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Singer-actor Iñigo Pascual reveals how he landed a role in the US TV show, 'Monarch', some behind-the-scenes stories, and future projects
Last week, Iñigo Pascual made his first appearance as Ace Grayson in the much-awaited American musical drama Monarch which follows the story of the country music dynasty of the Roman family.
Pascual, who is quite the natural-born performer, had enough preparations before taking on the role. "I was getting ready for a concert that I was supposed to do in November last year. I was starting to train," he reveals. "I was doing that every day consistently for three months. And so I was like, 'I feel like my training is being put to waste.' But coach actually told me 'You're not wasting it, you're carrying it on with you.'"
With hit singles to his name and a global presence to be reckoned with, the singer-actor has shaken off being merely "Piolo Pascual's son".
And yet, the 25-year-old did not expect to land the part.
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"My dream was to really make it out here in the [United] States somehow. I went to the Philippines and I kind of forgot about that dream and worked on my music, and if the opportunity comes one day, then maybe it will happen. But I'm glad that I was able to go through that in the Philippines first. I feel like if I went straight and tried out here in the US, I feel like I wouldn't be as wise," he reveals. "It really did help me prepare, to be equipped, and to have the right mindset with every challenge that I have to face."
Read on to know more about Iñigo Pascual's journey to becoming Ace Grayson:
How did you find out you got the part?
I auditioned in late July and I was two weeks late for the submission of the self-tape. I wasn't considering it only because I was thinking that there are other kids in America who could land the role. What would a kid from the Philippines have to get an advantage in landing the part?
After three days, my managers put me on a Zoom call and I was expecting the worst. In my head, I was already [thinking] I didn't get it—but I was still hoping! Having a callback meant a lot to me.
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And they were like, "We just received some bad news from the US team and they just wanted to let you know that—you got the part."
I was so mad! I was ready for them to tell me that I didn't get it. I was in tears, I was having mixed emotions because they also told me that I was supposed to leave everything that I was doing in the Philippines in less than a month and move to Atlanta, start filming for six months, originally, but we extended it to almost eight months.
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Do you relate in any way to Ace Grayson?
I felt like I was somehow Ace in a lot of ways.
He's a Filipino kid who was adopted and is trying to fit into the Roman family, the first family of country music.
I grew up in the States and all of a sudden moved to the Philippines, living the life that my dad was living, and starting to work at the age of 16, was a big shift. There were a lot of things that I wasn't used to. People comment that I have this position just because of who my dad is, or that I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth, when in fact, I lived a normal childhood in America.
So a lot of things that I experienced firsthand, [is similar to what] Ace also is going through. So it really helped me understand my character and what his art should be.
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What was it like to switch from R&B Soul to Country? Did you have any help with your Texan accent?
One of the things that I do when I have to portray a character is I set or make a playlist of what I think that character would be listening to a playlist of songs. So I started listening to country music. I started watching Nashville.
They had a dialect coach on set and it was still very hard at first. Imagine having to act and then having to worry about an accent at the same time. So it felt very unnatural at first, but with their help, I was able to do it.
It also helped a lot that I wasn't the only one that was not from America. Callum Kerr who plays Wade Stellings is Irish. There were a bunch of other castmates who were also being coached so it didn't make me feel as nervous because I wasn't going through it alone.
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But singing was the most challenging. There were times when I felt like I didn't know how to sing, and I've been singing all my life. Imagine just being put in a position where you have to forget every technique, even the littlest things such as your vibrato.
I was able to add to my singing abilities that I never knew I could do before. And I'm grateful to be working with a team that's well known in the industry. To be able to be working with the same people as Glee blows my mind. It was surreal every time I came into the studio and realised that these are the same people working with the cast of Glee.
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Have you grown close to the cast?
I feel like we all bonded really well right away. I would say there was no one that I had any problems with and there wasn't any drama on set. I guess the one that I could say I'm closest to is Emma [Milana] because we've gone through the same experience with this production. It was my first American production, it was her first major production in the States.
What was it like meeting Susan Sarandon?
Susan Sarandon is one of those people that when you have a conversation with, you will never forget it. The first time that I actually sat down and got to talk to her for a good minute was on my birthday. I actually posted about it. It was my first day on set.
When we had a break, I came up to Susan and said, "All I want for my birthday is a picture with you" and I thought it would end there. I thought after I take the picture, I'm gonna go back to where I needed to go. But actually started talking to me. She started asking me about my background and my dad, and she shared how she has a daughter who actually plays her younger self on the show and who's also in the industry.
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It was such a cool thing to witness the same relationship that I have with my dad in Susan. And I remember she was telling me to use my platform to not just use social media for my own good. It was very inspiring. It was a conversation that I knew I would tell my kids one day. She's such a sweet person.
She never ever complained. There was never a day or any taping day that I heard her complain, even if it was late, even if we were sometimes filming in the rain. And to be honest, we were the ones complaining for her. It's an honour to be in her presence.
Within eight months of shooting, did you ever feel homesick?
The first few months were hard, I felt homesick. But it felt easier knowing that I had friends even at work and outside work. And it did take some time to create my own group of friends outside of work. Every time I met new people in Atlanta, I would never say that I was an actor on a show. I would always say I'm a writer on Fox. But after hanging out with that group of people, I would tell them that I'm actually here as an actor.
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Will we see more of Iñigo Pascual on TV?
A year ago, I never thought I would be acting again. I was going to stick to music but the universe just has all these crazy plans.
Sometimes when you think you're at the right door, it just redirects you to something else, something bigger. I never thought I would be in the show. And I'm hoping for the best, I'm claiming for the success of the show. And I've been auditioning for other stuff. So I'm not saying no to that question, hoping that I'm able to land more roles in the States.
At the same time, I hope this opportunity would open more doors to more Filipino artists and Filipino artists to cross over. We have so many talented artists that I know could cross over and share their talent worldwide.
What can fans expect in the Monarch?
A lot of new music, a lot of covers, and you will see a different Iñigo Pascual. You'll see Ace Roman from Texas. You'll see a lot of family drama, and a lot of twists that even the cast was confused about while we were filming. A lot of really, really dark secrets.
Is there anything else you dream of doing that you haven't done yet?
Let's go to the Grammys!
Produced by FOX Entertainment, the show features original music and covers produced by the brilliant Adam Anders of Glee and FOX Entertainment Music. Stream 'Monarch' via iWantTFC for free starting September 13.
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Christine Andas is a features writer and the style lead of Tatler Philippines. She mostly covers style-related content but enjoys writing about space, sneakers, and her favourite stars. She acquired a master's degree in Creative Writing at the University of Santo Tomas and has written young adult short stories which can be read online.
