Finally, Filipino global talent isn’t so niche anymore
For the longest time, Filipinos occupied a niche space in global entertainment. Every casting announcement featuring a Filipino actor felt like breaking news because it happened just on occasion. We celebrated every win because we had to.
But nowadays, the times have finally shifted. Filipino talent is no longer confined to niche roles, independent films or castings where the Filipino talent is portrayed to be of another descent.
We’re leading billion-dollar franchises, joining the world’s biggest studios, and telling stories that resonate across cultures. That’s a good thing because our identity is finally being invested in and embraced as part of the mainstream. It makes so much sense since entertaining and talent run in practically most Filipinos’ DNA.
For years, interviewing Hollywood stars has given us a front-row seat to history. We have seen careers take off, franchises become global phenomena and fresh faces transform into household names. But somewhere in the middle of all those press junkets, red carpets and interviews, one thought would always cross my mind: “When will Filipino talent stop being the exception and start becoming part of the conversation?”
For the longest time, seeing a Filipino actor in a major Hollywood project felt like a pleasant surprise. We’d celebrate every casting announcement because they were so few and far between. We’d proudly claim every half-Filipino actor or artist making waves abroad because representation was rare. Nowadays, it can even come across as Filipino baiting. It’s a sign that our mindsets have gone a long way.
One of my personal advocacies as a storyteller has always been highlighting Filipino excellence on the global stage. I’ve always believed that our stories deserve to travel. Our artists deserve to be seen. And our culture deserves to exist beyond being a footnote or an exotic reference.
This year, that belief feels more tangible than ever.
Just recently, I reunited with the cast of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” for its highly anticipated second season. I couldn’t help but smile when I saw Gordon Cormier again, even just online for an interview.
I still vividly remember when Gordon and Dallas Liu visited the Philippines for their very first morning TV guesting two years ago. They were just beginning to introduce themselves to audiences around the world. During that interview, Gordon was still very much a young boy, while Dallas excitedly shared how memorable their trip to Manila had been.
Fast forward to today. Gordon has grown up before our eyes. More importantly, he has become the face of one of Netflix’s flagship global franchises. A Filipino-Canadian actor isn’t simply part of the ensemble anymore. He is the beloved Aang. Millions of viewers around the world are growing up watching a Filipino lead carry one of the biggest fantasy series on streaming.
Representation like that matters.
Even more exciting is the arrival of the phenomenal Dolly de Leon into the “Avatar” universe. Already internationally acclaimed after her breakout performance in “Triangle of Sadness,” Dolly joins Season 2, playing the twins from the Fire nation — Lo and Li.
During our interview, she happily pointed out something that genuinely made me smile: there were so many Filipinos working on set — not just in front of the camera but behind it as well. Even her stunt double happened to be Filipina.
“Daming Pinoy sa set, ah! Hindi lang siya (Gordon) at ako! May mga Pinay na half-Chinese, half-Filipina at kasi kambal ako, di ba? Yung double ko Pinay din! Pinay na nakatira sa Canada. So, may Canadian accent!” She proudly shared.
It is a sign that our presence is becoming a norm. And that is exactly where representation should be headed.
Then came another exciting conversation — this time with Eve Ridley.
At only 14 years old, Eve is already entering one of the biggest cinematic universes in the world through DC Studios’ “Supergirl.” She plays Ruthye Marye Knoll, an important character who accompanies Kara Zor-El, a.k.a. Supergirl, on an emotional journey across the galaxy.
Listening to Eve describe the moment she learned she had been cast was heartwarming. She cried alongside her parents as the news sank in.
“I was at home. You were in a Zoom call with my agent, and it was me and my two parents behind, and they said you got the role, and the whole room went silent, and I just burst out crying, and all you can hear me is sobbing, and my parents were cheering, and they were all cheering in the Zoom call. I cried for about an hour and a half,” she said.
But what resonated with me most wasn’t just her Hollywood breakthrough. It was hearing her nod to the fact that her early household and very Filipino moment of letting her sing in front of her family may have impacted her.
“They definitely encouraged it, and they really encouraged that I’m so grateful for that.” She added. “I would dress up for my parents and sing a song, and I’m very grateful that they help me along the way.”
Eve’s grandmother grew up in the Philippines, while her mother is part-Filipina. She shared that performing for her Filipino relatives as a child helped nurture her love for acting and storytelling. Sometimes, culture plants seeds long before success arrives.
This coming September, DreamWorks Animation’s upcoming original film, “Forgotten Island,” feels like an entirely different milestone. This isn’t simply a movie that happens to feature Filipino actors. It is a movie built around Filipino culture. Our mythology, folklore, traditions and stories were made as an homage by our kababayans, who are already doing successfully abroad.
The film stars H.E.R. and Liza Soberano as lifelong friends transported into the magical island of Nakali, where they encounter creatures deeply rooted in Philippine folklore, including the legendary Manananggal, voiced by none other than Lea Salonga.
As directors and writers Januel Mercado and Joel Crawford put it, “It’s not just about Filipino culture, it’s all about friendship and connection because of the world that it is today. This is about stopping to be in the moment and (knowing) special people in your life and the impact that they have.”
The supporting cast is equally impressive, featuring Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng and Jenny Slate.
For decades, Filipino mythology largely existed within our own classrooms, comic books and bedtime stories. Soon, audiences from around the world will experience these legends through a DreamWorks animated feature.
Today, I think we’re entering a different phase. We’re beginning to see Filipino identity itself become part of global storytelling. There are still countless Filipino actors, writers, directors, producers, visual artists, composers, stunt performers and creatives waiting for their opportunities to be told, and with what is happening right now, we strongly believe that it will happen more often and sooner than we think.
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