Lea Salonga receives dual honors: Her own Walk of Fame star and an award as an Icon

Lea Salonga is the first Filipino artist to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

History was made on Hollywood Boulevard, and it’s the kind of Asian American joy we desperately need right now.

On September 4, 2026, theater icon Lea Salonga became the very first Filipina to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. For a community that has spent decades fighting for visibility and representation on the stage and screen, seeing Salonga get her flowers in front of the historic Pantages Theatre was nothing short of monumental.

Salonga’s star, the 2,855th in the Walk's history, cemented her legacy in the Live Performance category. A massive crowd of fans and fellow AAPI trailblazers—including Ming-Na Wen, H.E.R., and Brandy — showed up to celebrate the milestone for their co-star in Mulan, Forgotten Island and Aladdin, respective.

Disney and Broadway Royalty

Fellow FilAm star Darren Criss stole the show during the speeches, proudly wearing a traditional barong Tagalog. Criss didn't hold back his admiration, praising Salonga as "Disney, Broadway, and Filipino royalty" and as an inspiration for him as well for other Asian American performing artists.

He highlighted her fierce work ethic and dedication to her craft before bringing down the house with a joke, noting that this historic sidewalk tribute is likely the only time anyone will ever get to "walk all over her."

Sharing the Sidewalk

Taking the microphone, a reflective Salonga looked back on her legendary 45-year career. She reminded everyone that while only one name is etched into the stone, her historic win belongs to the entire community. 

“There’s something funny about a star like this because there’s only room for one name: mine. But no career is ever the work of just one person. So if they made this star big enough, there would be a lot of other names on it,” she said.

Salonga shared that she never started out with a grand plan — just a pure love for performing. Ultimately, she hopes this star serves as a visible beacon of what is possible for the next generation of young Filipino and Asian American artists trying to make it in Hollywood.

“I hope that someday, a young Filipino kid comes to Hollywood, sees my name, and thinks, ‘Oh, maybe I can get here too.’”

On Sept. 6, Salonga received yet another honor. 

The Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) honored Broadway and Disney legend Lea Salonga with its inaugural Icon Award during the festival's Closing Night Awards Gala at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. celebrating her career, global artisitc impact and as an ambassador of Filipino excellence..

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No 'maybe' about it, there is a happy ending in 'Maybe Happy EndinCg' casting debate

Darren Criss and Claire Kwon's time in Maybe Happy Ending' is coming to an end.

It looks like the powers that be on Broadway finally got the memo: representation isn’t just a "nice-to-have" in 2026—it’s the whole point, especially when your story is literally rooted in the heart of Seoul.

The dust is finally settling on the casting controversy that rocked the Belasco Theatre. After a massive public outcry from the Asian American community and heavy hitters like BD Wong and Constance Wu, Filipino American star Darren Criss is back to finish what he started in Maybe Happy Ending. 

For those of you just tuning in, the drama began when producers originally tried to swap out Criss for a white actor—a move that felt like a major step backward for a show that had been a rare beacon of AAPI visibility.

But the big news now is who’s picking up the torch when Criss hangs up his "Oliver" helper-bot gear for the final time on May 17.

The Next Helper-Bot: Zachary Noah Piser

Taking over the lead role on May 19 is none other than Zachary Noah Piser. If that name sounds familiar, it should. Piser is a trailblazer in his own right, famously becoming the first Asian American actor to play the title role in Dear Evan Hansen full-time.

Piser taking over the role is a crucial choice for this moment.

Taking over the roles of Asian robots in 'Maybe Happy Ending' are
Zachary Noah Piser and Hannah Kevitt.

Piser, who identifies as "Jasian" (Jewish and Chinese American), brings a deep understanding of the intersectional Asian experience to the stage.

After the "whitewashing" controversy that sparked open letters and 2,400+ signatures, Piser’s casting feels like a commitment to the show's original promise of AAPI representation.

