James Reid (actor)
Robert James Marquinez Reid is a Filipino-Australian actor, singer-songwriter, dancer, model, record producer and record label executive. He began his professional acting career in the early 2010s after being named as Big Winner of '. He then rose to prominence for his leading role in the film '. Reid has since starred in Philippines movies, such as Talk Back and You're Dead, Para sa Hopeless Romantic, This Time and Never Not Love You. He also starred in the Philippine TV series Good Vibes, On the Wings of Love, and Till I Met You.
Reid has released three studio albums: his self-titled debut album James Reid, Reid Alert, and Palm Dreams as his first self-produced album under his own record label, Careless.
Early life
Reid was born as Robert James Reid in Sydney, Australia, on 11 May 1993 to an Australian father and a Filipino mother. He has four half-brothers and two half-sisters from his father's side, and one half-sister from his mother's side. His parents separated when he was two years old, and Reid lived in Australia until he was fifteen. With his father, Reid moved to the Philippines due to financial issues. Reid has stated before that he found it difficult to adjust to his new life in the Philippines, especially due to the different academic and social skills required, as well as language difficulties. Back in Australia, he was a gymnast and swimmer. He was enrolled in Makati Science High School, but his father enrolled him in Karabar High School Distance Education Centre, an Australian distance-learning center located in Karabar, New South Wales, Australia.Career
2010: ''Pinoy Big Brother''
Reid was only 17 years old when he entered the Pinoy Big Brother house as one of the 10 Teenternational housemates on 30 April 2010. He celebrated his 17th birthday inside the house with his co-teenternational housemates giving him a surprise pool party. Reid was the only teenternational housemate who had Filipino blood. Reid was almost evicted twice during his stay inside the house. The first one occurred on 21 May 2010 when Reid was brought to the hospital due to chest pains, discoloration, and shortness of breath while the second one happened on 1 June 2010, when he was again brought to the hospital for the same health issues but this time together with fellow housemate Angelo Pasco. At first the doctors diagnosed Reid with costrochondritis but during his second visit at the hospital the doctors found a hole in one of his lungs that is causing him difficulties in his breathing. After the complications, Reid was able to return to the Big Brother House, with conditions of having to rest frequently as well as wearing an oxygen tube for 1 week 24/7. One 8 June 2010, Reid was notified by the producers of Big Brother that he was no longer required to use the oxygen tube, he was only required to use it when he is sleeping.On 26 June 2010, he was crowned as the Big Winner after receiving 179, 294 of the total votes just 1.05% ahead of the total votes received by the 2nd Teen Big Placer, Ryan Bang who got 169, 697 of the total votes, these marks as the closest race ever to become the Big Winner in the history of Pinoy Big Brother. As the Big Winner, Reid won P1,000,000 from Jack n' Jill, a laptop computer from Sony Vaio, a 42-inch flat screen TV from Sony Bravia, an Asian tour package for two care of Von Dutch, P1,500,000 worth of bottled purified water business from Crystal Clear, and a condominium unit worth P3,000,000 courtesy of Globe Asiatique.
2011—2013: Career beginnings, solo musical career
On 24 July 2011, Reid together with Bret Jackson launched their first digital EP entitled We Are Whatever on ASAP Rocks. Reid and Jackson featured four original songs including "Can't dance" featuring their co-housemates Ann Li and Fretzie Bercede.Right after winning PBB, Reid was paired with his co-housemate Devon Seron in some ABS-CBN shows like Shoutout! and Good Vibes. He was offered a 2-year Star Magic contract with ABS-CBN. He was also paired with Yen Santos in Pintada.
In 2012, Reid left Star Magic and signed with Viva Artists Agency. A year later, he launched his self-titled debut album, with two covers and four original songs, two of which composed by Reid himself.
2014: ''Diary ng Panget'' and breakthrough success
In 2014, he starred in his launching movie Diary ng Panget together with Nadine Lustre, Yassi Pressman and Andre Paras. The movie was released on 2 April 2014 and became a box-office hit earning at least 119.5 million pesos during its 4-week run. He also lent his voice to the official soundtrack of the film.On 2 June 2014, it was confirmed that he and Lustre would star in another film titled Talk Back and You're Dead together with Yassi Pressman and Joseph Marco. The film is also based on the best-selling book of the same name by Alesana Marie. The movie will be co-produced by Viva Films and Skylight Films. During its 4-week run the movie has grossed 79.8 million pesos according to Box Office Mojo. Just like in his previous film, he also lent his voice to the official soundtrack of the film.
On 22 October 2014, it was announced that he and Lustre will do another movie entitled Para sa Hopeless Romantic together with Julia Barretto, Iñigo Pascual, AJ Muhlach and Shy Carlos. The movie is based on a book written by Marcelo Santos III and will be under Viva Films and Skylight Films.
On 26 August 2014, Reid signed a two-year contract with ABS-CBN that marked his exclusivity to the network again after two years of freelancing and becoming a talent of Viva Artists Agency, as ABS-CBN gave him popularity. As part of the contract, Reid and his onscreen partner Nadine Lustre starred in their first TV series together as a loveteam entitled Wansapanataym Presents: My App #Boyfie which was also based on Wattpad story.
