Filipino Canadian actress joins Kate Hudson in Netflix’s ‘Running Point’
Jessalyn Wanlim | Photo from jessalynwanlim/Instagram
Filipino Canadian actress Jessalyn Wanlim is basking in the spotlight as her latest project, “Running Point,” dominates the Netflix charts.
Holding the No. 1 spot, the show has introduced Wanlim’s scene-stealing character, Bituin, to a global audience.
In a recent Instagram post, Wanlim shared her excitement with a playful tone: “Oh…just a little gig that’s just a little funny. Bituin is an amalgamation of every Filipino woman in my life, and it’s such a treat to be able to represent my pinoy heritage on screen. If this gets renewed, I vote for a true karaoke scene and actual balut.”
As for Bituin, the character was inspired by a real-life Filipina who married Jeanie Buss’s brother during his stint playing pro basketball in the Philippines.
Interestingly, Wanlim initially auditioned for the role played by Brenda Song, only to be later called in to portray Bituin.
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One of the more personal challenges she faced was mastering the Filipino accent for the role – a detail she approached with great care and authenticity.
“Running Point” follows Isla Gordon (played by Kate Hudson), a woman who has been overlooked her entire life, suddenly thrust into the spotlight when she’s appointed president of the LA Waves, a family-owned professional basketball team.
As she steps into her new role, Isla must navigate a sea of doubters and prove she’s not just a token appointment – but the right one.
Born to a Filipino mother and a Chinese Indonesian father in Calgary, Alberta, Wanlim currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
She grew up in Toronto, where she attended ballet school, a chapter in her life that deeply shaped her artistic foundation.
Her journey later took her to New York City to study ballet at the prestigious Juilliard School – and that’s where a twist of fate changed everything.
Wanlim made the bold decision to leave Juilliard and dive into acting full-time – a risk that paid off. Her credits now include notable series like “Orphan Black” and “Workin’ Moms,” with “Running Point” being her latest successful project.
