Very few showbiz personalities can still leave the entertainment press corps star struck, and believe it or not, one of them is talented actor Dennis Trillo. The 31-year-old leading man, who first dazzled the public as a young discovery in 2000, is just plain handsome as ever.

At the launch of his latest prime time soap opera on Monday—the Filipino adaptation of the hit Koreanovela Temptation of Wife—Dennis drew muffled shrieks from an audience (which regularly sees him anyway) when he appeared on stage in a crisp black suit with his cast members.

After a short program, he alighted to join a roundtable, which included The Manila Times, and for what seemed like forever, everyone just stared at him. Some in awe, and others with dreamy stares.

Besides his good looks, his three Best Actor trophies (for 2005’s Aishite Imasu 1941), and his bad boy-cum-lover boy image, The Times finally figured out why Dennis Trillo just oozes with sex appeal. He is quiet, mysterious and pensive, but can suddenly catch you off guard with a cheeky and playful side.

When asked a question, Dennis would thoughtfully pause before replying in a very mellow voice. He would furrow his beautiful brows, then look into your eyes, and . . . All the T-Zone can say is thank goodness for voice recorders.

At one point during the sit down, a much-liked and high-ranking executive of GMA Network turned into a fan and asked to have a photo with Dennis. To her delight, Dennis gamely posed giving her a peck on the cheek with his eyes fervently closed. When she did the same, the suddenly playful Dennis opened his eyes wide as if caught by surprise.

That’s Dennis Trillo up close, and why he’s a star.

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As for his latest television project, Dennis will play the lead male role of Temptation of Wife, the Koreanovela that dramatically hooked Filipino viewers in 2010 that GMA Network had to re-air the series shortly after.

He is paired with the beautiful Marian Rivera, the main protagonist of the series, who breathes life to the character of Angeline Santos by transforming from a timid and submissive wife to cunning, feisty and reformed woman to avenge herself against her husband and her best friend.

Dennis plays the role of Angeline’s irresponsible and unfaithful husband Marcel Salcedo, while Glaiza de Castro portrays the hard-hearted best friend Heidi Fernandez who completes the love triangle.

According to Dennis, the show’s director Dominic Zapata, made the entire cast watch the original Temptation of Wife before shooting began.

“I was able to study the role of Marcel na medyo weak at takot sa tatay, pero yung kapilyohan niya, nilalabas niya sa babae,” he related. “This local version follows the original almost faithfully but with scenes that are updated para mas bagay sa times ngayon.”

The T-Zone asked Dennis how he likes doing remakes, especially since actors always want to take on their own approach on a particular role.

“Actually, minsan, mas nagugustuham ko pa nga ang remake kasi may pagbabasehan ka ng character,” he explained. “Tulad nito, i-twe-tweak mo nalang ng konti para ibagay sa mga manonood na Pilipino. Although on the other hand, nakaka-pressure din kasi may mga die hard fans talaga yung series and I don’t want to disappoint them.”

Dennis added that it’s a huge help acting-wise to have seasoned actors to work with. He’s always on his toes what with Marian as a his leading lady, and the likes of veteran actors Rio Locsin, Raymond Bagatsing, Rez Cortez and Cherie Gil in the cast.

How Dennis fares in the remake of this hit Koreanovela will soon be known as Temptation of Wife premieres on Monday, October 29, on GMA Telebabad.