Piser isn't just a "diversity hire"—he’s a powerhouse. From his recent turn in Redwood opposite Idina Menzel to his work in KPOP, he’s shown he has the chops to lead a Tony-winning production.

Joining him in the new lineup is Chinese American Hannah Kevitt, who moves from standby to full-time lead as Claire on the same day taking over the role from Claire Kwon.

The "Maybe" in Maybe Happy Ending used to refer to the robots' love story. Lately, it felt like it referred to whether Broadway could keep its promises to Asian American performers. With Piser and Kevitt stepping in for Criss and Kwon, it looks like we might be back on the right track.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.

No "happy ending" in sight for Broadway's casting controversy replacing Darren Criss in musical

Helen Shen and Darren Criss star as robots in 'Maybe Happy Ending.'

A casting change in a Broadway musical opened up a debate about representation of Asian Americans and the lack of opportunities for them.  

The decision by Maybe Happy Ending producers to replace Tony winner Darren Criss, a Filipino American, with Andrew Barth Feldman, who is white, has drawn justifiable backlash.

The musical set in Seoul, South Korea, was noteworthy for its majority-Asian cast, still a rarity in a field dominated by White artists. Criss made history in June when he became the first Asian American actor to win Best Lead Actor in a Musical at the Tony Awards.

BD Wong, best known for his roles in the Jurassic Park franchise and the TV series Law and Order SVU and also a previous Tony winner, wrote an essay expressing his disappointment and frustration regarding the casting change in the Broadway musical "Maybe Happy Ending". He posted the essay on Facebook, and stated that he would be submitting it to The New York Times. The essay garnered over 1,300 signatures from individuals who felt similarly frustrated by the situation.

In the essay, Wong highlighted the feelings of betrayal among some Asian American actors and the broader Asian American community due to the casting decision, emphasizing the long history of exclusion faced by this group in the entertainment industry. He emphasized that this casting change felt like a step backward, despite the show's initial celebration of Asian representation.

He acknowledged that casting decisions are not made lightly, but argued that this particular "pivot" unfortunately undermines the validation and celebration that "Maybe Happy Ending" previously offered to the Asian community.

The casting of a white actor in a role initially performed by an Asian American performer was a significant step backward for representation and equity in the theater, Wong wrote.

He said that the decision sends a negative signal about the commitment to showcase Asian talent even when a show has celebrated cultural specificity and achieved historic success with Asian representation. Wong stressed the importance of having an Asian person play the role, arguing that doing so would be part of the solution to a persistent problem of underrepresentation in the industry.

In response to the controversy, other figures in the theater community, the Asian American Performers Action Coalition issued a statement decrying the show's producers' casting decision:

"While our community celebrates a historical number of Tony nominations and awards for AANHPI theatre artists this season, it is also a time when our histories are being rampantly erased, censored, and banned, and our stories colonized. This is a time when we need more intentionality, not less. We are acutely aware of how much representation matters, as does intent vs. impact, and we implore the producers and creative team of Maybe Happy Ending to consider the damaging ramifications of their actions, no matter their intent." 

Conrad Ricamora, who himself was nominated for a Tony for his role as Abraham Lincold in Oh, Mary, have also spoken out against the casting change and initiated actions, such as establishing a scholarship fund  called "Right To Be There" for Asian American men pursuing acting degrees.

"I've been carrying a lot of grief lately. Grief from being told—implicitly and explicitly—that I don't belong. Grief from seeing others like me, Asian American men, pushed to the margins of the stage, or off it entirely. And grief from knowing that these patterns are old. Older than me. Older than this moment.

"Progress in our industry can be real and inspiring—but it's often fragile. Even after decades of work and some recent wins, Asian American men still face enormous barriers in the world of acting—especially in roles that are complex, leading, and human. And especially on stage," said Ricamora.

"I've decided to channel that grief into something generative. I'm launching a scholarship fund for Asian American male actors pursuing BFA or MFA acting degrees—to help plant seeds of hope for the next generation.

        FYI: Donate to the "Right To Be There" scholarship.

