Fiona is … She’s a lot of fun.
She’s unpredictable, definitely a lot of passion and fire, and impulsive.
Were there any aspects to the character that you related to while you were playing her?
I think her passion, her impulsiveness, her unpredictability.
So, I really related to that with Fiona’s spirit, I think.
So that was something.
Do you think there are any moments in the show that’ll surprise viewers with her character development?
Well, she definitely likes punching people, so that’s an element of surprise in itself.
I think you’ll see just her journey in achieving that for her family and for her children.
Elodie Yung is an incredible actress, as everybody knows.
But not only that, she’s funny.
She’s so much fun off set as well.
And that’s the thing.
We have amazing chemistry, which translates because we’ve also all become very close.
I think that camaraderie translates through on screen because we are like that off screen as well.
We definitely tease each other sometimes.
Do you have any favorite moments from behind the scenes working on it?
And even off set, we have our Thony and Fiona moments with driving.
She’s French, and she comes from France.
And I drive on the lefthand side of the road.
And they just said, “Okay, here’s a car that we’ve rented for you.”
And I was like, “What?”
So that was the first time that I’d driven in 10 years.
And thank goodness I made it to set each day.
But those funny moments [are] when we’re actually doing those car scenes.
And you see us driving, and it’s just kind of pulling to the corner.
That took a lot of time for us, which should have only taken maybe one or two takes.
But our driving skills are definitely one to improve.
Just [practicing] it on camera sounds a little high-pressure.
But at the same time, it’s making your mark as well.
It’s not just you as a person; you’re bringing this car to it.
Were you excited to bring that kind of story to the screen for people?
Because I think first and foremost, she’s a mother.
And I think that is what I really wanted to focus on.
So any kind of carelessness can cost her life and her family’s.
And I think that’s what really attracted me to Fiona’s character.
Because you see her as light and bubbly sometimes, but then she’s really dealing with everyday issues.
And layering all that was quite a beautiful journey for me as an actor to experience.
So that was challenging.
Was it difficult to blend that?
Was it hard to blend that and make it come alive?
I mean, for me, I wanted to also focus on being Filipino.
If something really bad is happening, it’s just like, let’s eat.
And I think that’s part of our culture.
What it was like providing Southeast Asian representation
That’s amazing.
And then this is also Fox’s first show where they’ve had Southeast Asian leads.
How do you feel being able to provide that representation?
And then to center the family on the Filipino culture is also a first.
But it’s not just that.
There are so many other cultures that are represented throughout the show.
And I think representation is the key here.
But yeah, I’m completely grateful to her for allowing that.
And this is something that’s just been groundbreaking.
So I think it says a lot about what people are looking for out there.
And it’s exciting.
But I was able to look at Twitter and Instagram.
And I’m not a big social media person, so I just checked it.
You just kept like … you just saw the numbers climbing.
But the one thing that was wonderful was that each comment was so positive.
And it’s wonderful that it’s actually … [the] evidence of it is in the numbers.
So it’s exciting.
And I think that that’s quite … … And I always do this.
There’s explosions and drama, and yes.
So it’s a great dynamic.
It’s just really a great, positive response.
So yeah, again, it’s all exciting.
I have to find another word in my thesaurus and get more words.
What was it like working with Danny Glover on that project?
I was excited because I’m easily …
I thought I wasn’t easily starstruck, but I do get that.
So it brought me back.
And then to work with him was wonderful.
So that was a really great experience for me.
I kind of wanted to say his token, “I’m too old for this beep.”
But I didn’t want to be one of those.
And that’s another project that kind of has this deeper element to it.
Is that important to you what messages you’re sharing through the work that you do?
I think it’s funny because someone asked me why do I choose these roles?
And first of all, to be honest, I just want to work most of the time.
I think these are things that we have to allow ourselves to acknowledge.
But then, I’m just incredibly lucky that my next job is always just a really meaningful project.
So I’m extremely grateful.
Why Martha Millan started an online youth drama program
Absolutely.
How did you first get into teaching?
I’ve always been teaching.
I don’t have any, but I’m a kid at heart.
I think that’s why.
There was nothing for me to do during COVID, and I was teaching programs in Brooklyn.
And I thought, “What better way to do it than online?”
I was put in my place, I’ll put it that way.
I mean, kids are amazing to work with because there’s no filter.
There’s a game that we would do.
It’s called repetition.
And this kid started doing repetition with me.
And I said, “Just say something that you observe.”
They’re like, “You’re old.”
I’m like, “I’m old.”
But I love that.
But yeah, it was just like, I was like, “Okay, I’m old.”
And it was constant repetition, but it was hilarious.
Like those moments I love.
That’s so funny.
Most of my programs are three weeks.
And then you see them just really trusting their instincts.
So that really builds confidence in their process.
And I love what happens in the third week.
They’ve got this newfound confidence that they can express themselves.
And that’s kind of what I teach in a fun way.
Because it’s just, everything’s always about fun for me.
