“I sad yes to the role because of the narrative and the people I’m working with. I also very much like Zandro and how he’s neither a black or a white character,” Martinez said, trying so hard not to divulge more for the fear of spoiling the plot and its many probably twists.
“This is a very complicated narrative and Zandro is a complicated character. The best way to understand him is to watch the show from start to finish.”
In rounding up the interview, Martinez said he has no regrets in entering showbiz and all the scarifies each role he played for the past three decades entailed.
“Showbiz allowed me to provide for my family. But I missed some milestones like graduations and birthdays. I had to sacrifice family time. I celebrated so many of my birthdays on the set because of work.
“But I have no regrets because showbiz fed my family, I was able to provide good education for my kids. Now that they are all grown up, I want to make up for the moments that were lost,” he ended.
Starring Jodi Sta. Maria, Jericho Rosales, Janine Gutierrez, Maricel Soriano and Edu Manzano, Dreamscape Entertainment’s Lavender Fields premieres August 30 on Netflix and September 2 on free TV.
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