From small cameos to major characters, here are some Pinoys you might have missed in your favorite Netflix series and movies.
Related: 11 Filipino Stars Who’ve Appeared In Hollywood Productions
You know that GIF of Leonardo DiCaprio pointing at the TV screen? Yeah, that one. That’s how we react whenever we spot a Filipino actor or character in a Netflix movie or show. Over the years, the streaming and content company has made strides to champion local talent and stories, such as in Trese and Replacing Chef Chico. Netflix Philippines, in particular, has a great track record of imagining Filipino celebrities, pop icons, and culture in global Netflix projects with their marketing campaigns.
But when it comes to quite a few international productions, there’s no imagining here as quite a few movies and series have featured Filipino talent and characters, either in background roles or major players. They make for small but helpful steps towards better representation of Filipinos on the global scene. Scroll down for the Pinoy Netflix moments you may have missed.
MARTHA MILAN IN THE GENTLEMEN
@netflixph Aba, si mareng Mercy pala ito… #thegentlemen #theojames #guyritchie #netflix #netflixseries #fyp ♬ original sound – Netflix Philippines
This Guy Ritchie crime drama series is, in typical Guy Ritchie fashion, filled with eccentric characters. And one of those is Filipino gangster Mercy, played by Filipino-Australian actress Martha Milan. No spoilers here, but let’s just say Mercy leaves a memorable mark on the show. If that wasn’t enough, the series also includes Filipino rapper Zae’s Baddest MF in its OST.
JAMES BRADWELL AND MARTIN SARREAL IN BRIDGERTON SEASON 3
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Bridgerton, despite its setting, is known for its diverse cast of characters. So, it was only a matter of time before we got some Filipino representation on the hit show. And that moment came in the form of two Filipino Lords in season 3 of the series. The first is Lord Basilio, played by James Bradwell. The actor shared that when he first auditioned for the role, it was for a character with East Asia heritage, but he had it changed to reflect his Filipino roots. Also in season three, we meet another member of Filipino nobility named Lord Barnell, played by Martin Sarreal.
HUNTER ROMANILLOS IN STRANGER THINGS SEASON 4
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Despite being a small town, Hawkins, Indiana sure has a diverse population. In the fourth season of the popular series, we are introduced to bully athlete Jason Carver, and among his teammates is Chance, played by Fil-Am actor Hunter Romanillos. Fun fact, aside from Stranger Things, the actor also appeared in another major franchise, the MCU, where he had an uncredited role as a high school student in Spider-Man: Homecoming.
CHRISTIAN LAGAHIT IN SPACE SWEEPERS AND SQUID GAME
While many Filipinos dream of one day being in a K-drama, Christian Lagahit is living it with his bit roles in K-dramas over the years. And some of his projects include major Netflix productions. He played the role of a restaurant clerk who speaks Tagalog to Song Joong-ji’s character in the sci-fi film Space Sweepers. But most remember him as Player 276 in the pop culture behemoth Squid Game. With no speaking lines, Player 276 is assumed to be Filipino, but lore-wise, he’s actually an illegal immigrant from Pakistan who hopes to pay off his debt at home by participating in the games.
NOREEN JOYCE GUERRERA IN ALL OF US ARE DEAD
Real K-drama fans know who Noreen Joyce Guerrera is. Name a high-profile K-drama, and chances are this Filipina actress has been in it. Her extensive resume of background characters includes Netflix’s hit Korean zombie series All Of Us Are Dead. In episode one, she plays a student at Hyosan High who holds her backpack in front of her. Very Pinoy behavior if we do say so ourselves. While she is only featured in background shots and has no speaking lines, we hope she made it out safe during the outbreak.
MARK PAGUIO IN SPIDERHEAD
2022’s Spiderhead featured a pretty stacked cast that included Chris Hemsworth and Miles Teller. But you might have missed another key player in the form of Mark Verlaine, Steve Abnesti’s righthand man, played by Filipino actor Mark Paguio.
REGGIE LEE, KATRINA ROSITA, AND JEFF FRANCISCO IN THE LINCOLN LAWYER
Filipino fans of the Netflix drama series The Lincoln Lawyer were in for a treat for season one as one of the show’s recurring plotlines revolved around Angelo Soto, an intimidating and wealthy businessman who faced an investigation by the District Attorney’s office for alleged human trafficking. That character was brought to life by Filipino-American actor Reggie Lee, who shared in an interview his delight at getting to speak Tagalog in the series. Joining Lee in the season were Filipino actors Katrina Rosita, who played Tanya Cruz, Soto’s girlfriend, and Jeff Francisco, who played Alvin Aquino, a parolee affiliated with Soto.
GLORIA DIAZ IN INSATIABLE
As one of the most pageant-obsessed countries in the world, it was only right for Netflix to cast a Filipina to play a pageant veteran. And who did they get? Only former Miss Universe Gloria Diaz, who was tapped to play Gloria Reyes, a former beauty queen turned pageant coach, in the second season of the dark comedy series Insatiable.
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