“No, it’s my real family name,” she says. “My dad is an American. My parents are missionaries who were assigned in Butuan City when I was only 2 years old. That’s where I grew up. I’m the eldest of five kids, three girls and two boys. When I got to college, I moved to Manila and took up theatre arts at the Ateneo. I’ve been living here on my own since I was 16. I auditioned sa ‘The Sound of Music’ at Resorts World, I was hired to play Liezl, and I never got to finish my college course. I said I’ll only go back to Ateneo if I could already finance my own studies as I no longer want to rely on my parents for financial support and be a burden to them.”
Born on Sept. 26, 1990, she doesn’t mind trying the movies or TV. “But I don’t know anyone there and I know it’s so hard to get in as it’s so competitive dahil maraming maganda at magaling. If the Lord would will it, di sige, but I don’t want to push it myself. I don’t even have a manager.”
Right now, she’s part of the ensemble in “Rock of Ages” that opens tonight at the RCBC Plaza Makati. But for her next assignment, she’ll be playing the title role no less, the musical version of “Carrie”, which is also being remade in Hollywood now. “I’m so excited kasi it’s my first lead role. Menchu Lauchengco Yulo will play my mother, with Marki Stroem and Mako Alonzo as my leading men.”
Did she audition for the role? “Direk Chari Arrespacochaga just gave me the material and asked me to sing the songs. Obviously, they were pleased as I was told later that I’d be playing ‘Carrie’.”