Maybe Happy Ending is musical set in South Korea about two helper robots who discover love and grapple with themes of connection and mortality. It was written by Will Aronson (music and book) and Hue Park (lyrics and book), both of whom met at New York University.

Yesterday (July 31), Aronson and Park used social media to explain their rationale behind their casting decision, saying they wanted their musical to be "comfortably performed by anyone, anywhere—yet distinctly set in Korea."

"At the same time, we understand that for many in the AAPI community, the makeup of our opening night cast became a meaningful and rare point of visibility.," their statement continued. "We’ve heard how strongly people connected to that representation, even if it wasn’t our original intent, and how this casting decision has re-opened old wounds."

"Throughout the American development, we tried various approaches to casting. At some points along the journey, we cast the roles explicitly as Asian, thinking that it might help make the setting more quickly apparent. However, on seeing that, we also were not satisfied. To say that seeing *any* Asian actor on stage 'quickly suggests Korea' seemed not only like a stretch, but regressive, or even offensive to the uniqueness of Korean culture." 

That explains why, the Broadway production with Criss, as well as previous productions Maybe Happy Ending, had always cast Asian actors in those lead roles.

BD Wong

The creative team continued by pointing out that several Asians had opportunities to play non-Asian roles, including RIcamora's role as Abe Lincoln in Oh, Mary.

"Leading roles for Asian performers have long been painfully scarce, and these shows excitingly made gestures toward universality with expansive casting, and rightly gave opportunities to actors from identity categories who previously had few options. With Maybe Happy Ending, we wanted to write a show in which every role could be played by an Asian performer, but without the intention that the robot roles always would be," said Aronson and Park.

The creators' justification that "anyone can play it" was seen as dismissive of the need for diverse casting and a lack of understanding of the historical context, say critics of the casting decision.

"There was a subtle attempt to characterize a non-Asian actor playing this role as an example of 'inclusion.' A 'now, anyone can play it!' spin, because 'anyone' sounds so 'expansive.' responded Wong. 

"This almost mocks the struggle for opportunities of the marginalized! It ignores the statistical dominance of white actors in musical leading roles (MHE was a glorious, rare exception to this). It undermines the effort to discuss yellowface and appropriation. It also seemed unaware of its potentially negative optics. I know nobody takes casting decisions lightly. This 'pivot' unfortunately retracts the validation and celebration that MHE lent the Asian community. This is agonizing to witness and to feel in my heart. Nobody is winning."

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge. Now on BlueSky.

Filipino Americans make history winning top Tony awards for musicals

Nicole Scherzinger gave an emotional speech while accepting her Tony.

Broadway might never see another evening like Sunday's Tony Awards where history was made when three Filipino Americans won Tony awards, Broadway's equivalent to the Oscars.

It was a big night at Radio City Music Hall for Asian American performers but especially for Filipino Amerians. 

Filipino Amercans Darren Criss and Nicole Scherzinger, each won their first-ever Tony Awards for their performances in the musicals Maybe Happy Ending and Sunset B.vd, respectively. Criss won Best Lead Actor in a Musical, while Scherzinger won Best Lead Actress in a Musical. 

Additionally, another Filipino American, Marco Paguia, won Best Orchestrations for Buena Vista Social Club.

Scherzinger, 46, won for her performance of fading Hollywood star Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd., a revival based on the 1950 film noir of the same name by Billy Wilder.

"Growing up I always felt like I didn't belong, but you all have made me feel like I belong, and I have come home at last," she sobbed while accepting the award.

"I'm so honored to be recognized alongside these exceptional warrior women in this category. I want to thank you all so much for making this little Hawaiian/ Ukrainian/ Filipino girl's dream come true. So proud to represent."

        FYI: Record number of Asian American Tony nominees

She also thanked her family, including her mom, stating she 'had me at 18 and gave everything up for me.'

Nicole wrapped up her inspiring speech, sharing, 'If there's anyone out there who feels like they don't belong, or your time hasn't come, don't give up.'

