How Ruby Ruiz got to pick her costars for next international project

Ruby Ruiz–RUBY RUIZ/ INSTAGRAM

Actress Ruby Ruiz helped pick the Filipino cast members of the next international project that she will be working on, Inquirer Entertainment learned.

The film, with Filipino-Australian filmmaker James Robinson at the helm, will be shot in the Philippines and features a cast that’s “90-percent Filipino,” Ruiz said. The project will be the first collaboration between the Australian Film Commission and the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

“I made a list of names of really good Filipino actors. I told the production team, ‘They are the people I think you should work with.’ Soliman Cruz is already part of the movie—I thought of him first since we’re sort of love team partners,” Ruby said, laughing. “I’m not sure of the other cast members. There are so many good Filipino actors.”

Visayan actress Chai Fonacier, who was last seen in the film “Nocebo,” is reported to be part of the cast, as well.

According to Ruiz, the film is the first project of Robinson, who is also a photographer and is based in Los Angeles, California. “He asked help from (Chinese-born American filmmaker) Lulu Wang, who then recommended me,” Ruiz explained.

Wang is the director of the Prime Video series “Expats,” which stars Nicole Kidman and also features Ruiz.

Overcoming insecurities

“I love Lulu. She’s an angel. I admire her because she is good at what she does. Not everyone knows that I feel very insecure as an actor. I guess I’m just good at hiding it. But Lulu was able to somehow unlock my heart, to bring out the best in me. I will never forget when, during my first shooting day, she clapped for me. The scene was just a simple one, but fortunately, I was already able to observe her while she was directing Nicole, who I’ve come to realize is great at what she does. Acting for Nicole is as natural as breathing. That’s what I observed and so my acting became more natural,” Ruiz recalled.

Ruiz admitted she has yet to sign up with a casting agent in the United States. “Everybody, including me, is waiting for the official release of ‘Expats’ globally. Although Lulu and Nicole said they would help me with this,” she said.

Ruiz attended the premiere of “Expats” in New York recently. Wang chose to screen Episode 5, which showcases Ruiz’s acting chops and shines a spotlight on the life and struggles of the Filipino overseas workers living in Hong Kong.

In the series, trained architect Margaret (Kidman) has given up her career when her husband is assigned to work in Hong Kong. She is haunted by the disappearance of her youngest boy and exists in a fog while she searches for any clue that her child is alive. In a very emotional scene in Episode 5, Margaret confesses that she is jealous of the attention her kids are giving their Filipino nanny, Essie (Ruiz).

Achieving authenticity

“Part of her struggle is, ‘How much is my worth as a mother to my children?’ She opened up to Essie. The episode attempts to bridge the social gap between the elite and people like the domestic helpers,” Ruiz explained, adding that the scene drew applause from the audience.

“Nicole is the kind of actor who gives different takes of one particular scene during rehearsals. I’m guessing that this is to observe if you are able to react accordingly and don’t just base everything on the script,” Ruiz observed. “I’m grateful to Nicole. That scene was hers, but she made me feel like it was ours. Just like in singing a song, I’m meant to be her back-up singer, but she gave me my moment, too. I embraced my character and simply reacted to what Nicole gave me. It’s like listening to my employer expose her true feelings was just too much for me, as Essie. I broke down.”

For Ruiz, an excellent execution of the role of Essie is when the audience no longer notices “Ruby the actor.” She explained: “You should see nothing but Essie. I would have notes to myself while working. Also, instead of exploring Hong Kong during my days off, I studied the lives of our kababayans there. I spent time with them. I ate with them. I realized that my initial interpretation of Essie is far different from who they really are. I had to immerse myself to be more authentic.” INQ