Fil-Am sitcom actress back for ‘Flipzoids’

THE LA-BASED singer-actress says she’d like to see more people who look like her in different roles

Hollywood has long been criticized for not featuring enough minority actors in key roles on television and in film. But while that’s slowly starting to change, Filipino-American actress Ellen D. Williams—who portrayed the recurring character Patrice in the popular sitcom “How I Met Your Mother”—believes things could still improve.

“People you see on TV are mostly white … I would like to see more people who look like me being represented,” Ellen said when asked by the Inquirer about casting diversity in a recent interview.

The Los Angeles-based singer-actress pointed out that the mounting of “diversity showcases” by networks every year in Hollywood and in New York has been beneficial to her and other actors.

Future talents

“Actors of different races and cultural backgrounds—Latinos, Indians, Asians, etc.—go up onstage to perform. Managers, agents and execs from major TV networks attend these events to scout for future talents,” explained Ellen, whose participation in ABC’s diversity showcase in 2008 helped her land a role in “How I Met Your Mother.”

“Back in 2011, Kourtney Kang, the writer who created Patrice, was looking for a funny Filipino who isn’t well-known yet. The show’s casting director remembered me from the 2008 showcase, and so I went in and auditioned,” Ellen said, adding that the stint opened doors for her.

Ellen was supposed to be in only one episode, but she ended up appearing in 12. “My character had this hilarious love-hate relationship with Robin (Cobie Smulders) … and I get yelled at in each episode!”

However, Ellen observed that roles for minority actors, Filipinos in particular, are still rather limited. “I find it limiting that we’re usually made to play nurses or housekeepers,” she said. “The great thing about Patrice is that she’s not stereotypical; she’s simply a coworker who happens to be Filipino.”

But improving casting diversity in Hollywood, Ellen stressed, rests on her and other minority actors’ shoulders. “I always say that if you don’t see yourself on TV or anywhere, write about it—tell it,” Ellen said. “It’s really up to me and the others to make it happen.”

Ellen, who earned her degree in theater arts at California State University, is currently in the Philippines for the Manila staging of Ralph B. Peña’s “Flipzoids,” which likewise stars US-based Filipinos Becca Godinez and Maxwel Corpuz.

“It’s not just a story about Filipinos; it’s about every immigrant’s experiences and desire to belong,” Ellen said.

Filipino heritage

Born and raised in the United States by a Leyteño mother and a Caucasian father, Ellen said the story resonated deeply with her. “Growing up, I didn’t think that I’m half-Pinoy and half-Caucasian … I didn’t really connect much to my Filipino heritage,” said Ellen, who last visited the Philippines when she was 8 years old.

“It wasn’t until I was in high school that I started to become a lot more aware of my culture and background. Filipinos are great artists—whether as singers, dancers or actors. I’ve been proud of that part of me ever since,” Ellen said.

Being in the country again has been unforgettable, Ellen said while turning emotional. “I was also in Cebu … I thanked my mom for this experience because this means a lot to me.”

“Flipzoids” goes onstage today until July 19 at the Music Museum; for tickets call 8919999, 7210635 and 7216726.

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