'"ust keep on giving and giving, because the world needs your love and your light now more than ever.'

'This is a testament that love always wins. Thank you so much. God Bess you," concluded Scherzinger, who started her musical journey as a member of the all-women Pussycat Dolls.

Darren Criss is the first Asian American man to win a lead role Tony.

In the Best Leading Actor in a Musical category, Criss beat out Andrew Durand for Dead Outlaw, Tom Francis for Sunset Boulevard, Jonathan Groff for Just in Time, Jeremy Jordan for Floyd Collins, and James Monroe Iglehart for A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical.

In his acceptance his Tony, Criss gave a shout out to his costar. "I share this with one of the best leading actresses is in a Broadway msical the season, Helen J. Shen,' he said. "I am so proud of you and your Broadway debut is for the books. This is where you belong."

Criss and Shen performed a number from their musical after being introduced by Broadway legend Lea Salonga, the first Asian woman to win a Best Actress in a Musical Tony for her role in the original Broadway production of Miss Saigon.

"The real hero for this remarkable journey is my wife, Mia," he continued, "who took a massive swing on allowing me to do this and to allow this crazy upheaval in our life to make this logistically possible, and for bearing the brunt of raising two tiny friends under three so that I could raise a singing robot at the theater eight times a week."

"I have such immense pride to get to be part of this notably diverse exquisite Broadway season this year," Criss told the star-studded audience.

It was a big night for Maybe Happy Ending which wound up with six Tony's including Best Musical and Best Direction for a Musical for director Michael Arden.

The musical's South Korean lyricist Hue Park and American composer Will Aronson took home the Tony for best original score and best book of a musical.

In addition to the Tony for Best Orchestration, Marco Paguia also won a second Tony as a musician for the Buena Vista Social Club. Besides being the show's music direcor and conductor, he is also on stage playing piano.

Another Asian American winning an award Sunday was Francis Jue, a Broaddway veteran who accepted a Tony for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play in Yellowface, a timely revival about representation for Asian Americansin the performing arts written by David Henry Hwang. The play also earned a Tony nomination for lead actor Daniel Dae Kim.

Unknown to most of the audience, another Filipino American, Tatiana Cordoba, sang and danced Sunday in her lead role as Ana Garcia, the Mexican American teenager seeking to break away from a life as a garment worker in the musical Real Women Have Curves.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.

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Nicole Scherzinger, Darren Criss and Daniel Dae Kim lead record number of AANHPI Tony nominees

On the verge of history, from left, Darren Criss, Daniel Dae Kim and Nicole Scherzinger.

This year could be the watershed moment artists of Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander descent have been waiting for with a record number of AANHPI nominated for Tony awards, announced May 1 by Tony Award winners Sarah Paulson and Wendell Pierce.

Filipino Americans Nicole Scherzinger, Darren Criss and Conrad Ricamora were nominated for their roles in their respective musicals. Korean American Daniel Dae Kim became the first Asian American to be nominateed for his lead dramatic role.

If Scherzinger, Criss or Kim win in their categories, it will be the first time an Asian American artist has won a Tony for a lead role in over 30 years. The last time an Asian American won a Tony in a lead role was 1991 when Lea Salonga won for her history-making role in Miss Saigon.

The American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League announced the nominees for the 78th Annual Tony Awards, celebrating excellence in Broadway theatre for the 2024–2025 season. The nominations, revealed by Tony winners Sarah Paulson and Wendell Pierce, reflect both artistic range and growing cultural diversity on the Great White Way.

        FYI: Complete list of 2025 Tony nominees.

Former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger earned a nomination in Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical. Her role as an aging actress in Sunset Blvd. garnered rave reviews and has made her as one of the favorites to win in this category. She has already won an Oliver Award, Great Britain's equivalent to the Tony, for the role in the same category, Scherzinger is a strong contender in this category.

“I have worked many, many years to build up to this moment, and it’s changed my life,” said Scherzinger.

Darren Criss, a past Emmy and Golden Globe winner is a double nominee for his show Maybe Happy Ending. Criss, who got his breakout role in TV's musical drama Glee, got nods for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role and as one of the show's producers, he could possibly win another Tony for Best Musical. 

Maybe Happy Ending, based on a South Korean TV drama,  earned 10 nominations,  including one for Filipino American Clint Ramos for Best Costume Design of a Musical. With so many nominations, some critics were surprised that Helen Shen was overlooked as a lead actress.

Daniel Dae Kim, best known for his television roles in Lost and Hawaii Five-O, has been an outspoken advocate for more AANHPI representation in the performing arts, was nominated for his first Broadway role in David Henry Hwang's revival ofYellow Face, which questions the role of race in media and politics. Kim's nomination for Best Performance By a Leading Actor in a Play was the first for an Asian actor.

Yellow Face also won a nomination in the Best Featured in a Play Actor category for Francis Jue, Kim's costar, who played the main character when the play debuted on Broadway 20 years earlier.

Filipino American actor Conrad Ricamora -- who most people will recognize for his role in the TV drama, Murder She Wrote -- will also compete against Jue in the Best Performance by an Best Featured Actor in a Play category for his portrayal of Abe Lincoln in Oh, Mary!

Middle easter performer,Tala Ashe, who most people know for her role in the soap opera As the World Turns, garnered a nomination in the Best Featured Actress in a Play category for her role in English. She'll be joined by her costar Marjan Neshat in the same category. Playwright Sanaz Toossi became the first Iranian-American to be nominated in this category. 

Surprisingly, Broadway favorite Salonga wasn't nominated for her performance in Old Friends, a revue of Stephen Sondheim songs that also starred fellow veteran stage artist Bernadette Peters. In fact, despite its sentimental star power, Old Friends didn't garner a single nomination.

The 78th Annual Tony Awards will return to the legendary Radio City Music Hall in New York City next month. Hosted by Tony, Emmy, and Grammy Award-winner and three-time Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo, the Tony Awards will broadcas live to both coasts on Sunday, June 8, 2025 (8 – 11 PM ET/5 – 8 PM PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ in the US.*

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Darren Criss pens heartbreaking post about his late brother

INSTAGRAM

Charles Criss, left, and Darren Criss.

Actor Darren Criss, 35, posted on Instagram on Wednesday, Mar. 2, a moving tribute to his 36-year-old brother, who had recently died by suicide. 

The Filipino American actor remembers his "vibrant, special, worldly" older brother, Charles "Chuck" Criss, who he said had been struggling with depression.

"It breaks my heart beyond measure to say that my beloved brother Charles has left us," Criss wrote illustrated with family photos and images of his 36-year old brother. "His loss leaves behind a debilitating fracture in the lives of his mother, his brother, his three small children, and their respective mothers."

"Despite our very vocal concerns about his well-being, and his protestations that everything was fine, it's crushing to say now that Chuck clearly had had a severe depression welling up in him for some time," he posted on social media. "A depression that was only outmatched by his all-too-incredible ability to conceal it. Not just from the world at large, but most tragically, from the people who were closest to him."

"We will never know just how long he was fighting this war within himself," Criss wrote. "But last week, it consumed him fully, and he succumbed by taking his own life."

Criss, who had his breakout role on the television series Glee, encouraged others who feel similarly lost or hopeless to reach out. "Seeking professional counseling and support is a wonderful way to help you see just how abundantly love is available to you," he explained. "There is simply too much love readily available in this world to lose sight of that."

"While it was a lapse in Chuck's mental wellness that took him, it is simply not something that can define who he was," Criss wrote of his brother. "All of the wonderful, inspiring, positive things about his life far outshine the circumstances by which it came to an end."

"He was a good man with a good heart who contributed enormous amounts of laughter, music, and joy to the world," said Criss. "And for the ones who were lucky enough to take part in those wonderful moments, it's marvelous to know that those memories are plentiful, everlasting, and can never be taken away."

"I loved my brother so much. And I know he loved me. Right out of the womb, he was my instant, ready-made best friend. And from that moment on, we absolutely loved bring together. Charles & Darren were an inseparable, dynamic duo," wrote Criss.  We shared nearly everything and looked out for each other. He was my confidant and companion as we discovered the world together." The brothers grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. 

Criss encouraged others who feel similarly lost or hopeless to reach out. "Seeking professional counseling and support is a wonderful way to help you see just how abundantly love is available to you," he explained. "There is simply too much love readily available in this world to lose sight of that."

Catching Up: National AAPIs for Biden features Kamala Harris, Steve Aoki, Daniel Dae Kim, Darren Criss and Judy Chu

In case you missed this Wednesday (Aug. 26), DIYATTVUSA sponsored a livestream of the launch of the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for Biden National AAPIs Assemble Program.

The program featured some AAPI luminaries, including Democrat Vice President nominee Kamala Harris, entrepreneur Steve Aoki, actors Daniel Dae Ki and Darren Criss and Rep. Judy Chu urging AAPI voters to do their civic duty and vote.

The event is one of several that the Democratic Party is using to target specific ethnic groups and showcasing the diversity within the Democratic Party.

EDITOR'S NOTE: A word of caution, this is news sprinkled with opinion. Readers are encouraged to seek multiple news sources to formulate their own positions.

Asian American cast members post emotional tributes to 'Glee' costar Naya Rivera

NAYA RIVERA

The body of actress Naya Rivera was found, apparently a drowning victim, at Lake Piru in Southern California.

Rivera, 33, who starred in the TV series Glee as the character Santana Lopez, was at the lake with her 4-year old son.

Apparently, Rivera used the last of her strength to save her 4-year-old son before she died, Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub said Monday.

"She mustered enough energy to get her son back onto the boat, but not enough to save herself," Ayub said at a news conference.

Rivera and her son rented a pontoon boat at Lake Piru Wednesday. The child told rescuers he and his mother had gone into the water to swim, but she did not get back on the boat. He told investigators he then looked back and saw her disappear under the surface of the water, Ayub said.

Asian American members of the show's diverse cast -- Darren Criss, Harry Shum Jr and Jenna Oskowitz --  took to social media to mourn their costar, sharing their condolences to Rivera's family.

Criss, who won an Emmy for his portrayal of The Assassination of Gianni Versace, played the gay character Blaine Anderson in the musical dramady Glee, which debuted in 2013 and ran for six seasons. 

Shum, one of Glee's original cast members, played Mike Chang. He posted his moving tribute in a form of letter to Rivera on Instagram. 

Jenny Uskowitz played Tina Chang on Glee, Together with Shum, the two actors were the rare representation of Asian American teenagers on U.S. television.

Darren Criss writes about his love for his late father

Darren Criss, center, with his parents.

The father of actor Darren Criss passed away last Sunday. The  award-winning actor announced the death of his father, Charles William "Bill" Criss, on his Instagram account the following day, showing pictures of his family. In a moving tribute to his late father, he wrote:

"Bill Criss has left the building. After many years of coping with a rare heart condition - which, true to his form, very few would have even been aware of - he finally checked out peacefully yesterday morning, surrounded by his loved ones.

"Dad lived an extraordinary life. Anyone who ever met Bill Criss adored him instantly. He could talk to anyone about anything. Well-read and well-traveled, he made the world a better place wherever he went. (sic)"

The actor, 33, praised his dad for being an "outstanding father" and a "true gentleman through and through".

Darren added: "He was as deliriously charming as he was relentlessly selfless; always putting other people first, making anybody who ever got into a conversation with him genuinely feel like they were the most incredible person in the room.

"And although he would have been the first to gracefully protest it, the simple truth is that he was in fact, every inch the exemplary man: a devoted husband, an outstanding father, a loving grandparent.

"He lived his days the same way he loved his friends and family - with an unwavering sense of composure, compassion, generosity, and humility.

