CinemaBravo

A new face is making waves in the Philippine BL (boys’ love) scene, bringing a unique background and fresh energy to the genre. Charlie St. Cyr, an actor, fitness model, host, personal trainer, and professional bodybuilder, steps into the spotlight with his first lead role in the series Sashes and Hearts. Under the direction of Xion Lim and alongside lead stars Ivan Cojuangco and Ethan Aguilar, Charlie takes on a character that’s bound to keep audiences hooked.

In Sashes and Hearts, the stage is set for intense competition. The series follows Jack, a determined candidate who enters the pageant to support his ailing aunt, and Tomas, his ever-loyal best friend. As rivalries ignite—especially between self-proclaimed kings Matthew and Vince—unexpected connections also form, like the growing bond between Gin and Jarret. But with the pressure mounting, who will emerge as the strongest contender for the crown?

From cameos to a main role

Speaking to CinemaBravo in a virtual pocket interview, Charlie shared how he became part of the series. “Direk Xion had a casting call. I wasn’t here [yet]. I was actually on the plane the day that they were doing the in-person casting call. So, I had just reached out through Instagram, told him that I’m gonna be in the Philippines, ‘[I] wanna give [it] a shot at being part of your production.’ I just sent over my IMDB and a couple of my acting reels. And from there, he reached back out to us at this restaurant. We had a meeting, and from there, I was already signed with them.”

Charlie isn’t new to the world of BL dramas, having appeared in other Oxin Films projects. “I’ve done two other projects already with them: one episode of Dear Miss Becky, I was in the first episode. And then, I also did the latest series that they had called Sky Valley. I was on Episode 11.”

But in Sashes and Hearts, he takes on his first main role—one that comes with a darker edge. “First role that I’m gonna be [in] the main cast. I don’t have [a] love interest; I’m the antagonist. I’m involved in sabotaging the main lead, and also I’ll be pretty much doing some special favors for the manager who’s promising to give me [a]head of the project. I’m gonna win the crown if I do these special favors for him, so I go along with it because, one, I’m new to the country, [and] I’m putting my trust in this manager. It gets spicy,” he laughed.

Charlie also expressed surprise upon learning that he’s the first Black American to star in a Pinoy BL series.

“I didn’t even know until recently that I’m the first Black American to be in a Filipino BL series,” he shared. “That was just shocking, surprising to me. But as far as the comments and the reactions I’ve been getting, it’s been very positive. Some of them are a bit sexual, of course, but for me, I have [a] positive outlook on it. I’m happy to be in this position.”

When asked about online feedback, he remained unfazed. “I just take it as a compliment. I’ve been in the industry long enough, even in [the] US, that comments don’t really bother me. Even if they’re negative comments, I don’t let them bother me. I just keep moving forward.”

From the Navy to bodybuilding

Outside of acting, Charlie has built a solid career in fitness.

“I’ve been a personal trainer since I started college. I was around 20 years old when I got my certification. Since then, I’ve been training. I also competed as a bodybuilder. In 2018, I started competing [in] Men’s Physique, and I got my Pro Card. I’ve always just been an active person, even when I was younger, playing sports.

“I was in the Navy for six years. Even in the Navy, I was a fitness command leader. I took control of our exercises in the command.”

His advice for those looking to get in shape?

“Keep going. I know a lot of Filipinos. Definitely a lot of my friends that I met here, they always ask how to get abs, how to lose the weight, or [how to] put on size if they are trying to build muscle. For the most part, the way I started was [that] I didn’t know what I was doing. I just kept being consistent, and over time, your consistency… and research and learning from other people when you work out with them, that’s how you will get better.

“So, just keep being [consistent] and stick to a plan.”

Embracing Filipino culture

In Sashes and Hearts, Charlie plays Daniel Smith, the USA pageant winner who travels to the Philippines to compete in an international competition. His foreigner status plays into the storyline, creating comedic and dramatic moments.

“As [a] foreigner [in the series], I’m supposed to be portraying a person who doesn’t understand the language, so that when the other cast [members] are talking in Tagalog, I react to them in a way like, ‘What are you saying? Can you speak English?’ and stuff like that. They are also able to make jokes that I won’t understand.”

Though new to the local entertainment scene, Charlie has already built strong connections with his fellow co-actors and Filipino production team.

“I built a good relationship with them. We did a lot of workshops before the series. I already got to know them ahead of time. We always got together for outings. So, it just kinda helped us bond even better.”

Having lived in California, he was already familiar with Filipino culture, but moving to the Philippines presented new experiences. “Most of my best friends there are Filipino. So I have already kinda been introduced to the culture and the food and the language, but coming here, I would say the biggest difference is I notice here it’s more—how do you put it?—I feel like more Filipinos are [shyer] to talk to me here than in the US, so that would be kind of the difference I’ve noticed.

“But for the most part, everyone’s been welcoming, inviting me to their places to eat, and I just feel like [I’m] home here already.”

A new chapter in BL

Charlie admits that he wasn’t initially a BL fan but developed an appreciation for the genre. “I didn’t really watch BL until I saw Gameboys [starring Elijah Canlas and Kokoy De Santos], and that was during the pandemic… I don’t have anything against it. I feel it has a good storyline, and the actors portray the characters really well.

“I didn’t think [I’d] ever be part of one, but I’m here, I gave it a shot. It was fun!”

True enough, there’s much to expect from Charlie in the coming months with him being part of the upcoming episodes of Sashes and Hearts. He’s also looking forward to more projects in the Philippines.

Who will win the crown—and who will steal your heart? Catch Sashes and Hearts every Saturday at 8 PM on Oxin Films’ YouTube channel and see more of Charlie St. Cyr in action.