BAGUIO CITY – There’s a good amount of Filipino representation in Marvel’s “Spider-Man: No Way Home!”
If you are a Filipino and you’ve seen the latest film from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you definitely felt a sense of pride when the ‘Lola’ of Ned Leeds, Spider-Man or Peter Parker’s Filipino-American best friend, appeared on screen. Since the release of the blockbuster film in December, memes of Lola have been spreading on social media, proving that it was indeed an iconic scene for any Pinoy Marvel fan.
The role of Ned’s Lola is played by Mary Rivera, a 79-year-old Hawaiian-based Filipina who grew up in La Paz, Iloilo City. A missionary and a former radio station manager in her hometown, Mary moved to Honolulu back in the 70s.
Around January 2021, Disney was on the lookout for a Filipina who can play as a grandmother in an undisclosed project and her family encouraged her to try out for the online audition.
In her first exclusive interview after Spider-Man, Mary reveals to Star FM Baguio that she did not expect to land the role. In fact, she wasn’t very much familiar with the story of the iconic superhero!
“Yung aking bunsong anak, sabi niya sa akin, ang Disney, naghahanap ng Pilipina from the ages of 50 to 90 to star. Akala ko sa comics! Alam mo naman ang Disney. So I prepared a script, and then one of my grandchildren, kinunan niya ako. So not knowing anything about who is Spider-Man, or what the movie is about, I went and had an interview. I auditioned for the part,” she shares.
To their surprise, they were already receiving callbacks from Disney a few days later.
“Four days later, dumating yung second script and there was a dialogue. After the deadline [of the next script], I got a phone call from the casting director Katy Doyle in Hawaii. She said, ‘Mary, you can celebrate. Disney and Marvel have chosen you!’”
Mary and her family were over the moon, and they even found out that thousands from America and even contemporary actors from the Philippines tried out for the role!
“They told me, ‘Mary, of the thousands of Filipinas who auditioned for this part, you were the choice of the director and the producer, and you will be in the film,” she says. She didn’t even know that she would appear in the film as well, “Akala ko, ako ang magbo-boses sa cartoon!”
And then the unthinkable happened. A private plane, a chauffeured limousine, an accommodation in a hotel listed in the National Historic Register, a luxurious suite – those were just some of what Mary and her daughter (who had accompanied her) experienced while in Atlanta for the filming.
“Maski pabalik-balik kami sa Amerika at sa Pilipinas, I always rode economy. That was the first time in my life that I rode first class. We were treated like VIPs! Lord, am I dreaming? Before I went to bed that night, I was almost in tears. I was overwhelmed. I was never part of a movie. Lord, what have I done for me to deserve this?”
Mary was able to work with Filipino-American and Hawaiian local boy Jacob Batalon, who plays as his grandson Ned, and Zendaya who plays MJ, Peter Parker’s love interest. We won’t spoil any more details about this important scene. See the actual movie to see who else the Filipina was able to work with!
“I did not meet everyone that was in that movie, but having worked with these people that I worked with, I have nothing but admiration for them. They were all very well disciplined. It is a dream having worked with them and being part of this movie.”
She was even more thrilled when she found out that she had to speak in her native language, Filipino, for the huge Marvel film.
Rarely did that happen in Hollywood blockbusters.
Indeed, Mary played a role of a lifetime. Who would have thought that a Filipina who had no experience on professional acting would appear in one iconic scene for a Marvel movie?
Sure, she had no formal training in film or TV, but even when she was young, people have already seen a bit of star potential in her.
“Sabi nila, ‘Maliit pa yan, artista na yan’. They said I used to sing, I used to dance, I used to make up my own stories.” In fact, she remembered starring in local presentations for the Sound of Music and West Side Story back in Iloilo.
With the attention that she is getting, the now-actress tells us that she does not want to be seen as a star.
“In my heart, I do not consider myself a celebrity. I’m just one of these people that God blessed to be a part of this movie,” she humbly explains.
Moreover, she is truly overwhelmed whenever her family shows her pictures and internet memes of Ned’s Lola, and she can’t believe that many people are praising her for appearing in Spider-Man.
“I saw a lot of posts of people who I don’t know. They said, ‘Thank you for bringing pride to the Philippines.’ Some of them said, ‘You were so hilarious’!”
Most importantly, she shares this incredible milestone with her family, who has been very much supportive since the beginning and continues to celebrate her role in the film up to this day.
When asked if she would still love to play Ned’s Lola in the future, the answer was pretty clear and simple.
“Of course naman! To give further justice to my role as a Filipina,” she quickly answers. She adds, “I know I’m in a position of influence, I prayed about it. I want to use my role in this movie as my advocacy.”
With her experience from filming videos to audition for an unknown project, to landing the role that changed a part of her life, she wishes to share inspiration to many people especially to Filipinos.
“Life is short. Nobody is promised to live forever. May pagkakataon ka to do something to inspire other people. Let’s do it. Hindi natin hawak ang kapalaran natin. Whatever opportunities we have, we need to make use of that, to make a difference in the lives of others. Lalo pa tayong mga Pilipina, we were given this feeling ng Panginoon, na we are compassionate. Matulungin tayo. Living a life that matters is not a coincidence; it is a matter of choice.” She adds, “If I can atleast contribute something to bring some pride to the Philippines, I want to do it. It’s only by the grace of God na napunta sa akin ang role na yun. Not even in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I would be part of a Disney or Marvel movie.”
And indeed, Mary Rivera, who played the comic and loving lola of Spider-Man’s best friend, has undeniably brought joy not only to Marvel fans, but also to many of her kababayans around the world. (Star FM Baguio Exclusive)
