By Christine Marie Lim Magpile, LPT
East Meets West: A Cinematic Collaboration
Versatile actress Ruby Ruiz is poised to ignite the international film scene once again. In the upcoming Australian-Filipino co-production, First Light, directed by James J. Robinson, Ruiz takes center stage as an elderly nun grappling with a moral dilemma.
This groundbreaking Australian-Filipino co-production signifies the first-ever partnership between the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and the Australian Film Commission.
Ruby Ruiz: From Empathetic Nanny to Brave Nun
Her international acting debut in Lulu Wang’s Amazon Prime Video series, Expats, displayed her versatility as she portrayed Essie, a compassionate Filipina nanny. Sharing the screen with Australian actress Nicole Kidman, Ruiz left an indelible mark on viewers worldwide.
The accomplished actress had previously attained a significant career milestone by bagging the Best Actress award at the 2020 Harlem Film Festival for her moving portrayal of a devoted grandmother in the Cinemalaya film Iska. Furthermore, Ruiz has graced popular Philippine teleseryes such as Dirty Linen (2023) and Linlang (2023).
Soliman Cruz: Bringing Filipino Pride in To the North
Joining Ruiz in the cast of First Light is another celebrated Filipino actor, Soliman Cruz. He was recently acknowledged for his exceptional performance in the film To the North (2022), earning a nomination for the Best Actor Award at Romania’s Gopo Awards.
Like Ruiz, Cruz has lent his brilliant acting to some of the biggest Filipino TV series, such as FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano. He also played a pivotal role in Erik Matti’s On the Job: The Missing 8 (2021), which represented the Philippines at the 95th Academy Awards.
Ruby Ruiz and Soliman Cruz: Captivating the World Stage
As the cameras roll on First Light, Ruiz and Cruz show that Filipino talent shines as they deliver outstanding performances to audiences worldwide.
