Donna Cruz: Icelandic beauty queen and actress is ‘proudly Pinoy’ at heart

Donna Cruz

One memorable weekend early this year, when we sat down to watch some European countries’ official entries to the 93rd edition of the Oscars, we knew we’d find visually and thematically delectable films that don’t always equate substance with schmaltz.

One such cinematic gem is Silja Hauksdóttir’s “Agnes Joy.”

Set in the rustic port town of Akranes, the movie follows the story of a bored mother (Katla M. Þorgeirsdóttir) and her rebellious 19-year-old Philippine-born adopted daughter, Agnes Joy (Donna Cruz, not the Cebu-based singer-actress who popularized the song “Kapag Tumibok ang Puso” in the ’90s), whose lives unravel when a charismatic actor (Björn Hlynur Haraldsson) comes to the suburbs and threatens to turn their deceptively peaceful but uneventful lives upside down.

The film won six of the nine categories—including best film and best actress—it was nominated in at the Eddas, Iceland’s most prestigious film and TV awards, along with a notable best supporting actress nomination for its debuting title-roler.

While “Agnes Joy” was Donna’s first shot at acting, the lovely 27-year-old wasn’t just plucked from obscurity.

In fact, she represented the Nordic island country in the 2017 Miss Asia Pacific quest, when the beauty pageant was held in the Southeast Asian country she lovingly describes on Instagram as “my homeland”: the Philippines.

Yes, dear readers, while Donna, who turned 27 on June 25, was raised in Iceland, she told us in our Zoom chat last week that she was born in the Philippines and hasn’t lost sight of her deeply ingrained Pinoy roots.

“I was born in Cebu,” she proudly disclosed. “My mom Miriam is from Cebu, while my dad Romeo is from Pasig. But it was actually my grandmother Glenda who met and married an Icelandic man, who in turn helped her bring all of her family here [in the capital city of Reykjavik].

“I migrated to Iceland when I was 4. But since I was 10 years old, I’ve been going back and forth to the Philippines almost yearly or every two years.”

In “Agnes Joy”

Asked how she manages to shuttle from joining beauty pageants and pursuing acting, to her “corporate” job as marketing manager at Arena Gaming, where we conducted this virtual interview at Donna’s office during her 4 p.m. work break (when it was midnight in Manila), Donna said with a laugh, “I also don’t know! You just take one project at a time, then things just happen. But maybe that’s my problem—I don’t know how to slow down, relax or take it easy (laughs).”

Excerpts from our chat with Donna (@donnacruzis on Instagram):

You’re 27, but you’re very convincing as an impetuous 19-year-old in “Agnes Joy.” How did you end up winning the lead role in the movie?

It was actually funny because I started my social media career in Iceland by competing in Miss Iceland, and then I won Miss People’s Choice. I went a little bit into acting and built up my social media platform, especially on Instagram and Snapchat, where a [talent] scout found me and asked me to audition for a part in this movie.

At first, I didn’t know it was for such a big role—I thought it was to be an extra (laughs). But I got the role, and I just had fun with it.

I’ve always wanted to be an actress, but Iceland is such a small place. I really didn’t think that I had a place to be an actress in it. But then, this role kind of fell on my lap. Maybe I’ll continue acting but, hey, I’m open to everything!

How did you find yourself going the beauty-pageant route? I thought it was a bold move for you because, while you’re stunning, as many Pinays are, you’re not the “conventional” Icelandic type that we often see in these competitions.

It was a random thing (laughs). A friend of mine wanted to join and asked me to join with her. But I’ve always been kind of a tomboy, so I was like, “Ah, I don’t know if this is something for me.” But then I joined, and it was just a lot of fun. I was the representative of Iceland in the 2017 Miss Asia Pacific International.

Donna representing Iceland in the 2017 Miss Asia Pacific Int’l beauty pageant

And you came to Manila to compete for the title, right? What are your fond memories with beauty queens from other countries?

Yes, I did (laughs). Meeting other girls from all over the world made it special. I’m still very close to Miss New Zealand, who made it to the pageant’s Top 5. It’s something that I really hold dear [in my heart].

Would you be willing to work in Manila?

Yeah, I’m open to everything. I used to watch Filipino movies and TV series with my mom. I’m a big fan of Kim Chiu. When I was younger, I watched “My Girl” [starring Kim, Gerald Anderson and Enchong Dee], “Lobo” [with Angel Locsin and Piolo Pascual], and the drama anthology “Maalaala Mo Kaya.”

And if you give me a couple of hours to learn lines, puwede akong magsalita ng Tagalog (laughs)!

How did the role of Agnes Joy, a teenager who’s bored out of her wits, resonate with you?

Agnes goes through a lot of things that I went through when I was her age, like the rebellion. She was finding herself and trying to overcome her problems with her overbearing mother. So that was also something that was an issue with me and my mom (laughs).

Filipino moms love to have opinions (laughs)! But I think this is something anybody can relate to—the struggles you have with your parents when you’re growing up and growing apart, from being their tiny baby into this full-grown adult. There’s always that stage where you clash.

It was definitely that way with me and my mom. But yeah, at the end of all that [strife], it always turns out OK. My mom and I are like best friends today, especially since I moved out.

What’s Filipino about you?

I’m loud. I have a little bit of a temper, and while I’m not really a good singer, I do love to sing. And I love lumpia and pansit (laughs)!

What do you miss about the Philippines after every visit?

It’s the warmth—and I’m not just talking about the weather. As soon as you walk through those gates at the airport, you see everyone smiling! Everybody is super warm and welcoming.

I’m not saying that Iceland isn’t the same, because it is. But it’s just different there. Like, every single time I go back to the Philippines, it really does feel like home!