Kris Aquino undoubtedly thrust her home country, the Philippines, into the spotlight when she starred in the hit 2018 rom-com Crazy Rich Asians.
Now, she's decided to share the audition tape that clinched her the role.
"We held back on releasing the actual audition material that was sent to the Hollywood casters of Crazy Rich Asians," she writes on her Facebook page, where she shared the video on Wednesday. It's been nearly eight months since the film premiered in the UAE.
So, why now? "Because the time is right," she adds. "I am OK, in fact, comfortable sharing with you a special moment in life."
Watch the full video here:
Aquino played Princess Intan in the film, which was based on the bestselling book of the same name, written by Kevin Kwan. Other celebrities who starred in the adaptation include Constance Wu, Michelle Yeoh, Henry Golding, Gemma Chan and Sonoya Mizuno.
The story follows New Yorker Rachel Chu to Singapore to meet her boyfriend's family, who hail from the higher echelons of Asian society. Kwan says the story is inspired by his "fortunate" childhood in Singapore.
The film became the highest-grossing rom-com in a decade, as well as the first movie in quarter of a century to star a majority Asian cast.
It was nominated for two Golden Globes – for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy (for Wu) and Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy – as well as for a Screen Actors Guild Award, for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.
It also won a series of awards, including Best Comedy Critics Choice Award at the Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards and a Special Achievement Award at the African-American Film Critics Association.
A sequel has also been announced, based on the second book in Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians series, called China Rich Girlfriend. Producer Nina Jacobson has also teased a third movie, based on Kwan's third book, Rich People Problems.
Aquino has been celebrated at home, arguably becoming one of the biggest names in the Filipino entertainment industry, and rumours emerged early last year about her taking a step into the political sphere next. She soon quashed those, but hinted it wasn't out of the question. "I have no 2019 ambitions," she posted on social media this week. "So please mess with me about politics around February 14 in 2021 – perfect 50th birthday celebration for me."
