Despite being one of the most successful Filipino actors in Hollywood, Manny Jacinto never intended to become an actor.
Though Manny Jacinto is now one of the most successful Filipino actors in Hollywood, he did not plan to pursuing acting.
During his guesting on Fast Talk with Boy Abunda on August 8, King of Talk Boy Abunda asked if Manny always wanted to become an actor, to which he responded with a surprising “No, not really.”
Manny explained, “It was my family, you know, they’re mainly in education, and I was really the first one in the arts, so I had a lot of weird looks from some titos and titas and all my lolos and lolas.”
Despite the weird looks he got from them, they always supported him and let him be free to take up dancing and the arts, until he finally fell in love with it.
Manny also shared that he took up classes and auditioned “for anything and everything,” whether it’s for plays, films, or TV shows.
Manny starred in some blockbuster films and acted with some of the most renowned Hollywood stars, including Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. The Filipino actor even shared a story about his Top Gun Maverick co-star that impacted his life.
“I think when my mom was pregnant with me, she was in the hospital and she was watching Tom Cruise, and I think, in her head, she was telling me, ‘I would hope that one day, maybe, Manny could be like Tom Cruise,'” Manny said.
The veteran host clarified if it meant that Manny’s mom wanted him to be an actor, to which he responded: “Maybe at the back of her head, but I remember her telling me that when I told her I booked Top Gun.”
Manny admitted, though, that it was not easy getting into Hollywood and shared how he had to face a lot of rejections. Despite this, the Filipino actor continued to audition and face being rejected multiple times.
When asked where the courage and tenacity came from, Manny said, “Well, my mom would always say, ‘Ang tigas ng ulo naman ng batang ‘to,’ and I think it’s just the stubbornness in me. I think it’s a part of that, but also again, work ethic, and also, the support from my parents.”
Watch the interview of Manny here:
TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THE PHOTOS OF MANNY AS HE VISIT THE PHILIPPINES TO PROMOTE HIS NEW FILM, FREAKIER FRIDAY IN THIS GALLERY:
