Brisbane-raised actress Janette McBride says theatre helped her embrace being biracial

Janette McBride, a former Philippine screen star who grew up in Brisbane, told SBS Filipino's Filo Enough series that she felt 'ugly and different' as a biracial child, and that theatre and her Asian Aunties improv duo have helped her embrace both cultures.

Janette McBride, who was a household name in the Philippines in the early 2000s, has spoken about growing up biracial in Brisbane in an episode of SBS Filipino's Filo Enough series published on 30 October. SBS said she was born and raised in Brisbane to a Scottish-Australian father and a Filipino mother from Samar.

McBride told SBS that school cultural days could be hard. "We had cultural day [in school] and I brought palitaw. The kids were like 'Yuck! What is that?' I said, 'It's good!' No one wanted to even try or touch it. I was so embarrassed."

From Brisbane to Philippine screens

According to SBS, McBride shot to stardom in the Philippines when she was 16, becoming part of ABS-CBN's Star Circle Batch 8 and starring in movies such as Tanging Yaman. The Brisbane Times, in a February profile, said she was swiftly cast in films and in TV productions including Tabing-Ilog, and co-hosted a talk show, Talk TV.

"As an early teen, I felt very ugly. I was teased, and there was a bit of bullying. I internalised all of that," she told SBS. "When I moved to the Philippines, all of a sudden, there was this 'elevation of status' because I was light-skinned and 'spoken in dollar'. It was the first time I felt appreciated and, I thought, maybe I was unique."

Aunty Maria on stage

Back in Brisbane, McBride is half of the improv comedy duo Asian Aunties with CSIRO scientist Himali Ratnayake. She plays Aunty Maria from the Philippines, and the Brisbane Times reported that the character is based on her mother, who immigrated to Queensland in 1981. Audience members write down their problems, which go into a rice cooker, and the Aunties improvise advice and scenes from them.

A Big Fork Theatre event listing for a September show described the duo as reigning champs in the theatre's Cage Match with a 12-week winning streak, and said they were part of the sold-out BrisAsia Comedy Gala at the Brisbane Powerhouse. The Brisbane Times reported that McBride has produced the BrisAsia Comedy Gala for the last five years at Big Fork Theatre.

SBS said McBride admits the confusion of a unique identity comes and goes, but that theatre has helped her embrace who she is. "My mum was so good about us knowing our roots, but I think it was only as an adult that I realised the unique opportunity of having two cultures in one body," she said. "I've realised it's okay...more than okay...it's wonderful to be biracial!"

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