Highlights
- Sam Morelos, born to Filipino immigrant parents in Los Angeles, proudly identifies as Filipino-American and incorporates her heritage into both her personal life and acting career.
- Despite initial struggles with internalized racism as a child, Morelos grew to fully embrace her dual cultural identity, which now informs her character portrayal in “That ’90s Show.”
- As a rising star in Hollywood, Morelos is breaking ground for Filipino representation in mainstream media, taking on leading roles and using her platform to create opportunities for other Filipino actors.
Rising star Sam Morelos captivates audiences with her role as Nikki in Netflix’s “That ’90s Show,” but her journey extends far beyond the screen.
Born on July 7, 2005, in Los Angeles, California, to Filipino immigrants Francis (Beeboy) and Jenny Morelos, Sam embodies the rich tapestry of Filipino-American identity.
Morelos proudly claims her Filipino-American ethnicity, blending her American upbringing with her parents’ Filipino roots.
She honors her heritage by addressing family members in Tagalog, calling her parents Itay and Inay, her brother Kuya, and her grandparents Oyo and Oya.
However, Sam’s path to embracing her cultural identity wasn’t always smooth.
In an interview with Jannelle So on SoJannelleTV, she revealed her childhood struggles with internalized racism.
“Once I started school, I actually would throw tantrums if they spoke to me anything but English,” Morelos admitted.
She explained that her desire to fit in led her to push away her Filipino side temporarily.
As she matured, Morelos learned to celebrate her dual heritage fully.
This self-acceptance now shines through in her professional work.
In “That ’90s Show,” her character Nikki Verasco shares her Filipino background, a detail added after Sam’s casting.
The show’s creators incorporated Filipino flags into Nikki’s bedroom set, a visual nod to her cultural pride that deeply moved Morelos.
“Just that small thing to see, not vocally but visually, that Nikki is proud of her heritage is just very Filipino,” Sam shared.
“Every Filipino person I know is proud… I can say confidently that Nikki will always be Filipino because that’s just who I am and I cannot pretend to be anything else.”
Morelos continues to break new ground for Filipino representation in Hollywood.
In her upcoming Hulu film, “Summer of ’69,” she takes on a leading role.
Speaking to ABS-CBN News, she expressed her pride in this accomplishment:
“I feel a lot of pride, especially being Filipino and leading a movie. My heart [was] filled with so much joy. Just being part of this project created more opportunities for Filipino actors to have their light and to have their moment.”
At just 19 years old, Sam Morelos stands as an inspiration to young people grappling with cultural identity.
Her journey from childhood insecurity to being a proud Filipino-American actress demonstrates the power of embracing one’s roots.
As she continues to rise in Hollywood, Morelos carries her heritage with her, paving the way for greater Filipino representation in the entertainment industry.
Just So You Know
- She uses Tagalog terms for family members and incorporates her heritage into her acting roles.
- Morelos gained prominence for her portrayal of Nikki Verasco in the Netflix series “That ’90s Show,” where her character’s Filipino background was incorporated after her casting.
- Morelos began her acting career early, appearing in the short film “Extraordinary Night” in 2016, when she was around 11 years old.
[…] her experience with ABS-CBN News about this project, she expressed her pride in leading a movie while being a […]