Hello Dolly! Firstly, congratulations on the show! How does it feel seeing your work finally reach people worldwide?

Thank you! It’s rewarding knowing all my years of hard work has finally paid off.

If you could sum up your character of Agnes in three words, what would you say?

Ready for change.

Her story is one of the most heartbreaking in the entire show, and the stillness which her character possesses despite all she’s been through is a truly beautiful part of your performance.

Was this a deliberate choice? How did you find that initial external layer to her?

The stillness really comes from her being wary of her surroundings. Sort of like a protective shield because she’s damaged. It was never really deliberate and just came out that way because of all the inner struggles she’s going through and the need to protect herself from causing herself more harm.

Some that makes her story profound is everything it has to say about faith, femininity, hope, double standards, and race. So much is encapsulated in all those scenes.

How did you approach each scene to ensure that all of those vital messages were fully conveyed?

I really focused more on Agnes’ need to be healed and to find the answers she’s been searching for all her life in all the wrong places. Coming from that one place just made everything else fall into place. Being an Asian woman surrounded by such powerful outside forces put her in that corner of just trying to survive and move forward.

That last scene, where we see Agnes’ pain externalised in the confessional and the desperation of her using her head to try and break through the barriers of her faith – physically and mentally – was such a painful yet truthful moment to watch.

What was that like to film? Can you take us back to when you were preparing for that moment?

That was a tough one. All the days on set prior to that, leading to the actual day was anxiety-filled. I knew that this was a very critical scene for Agnes because this was her entire truth. I’ve had to speak to a psychiatrist friend and a nun friend to help flesh inner turmoil out so I can justify her actions in this scene.

I was the only actor on set that day and it was daunting but having the entire German team there (Frank, our DP) and Jonathan Levine made it all possible. It takes an entire team to create a world that’s at the very least believable.

Something I particularly loved that was wrapped up within her whole tale was an acknowledgement of how involved millions people of Filipino heritage are within healthcare systems worldwide; yet they are often taken for granted and unrecognised.

How conscious were you of how much you were representing that aspect in your performance?

Very conscious. I think Agnes being away from what’s familiar and “home” to her, being surrounded by strangers from a variety of cultures put her in that space of complete and total isolation and it’s hard to navigate in a world like that. But because us Filipinos are resilient and adaptable, it played a big part in her framework and state of mind as a woman who feels so displaced.

With so many incredible scenes to be a part of, did you have a favourite one to film? One that you’re particularly looking forward to the audience getting to see?

I’m really looking forward to the scene where we’re all high on a mushroom trip, dancing our hearts out and telling each other off. It was a fun day, we were all laughing behind the scenes while at the same time juggling the fact that it was so intense and high strung because of the dialogue. It was an interesting mesh of many different emotions.

What do you personally hope that people take away from Agnes’ story?

Never judge a book by its cover.

You got to work with some incredible actors in the project! Were there any of them that you were particularly excited to be able to work with for the first time?

What was the shooting experience like with such a large ensemble cast?

All of them, but mostly Murray (Bartlett) because I knew I was going to do a lot of scenes with him and having watched his work, I was over the moon with excitement to work with such a great talent!

The best surprise of it all is he’s not only as talented as I thought he was, but he’s also a great guy and super cool human being.

You have a huge filmography spanning decades. How do you feel Nine Perfect Strangers pushed your own abilities as an actor?

Did you uncover sides to your artistry that you hadn’t used before?

I think that all the jobs I’ve done before and all the characters I’ve played in the past have prepared me for this and have led me to this moment. Playing someone as complicated as Agnes definitely pushed my abilities and brought me to places I never thought I could reach. It was so rewarding to see the final version of what we’ve all worked so hard for.

Remembering all my past mishaps as an actor was all well worth the fall to use everything I’ve learned about myself and all the talents I’ve worked with in the past. Sometimes it pays to make mistakes and fail from time to time to rise up and learn from those failures to hopefully move past them and go about the next job in a more enlightened state.

The show has a beautifully diverse cast. What does diversity mean to you?

Diversity means everything to me. It opens up our world to different experiences, ideologies, and belief systems which in turn helps us become more empathetic and inclusive. And more forgiving sometimes.

After so many years flying the flag for Filipino art and acting, what does being a Filipina in industry the mean to you today and how has it changed over time?

I’ll always be a proud Filipina but unlike two years ago, I no longer feel the pressure of having to carry such a huge responsibility. I’ve learned to just have fun and raise the flag with pride, warts and all. I think everyone’s beauty lies in their imperfection. I’ve learned to embrace that.

When people have finished watching your incredible turn in Nine Perfect Strangers, what top three films from your filmography would you recommend next and why?

Verdict : this film changed the way I see myself as an actor.

Between the Temples : this was my first ever indie in the US. It will always be special to me.

Ghostlight : it’s all about a family’s journey into healing through art and theatre had healed me in so many ways over the years.

When you’re not off being part of some incredible projects, what do you enjoy doing most in your downtime, and what do you think Agnes probably enjoys doing most in her downtime?

Agnes would be helping people, I would be helping myself to a game of Call of Duty Mobile.

When you look back at all you’ve achieved, what message would you share with your younger self?

Stop taking yourself too seriously.

Lastly: you’re in a zombie apocalypse. How long do you survive and how do you do it?

If I were alone I’d survive till the end. I’m really good at hiding because I’m so tiny and but I’ve got good fight in me if pushed against a wall and won’t hesitate to use anything to defend myself.

If I were with my kids I’d probably last a week.

Nine Perfect Strangers is out on Hulu now.