By Honorary Reporter Eftychia Dovletoglou from Greece
Photos= Nico Antonio 

Nico Antonio is not only a Philippine film producer but also an actor who has appeared in many Philippine dramas and movies, and was a member of the defunct band Voizboys. His first appearance in a Hallyu-related production was last year's Philippine series "K-Love," which featured the K-drama craze in his country. 

Antonio recently appeared in the original Disney+ K-drama "Big Bet" with Korean stars like Choi Min-sik and Son Suk-ku.

Nico Antonio says it was a dream come true for him to appear in a K-drama like "Big Bet."

While watching the series, I noticed powerful performances by Antonio, 39, who seemed to bond well with the Korean cast. I looked him up on Instagram and conducted an interview with him from April 3-5. The excerpts of the interview are below.

Briefly introduce yourself.
I turn 40 next month and am married with two sons. I've been acting since 2003. I like video games and recently began collecting physical games. I also enjoy sports like basketball, boxing, running, swimming, biking and weightlifting and going to the beach and other outdoor activities.

Nico Antonio plays a Philippine police officer in "Big Bet," and his Korean costars included Heo Sung-tae (left), Choi Min-sik, (middle) and Lee Dong-hwi. (left in photo on the right)

Describe your character in "Big Bet."
My character's name is Mark Flores, a Central Investigation and Detective Group (CIDG) agent who works with Korean police officer Oh Seung-hoon, played by actor Son Suk-ku, who is dispatched to the Philippines to solve a series of murders of Koreans there. Mark is pragmatic in readily adjusting to his surroundings and making compromises when necessary, unlike Seung-hoon, who sees things in black or white. Both characters initially have disagreements but eventually become friends.

How did you feel appearing in this series?
I was in awe. A lot of actors auditioned for this role and I didn't think I'd get it. When I did get the part, I was in disbelief. Only when I stood in front of Korean acting legend Choi Min-sik did this all sink in.

What were your impressions of the cast?

I'm a big fan of Choi's work. On my first day of shooting, I had a scene with him and it luckily went well. I wanted to take a photo with him but was shy. A few days later, I got the courage to ask for a photo, something Son helped me with. Son is a cool guy and very giving person to his co-stars. Before shooting, we introduced ourselves to each other and shared our ideas on how to play our characters. Son made me feel comfortable in our scenes.

What was your assessment of the production?
I was impressed with the interiors of the CIDG office in Agiles and Bolton Casino because they were both set on a big soundstage in Seoul. It all looked so real and was huge that a plane could fit inside. The Korean production staff was also very precise about time. Because of limited time, they meticulously shot every scene, especially in the Philippines, and got a variety of impressive shots and angles.

Do you want to act in another Korean production?
Definitely. I'd love to be part of Season 2 of "Squid Game" and hope director Hwang Dong-hyuk notices me through my appearance in "Big Bet." Another dream is to work with director Bong Joon-ho. Working on a Korean production was a unique experience that I want to do again.

Nico Antonio poses with veteran actor Choi Min-sik (middle) and co-star Son Suk-ku.

What message do you have for Korea.net readers?
Hello to everyone and thanks for your support for "Big Bet." I hope you enjoyed my performance as Mark.

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things.