Isa si TJ Trinidad sa may mahalagang papel na gagampanan sa Pinoy  version ng Stairway to Heaven. Ang mga nakapanood ng original Koreanovela na ito ay pamilyar sa role niya bilang Tristan, na magkakagusto sa stepsister niyang si Jodi (Rhian Ramos).

Pero sa original version, ang gumanap sa role na Tristan na si Kim Tae Hee ay may tatak na mahabang buhok. Alam naman daw ito ni TJ nang makausap siya ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal).

"Dapat kasi, mas mahaba pa. But may deadline na, so 'eto na, I didn't cut [my hair]. After Zorro, hindi ko na pinagupitan. Kinonsider nila yung hair extension, pero mas maganda ang natural. Pinahaba ko na siya, kaso lang, it's not enough time, so, ganito lang kahaba," saad ng aktor.

Bago ang Stairway to Heaven ay napanood si TJ sa action-adventure series na Zorro, kung saan kontrabida ang role niya. Ibang-iba raw ang role niya sa dalawang nabanggit na serye.

"Kasi sa Zorro, we were almost like caricatures. Our movements there... The whole show actually, it's like a heightened reality. Ito [Stairway To Heaven], it's emotionally draining. Zorro was tiring also because I was angry all the time. But it's more tiring to be depressed, for me. Minsan kung galit ako, mangangabayo lang ako, okay na ako. 'Eto, I have nowhere to go, e. I only let go when I'm done. It's easier to get over anger than depression."

TJ AS TRISTAN. Ayon kay TJ, hindi raw niya pinanood ang alinmang episode ng original Stairway to Heaven para maging fresh ang atake niya sa role.

"Hindi ko pinanood, and I didn't watch it on purpose. Ayoko. I don't want to see how the guy did it, so I have a fresh take. Kasi, kahit sabihin natin na pinanood ko 'to, 'tapos may ginagawa ako, subconsciously, may makukuha ako sa ginawa niya. So, I wanted to have an original performance and original take on Tristan. So, I didn't watch any talaga," paliwanag ni TJ.

Paano niya ide-describe ang role niya bilang Tristan?

"This guy is a hopelessly in love. Lahat gagawin niya, but it comes from some place good, you know. It's a pure love... It's a fine line, coz some people would call it obsessive, you know what I mean? It's not a kind of love that charms him to the other person. Okay lang sa kanya na masaktan siya kahit physically, huwag lang yung mahal niya. It's love... How can you explain that anyway? Pure siya at wala siyang masamang buto sa katawan. Mabait akong tao rito," saad ni TJ.

May similarity ba ang role na ginagampanan niya sa totoong TJ?

"Not so much sa pagka-martir!" natatawa niyang sabi. "Siyempre, 'pag mahal mo, like you love someone, you do whatever you can... it's normal. but not the martyr side, not so much."

Aware din si TJ na ang role niya ang isa pinakaimportanteng character sa Stairway to Heaven.

"Yeah, I'm very conscious of that. Of course, I had a character background. I studied it, so, alam ko lahat ang istorya niya because I studied it. But I didn't watch his performance, so it's a different take. The same background, same character. But hopefully, madi-distinguish nila ang performance ko from the original actor who played Tristan."

Sa telenovela ay isa ring magaling na pintor ang role ni TJ. Ayon sa aktor, hindi siya nag-aral talaga ng painting, pero may drawing book siya at nagdo-drawing din siya.

"I started drawing again. So, sa set, dinadala ko ang drawing pad ko. In between takes," banggit niya.