2015—2016: ''Reid Alert'', ''On The Wings of Love'', ''This Time'', and ''Till I Met You''
On 2 January 2015, Reid revealed that he will be releasing his second album within the year. The album will include songs collaborated with Canadian music producer Adam Hurstfield who has written and/or produced for artists such as Ashley Tisdale, Ne-Yo, Aly Michalka, Loverboy, Elise Estrada and many more. On 10 January, Reid's new music video Huwag Ka Nang Humirit composed by Thyro Alfaro and Yumi Lacsamana was premiered in Viva's YouTube channel. After its upload, the music video began trending in social media and went viral in less than a week in the Philippine internet and Blogosphere.On 21 January 2015, the music video of the song entitled "Hanap Hanap" premiered in MTV Pinoy. The song will as his fourth collaboration with Nadine Lustre after "No Erase", "Rocketeer" and "Bahala Na". It will also be used as the themesong of his upcoming movies with Lustre entitled such as 'Diary Ng Panget' 'Talk Back You're Dead' and 'Para sa Hopeless Romantic.
Reid's second album Reid Alert was released on Valentine's Day of 2015 by Viva Records. It debuted at #2 in Philippine iTunes pop music album charts behind Taylor Swift's 1989. On 28 January 2016, he released "Randomantic", the third single from Reid Alert.
On 20 February 2016, Reid and his on-screen and real life partner, Nadine Lustre, had their first major concert titled "JaDine In Love" at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Due to the clamor of JaDine fans overseas, Reid and Lustre will be holding a JaDine Love World Tour presented by TFC in March. They will visit Doha, Dubai, London and Milan.
In June 2016, it was announced that Reid and Lustre will be making their small screen comeback through the series, Till I Met You''. They will be joined by JC Santos, Angel Aquino, Carmina Villaroel, and Zoren Legaspi.
2017—present: ''Palm Dreams'', MTV EMA Awards, ''Revolution'', and other projects
In March 2017, it was confirmed that Reid's third studio album is entitled Palm Dreams. Reid stated that he wrote the lyrics for most of the tracks alongside long time friend, Paulo Tiongson, who is a rapper and music producer in the Philippines.In March 2018, Reid and Lustre made their big screen comeback with the Antoinette Jadaone film Never Not Love You. His performance in the film garnered him a nomination for Outstanding Achievement By An Actor In a Leading Role from the 67th FAMAS Awards.
In August 2018, James had his first movie, without his onscreen partner Nadine, playing a lead role with Sarah Geromino as his grandmother in a remake of Korean Movie Miss Granny.
Reid was also set to star in the new Pedro Penduko adaptation under Viva Films. He will be playing a wimpy teen named Peter Harris. The story is based on the re-imagined version written by Regene Estolatan under Epik Studios. Reid, however, decided to withdraw from the project after sustaining a spinal injury. It was reported that James with his reel and real life partner Nadine Lustre will star in horror comedy flick Spellbound, a remake of a Korean film.
After seven years with Viva Artists Agency, James Reid decided to leave the agency with his father Robert Malcolm Reid taking over managing his career.
Personal life
Reid announced in February 2016 that he and his on-screen partner, Nadine Lustre, were in a relationship. In January 2020, after nearly four years of a relationship, the couple announced their split. But in May James Reid and Nadine Luster were spotted in two.Influences
Reid is an avid listener of R&B music, he cites Chris Brown as an early influence for him. After his stint in the Pinoy Big Brother house, Reid signed with Star Magic and would often perform in mall shows. He would sing pop rock and alternative pop songs. He has mentioned that he likes to listen to Maroon 5 and The Script and often sang their songs in his live performances.Reid also cited Sam Concepcion and Gary Valenciano as some of his local musical inspirations. Discussing Concepcion, Reid has said, "Watched him live, he blows my mind away. I’m so jealous. Not even sure if I idolize him, I’m just jealous." He has also mentioned being influenced by Thyro Alfaro, Yumi Lacsamana, who wrote most of Reid's tracks from his LP and EP releases under Viva Records. Discussing Alfaro and Lacsamana, Reid has said, "for me they are the king and queen of Filipino, of OPM music." He also considers Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake as his "idols". Reid has also expressed his love for Mario's Turning Point album, saying, "I learned to sing because of Chris brown but I learned to love R&B because of THIS album"
Aside from R&B and EDM, Reid has also said that he enjoys listening to indie rock, futurestep, and future bass. He has mentioned Australian band Last Dinosaurs and St. Lucia as some of his favorites. Reid is also a fan of OPM indie band Oh, Flamingo.
Discography
- Palm Dreams
Filmography
Film
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2010 | Housemate / Big Winner | ||
| 2010 | Shoutout! | Host / Performer | |
| 2014–present | ASAP | Host / Performer | Occasional |
| 2014–present | #JADINE | Himself | |
| 2017–present | It's Showtime | Host | Occasional |
| 2019 | Idol Philippines | Judge |