How FilAm Actress Jessalyn Wanlim Went from Juilliard to Netflix’s No. 1 Show Running Point
Written By Niko Del Rey
As a Filipino and Los Angeles native, my heart was bursting with joy when my worlds collided: I had the privilege of interviewing a Filipina actress starring in a Netflix show based on the Los Angeles Lakers! The excitement I felt going into the conversation was only matched by how inspired I was afterward. On screen and off, Jessalyn Wanlim is a force of nature. Let’s tip off our interview with this multi-talented star of Running Point.
Q: For those who don’t know, tell us a bit about your background. How did your journey begin?
Jessalyn Wanlim: I’m half Filipino, originally from Calgary, Alberta, now living in Nashville. But I grew up in Toronto to attend ballet school, which really shaped my early years. I later moved to New York to attend Juilliard for ballet. Ironically, that’s where I fell out of love with dance and in love with acting. I ended up dropping out to pursue a career in film and TV, and it’s been such a ride—from Orphan Black to Workin’ Moms to now Running Point. These days, I’m also a full-time mom and Realtor in Nashville, where I pour my creativity into designing homes.
Q: As a young dancer being groomed for a ballet career, what was the moment that pulled you toward acting instead?
Jessalyn: It was a person—Franz St. Louis. He was the one who introduced me to acting, invited me to auditions, and I just went for fun. But then I started booking! I thought, What is this world? Acting is always changing, always evolving, and that’s what excited me. Plus, dance was taking a toll—at 19 or 20, my hips were shot, and the physical pain didn’t feel sustainable long term.
Q: As an Asian woman, how did your parents react when you told them you were walking away from dance?
Jessalyn: It didn’t go over well at first. Juilliard is an elite institution, and they saw the financial and emotional investment they made. But they also saw how unhappy I was. Eventually, they realized happiness has to come first. It probably broke their hearts initially, but now they get to say, “Look, my daughter is on TV.”
Q: Let’s talk Running Point! You play Bituin, a strong and sassy Filipina. Tell us about your character.
Jessalyn: Bituin is inspired by a real Filipina who married Jeanie Buss’s brother while he was playing pro basketball in the Philippines. At first, I auditioned for Brenda Song’s role, but a few months later, I got called in for Bituin. The challenge was figuring out the accent. I told my agent, “I’m going full accent—this is who I believe she is.” Netflix initially struggled with it, but on set, Barinholtz was super supportive and said, “Do what you did.” Representing my Filipino side has been surreal. It’s been fantastical.
Q: You pronounce “Bituin” perfectly! Do you speak Tagalog? Was the character inspired by anyone in your family?
Jessalyn: I barely speak Tagalog, which I regret. But culturally, I’m very Filipino—my mom’s side is from Calgary. I drew from a few relatives for Bituin. Her humor is totally my mom, and I also channeled two of my aunts. So yeah, a lot of Filipino women I know act like Bituin.
Q: Do you know what part of the Philippines your family is from?
Jessalyn: My mom is from Aliaga, a tiny farm town near Manila. I’ve seen the house she grew up in—there was literally a hole in the ground for a toilet in the backyard. A real-deal farm town.
Q: What was the vibe like on set? Anyone you particularly bonded with?
Jessalyn: Since I was flying in and out of LA from Nashville, I wasn’t on set all the time. But everyone was incredible. I’d say I bonded the most with Scott MacArthur, who plays Ness, my on-screen husband. His character is goofy, and that made it fun for me to just play around.
Q: Describe your co-stars in one word each!
Jessalyn:
Scott: Hilarious
Kate: Perfection
Brenda: Energetic
Drew: Brilliant
Max: On point
Jay: Smooth
Q: Out of all your roles—Scoundrels, Orphan Black, Workin’ Moms—is there one that means the most to you?
Jessalyn: Workin’ Moms and Orphan Black definitely. Workin’ Moms resonated deeply because I got to portray miscarriage on screen, something I’ve experienced myself. Catherine Reitman entrusted me with that storyline, and I’ll forever be grateful. It helped bring awareness to something so many women go through. And Orphan Black—I mean, to be in the season where Tatiana Maslany won the Emmy? Iconic.
Q: You've been very open about miscarriage and breaking the silence around it. What do you want people to know?
Jessalyn: The more I opened up, the more people came to me with their stories. I thought, Why should I carry this alone? Sharing helps you heal. One in four women experiences miscarriage—it shouldn’t be hush-hush. And mental health matters. Don’t bottle it up. We tell our son he’s a miracle, because he truly is. Every day I think about what we went through, and it makes me appreciate motherhood even more.
Q: Speaking of motherhood, how has it influenced your artistry?
Jessalyn: It changes everything. Your why shifts. In 2016, I actually thought I was done with acting and went into real estate—something I’ve always loved. After Workin’ Moms, I kept going with real estate in Nashville, and now I’m developing and designing homes. It’s a way for me to keep creating, even when I’m not on set.
Q: If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Jessalyn: Don’t care. Don’t give a flying fuck what anyone thinks. I’m sensitive, and I used to carry other people’s opinions like they were facts. I’d tell young Jessalyn, Don’t even blink.
Q: Any final thoughts or things to promote?
Jessalyn: Running Point just got renewed! One of Netflix’s fastest renewals ever. And the fact that they included so many Filipino jokes and cultural references—even in scenes I’m not in—it’s just wild. So refreshing to hear our culture represented like that.
Jessalyn Wanlim’s Motto:
“Whatever you put out there is what you get back in life—attitude, energy, opinions. That’s what you’ll attract.”
Jessalyn Wanlim isn’t just repping on screen—she’s repping for all of us off screen, too. Whether she’s breaking stereotypes in Hollywood, designing dream homes in Nashville, or speaking truth about motherhood and miscarriage, she’s the kind of woman you can’t help but root for.
Kamren Fabiculanan was born to Alex and Kathy Fabiculanan who both are originally from Paoay and Manila, Philippines, making Kamren Fabiculanan one of the only full Filipino athletes not only in all of professional football but in all of professional sports as a whole.
He is the University of Washington’s sixth year safety and team captain
Read More