"He was a true gentleman through and through, and was a constant source of joy and inspiration for me.

"I've spent most of my life trying to be like him, wanting to see and do all the incredible things he did — and I'm so grateful he was around to see me actually pull a few off," Criss wrote. "He was there for the greatest moments of my life, which of course, he always dressed up for. His kind blue eyes, big laugh, and infamous warm smile could not have been a better representation of who he was to his core."

"I cherished him every day, and will forever."

Darren Criss' latest project, Hollywood, is now streaming on Netflix. In the 7-part reimagining of Hollywood's Golden Age after WWII, Criss plays to type, a Filipino American of mixed heritage.

In 2018, Darren Criss won a Golden Globe and an Emmy for his chilling portrayal of killer Andrew Cunanan, another Filipino American real-life character, in the American Crime Story dramatic series, The Assassination of Gianni Versace."

Charles William Criss Jr. leaves behind his wife Cerina Bru, his sons Darren and Chuck Criss, and his grandchildren.

TGIF Feature: 'Hollywood' with Darren Criss available for streaming on Netflix

Darren Criss will play a Filipino American in Netflix's 'Hollywood.'

Finally, it's May 1 and AAPIs will get a chance to view the much anticipated Hollywood, starring Darren Criss, who plays an aspiring Filipino American director during Tinseltown's so-called Golden Age, right after WWII.

The sprawling 7-part drama is an alternate history of that era, mixing fictional characters with real-life figures of that period. Certainly, the depiction of the movie industry fully accepting People of Color and LGBTQ in this day and age would be labeled a fantasy, much less, in 1940s Hollywood.

"It is sort of a Hollywood-ization of Hollywood itself, or the Ryan Murphy version of that fantasy," Criss, who also served as an executive producer, told Deadline. "I hope people watching it go in taking it with a grain of salt that this isn't sort of a grand expose of the time, or some sort of factual recounting.

"I think that it will become very clear from the tone that things happen [in the show] that, clearly, didn't happen, otherwise you would've heard about it. It becomes pretty clear that this is, again, Hollywood getting the Hollywood treatment."

For AAPI fans, the depiction of Raymond Ainsley (Criss) as a half-Filipino, as the lead character is historic in itself. But the series also serves as an introduction of the real-life travails of the legendary Anna May Wong, played by Michelle Krusiec, to today's audience are major reasons to watch to watch the mini-series.

Criss, who is of mixed Filipino and white heritage, describes his characer "as an outsider, which is usually ground zero for anybody feeling isolated but in Raymond's case, he has a bit of a chip on his shoulder for being of half-Asian descent, which I think is just something that Ryan has always been interested in, especially being white passing."

The line uttered by Ainsley, "I am half-Filipino" will probably bring an audible cheer and high-fives from Filipino Americans because it is so rare that a Filipino American character have such a prominent role in a US-produced project.

The only other time a Filipino American played a lead role in a Hollywood production is 2018's The Assassination of Gianni Versace in which Criss portrayed Filipno American serial killer Andrew Cunanan. Criss won a Golden Globe and an Emmy for his work in that dramatic series.

Michelle Krusiec will help tell Anna May Wong's story in Netflix's 'Hollywood.'

In the little-known story of Wong, Krusiec was able to find common ground. In an interview with Deadline, Krusiec identified with Wong's plight.

“I’m constantly being underestimated and being reduced or relegated to side parts, supporting parts or parts where the characters are in service of someone else’s narrative,” said Krusiec. “I felt during [Wong’s] entire career, she was constantly cast in these kinds of roles because it brings so much to the table in terms of what she was actually doing with those parts. She was really hard to ignore and it was really hard to dismiss her. She became brokenhearted by her career, but she still persisted.”

“As an Asian American actor, I’ve been treading that road for a long time and trying to understand my own wrestling with identity and how do I persist and how do I have resilience,” she told Deadline.

EDITOR'S NOTE: As Hollywood unfolds on Netflix, check back on Views From the Edge for more articles about the series.