Fil-Am actor Kristin Villanueva reflects on making history on ‘The Pitt’ and honoring Filipino nurses
After nearly two decades in acting, Filipino‑American actress Kristin Villanueva made history as part of the ensemble cast of the medical drama The Pitt, which recently won big at the 2026 Actors Awards.
The Pitt has captured the audience with its gritty yet heartfelt portrayal of a busy hospital’s staff, showing the pressure of being a medical frontliner while juggling the personal lives of its doctors and nurses. Villanueva’s character, Nurse Princess Dela Cruz, has made an impression with her portrayal of a compassionate and skilled nurse who is also multilingual.
The medical drama took home the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series award, as well as the Best Actor award for Noah Wyle, who plays the show’s lead physician.
Reflecting on this feat, Villanueva said being a part of the cast to win the award was "unbelievable."
"When you've been an actor hustling in New York for almost two decades, just getting an audition is already a win," she told PhilSTAR L!fe. "To book a show run by one of the most respected and talented giants of Hollywood, and for that show to be a hit, and then for us to win the Best Ensemble for a Drama Series voted by your peers, is simply unbelievable."
But the award wasn’t just a personal victory. Villanueva underscored how her role as a Filipino nurse abroad resonates deeply with the Pinoy audience.
“For how much it resonates with our kababayan is unimaginable. I knew it would make Filipino nurses happy, but I didn't know to what extent," she said.
"My north star for being an actor is to let at least one person in the audience know that they are seen and that they are not alone. So for Princess to reach thousands is a dream come true," she added.
Joining Villanueva as a Filipino in the cast are Fil-Am actresses Isa Briones, who plays Dr. Trinity Santos, and Amielynn Abellera, who portrays Nurse Perlah Alawi.
Born and raised in Manila, Villanueva moved to Washington DC at 15 and later pursued a career in acting. She earned her BFA in Acting from SUNY Purchase, where she was granted the Chair's Award for Achievement in Acting.
Over the years, she has worked in theater, featuring classical pieces to new works. She is also a member of The Actors Center, where she regularly takes acting classes from Ron Van Lieu, Christopher Bayes, and Maria Aitken, among others.
