--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It still baffles my brain that I actually…" description: "\"It still baffles my brain that I actually get to portray a character on American television that's this gay, femme-y Filipino guy.\" — Nico Santos" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7c/nico-santos-10028_american_it-still-baffles-my-brain-that-i-actuall_2073976.jpg" --- # It still baffles my brain that I actually get to portray a… ![“It still baffles my brain that I actually get to portray a character on American television that's this gay, femme-y Filipino guy.” quote by Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7c/nico-santos-10028_american_it-still-baffles-my-brain-that-i-actuall_2073976.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7c/nico-santos-10028_american_it-still-baffles-my-brain-that-i-actuall_2073976.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7c/nico-santos-10028_american_it-still-baffles-my-brain-that-i-actuall_2073976.jpg) > “It still baffles my brain that I actually get to portray a character on American television that's this gay, femme-y Filipino guy.” [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker is surprised and proud to play a gay, feminine Filipino character on US TV, highlighting representation and personal identity. **In simple terms:** He finds it amazing to portray a gay, feminine Filipino role on TV. Key Takeaway Embrace diverse roles and celebrate representation. Themes representation identity media diversity Mood proud reflective Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - Casting decisions - media interviews - LGBTQ+ advocacy - Filipino community events Key Concepts LGBTQ+ visibility Filipino culture acting career Questions to Reflect On - How does this role impact your view of representation? - What challenges arise in portraying nuanced cultural identities? A Different Perspective Limited roles for minorities can still constrain broader inclusion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-american-506028/) [Femme Filipino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/femme-filipino-4017981/) [Filipino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filipino/) [Filipino Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filipino-guy-4017980/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Still](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/still/) [Television Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television-gay-2021571/) ## Related quotes > [I kind of cheer the presence of any gay characters at all - I think the more we can saturate television with any gay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-tyler-ferguson/i-kind-of-cheer-the-presence-of-any-gay-characters-at-all-i-think-the/) [Jesse Tyler Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-tyler-ferguson/) > [My first job was at Zellers in Belleville! It's weird that my first job was in a store like this. And 15 years later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ash/my-first-job-was-at-zellers-in-belleville-it-s-weird-that-my-first/) [Lauren Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ash/) > [Citizenship to me is more than a piece of paper. Citizenship is also about character. I am an American. We're just waiting for our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-vargas/citizenship-to-me-is-more-than-a-piece-of-paper-citizenship-is-also/) [Jose Antonio Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-vargas/) > [“The American character, and the American dream, could never be disentangled, and ultimately the latter would go only as far as the former would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-american-character-and-the-american-dream-could-never-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are many things in common with my life and my character in 'American Crime.' My upbringing has definitely helped me out in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/there-are-many-things-in-common-with-my-life-and-my-character-in/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [“the character of American civilization is a bundle of contradictions,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-davison-hunter/the-character-of-american-civilization-is-a-bundle-of-contradictions/) [James Davison Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-davison-hunter/) > [I tried to find a character and how I would be an American actress in the 30s. But if this was a talking movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berenice-bejo/i-tried-to-find-a-character-and-how-i-would-be-an-american-actress-in/) [Berenice Bejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berenice-bejo/) > [You rarely see a Filipino family on TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/you-rarely-see-a-filipino-family-on-tv/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [Within the Filipino community, everybody knows somebody who's undocumented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/within-the-filipino-community-everybody-knows-somebody-who-s/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [I'm so Filipino. I'm fluent in Filipino.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/i-m-so-filipino-i-m-fluent-in-filipino/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [The fact that I am a Filipino actor playing a Filipino role is crazy. Filipinos are the second largest Asian minority in the United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/the-fact-that-i-am-a-filipino-actor-playing-a-filipino-role-is-crazy/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [I lost my accent pretty quickly, so everyone assumes I was born and raised in America. But I'm very much still in touch with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/i-lost-my-accent-pretty-quickly-so-everyone-assumes-i-was-born-and/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [“He fidgets. Thinks. Observes his fellow passengers. Judges everyone, in the traditional Filipino sport of justifying both personal and shared insecurities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-syjuco/he-fidgets-thinks-observes-his-fellow-passengers-judges-everyone-in/) [Miguel Syjuco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-syjuco/) > [A strengthened national spirit can provide the motive power to rise our people from the depths and... pour new life and vigor in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-p-romulo/a-strengthened-national-spirit-can-provide-the-motive-power-to-rise/) [Carlos P. Romulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-p-romulo/) > [The Filipino embraces civilization and lives and thrives in every clime, in contact with every people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-rizal/the-filipino-embraces-civilization-and-lives-and-thrives-in-every/) [Jose Rizal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-rizal/) ## More by Nico Santos > [My intent when I moved to L.A. was to get in good with the comedy clubs and, eventually, try to break into Comedy Central…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/my-intent-when-i-moved-to-l-a-was-to-get-in-good-with-the-comedy/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [Generally I try to be as healthy as possible, but it's hard to be on set because anything and everything is available to you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/generally-i-try-to-be-as-healthy-as-possible-but-it-s-hard-to-be-on/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [I've gotten auditions with as little as two hours' notice. Those don't go so well!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/i-ve-gotten-auditions-with-as-little-as-two-hours-notice-those-don-t/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [I've done retail before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/i-ve-done-retail-before/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [Oregon is home to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/oregon-is-home-to-me/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [Especially when you're queer and you're a person of color, you're so used to being the token on set. Inevitably you have to answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/especially-when-you-re-queer-and-you-re-a-person-of-color-you-re-so/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [First of all, Asian representation hardly exists to begin with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/first-of-all-asian-representation-hardly-exists-to-begin-with/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [It's really great to see the queer landscape really change to include everybody and make the rest of the world understand that we're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/it-s-really-great-to-see-the-queer-landscape-really-change-to-include/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [Within the Filipino community, everybody knows somebody who's undocumented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/within-the-filipino-community-everybody-knows-somebody-who-s/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [You rarely see a Filipino family on TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/you-rarely-see-a-filipino-family-on-tv/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [Superstore' is, like, my fifth acting job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/superstore-is-like-my-fifth-acting-job/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [I love my mom! She's just great and so happy for me that I'm living my dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/i-love-my-mom-she-s-just-great-and-so-happy-for-me-that-i-m-living-my/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [I hate that femininity in a gay men is a 'stereotype.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/i-hate-that-femininity-in-a-gay-men-is-a-stereotype/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [My mom is definitely crazy. She would totally be a stage mom if I was a child actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/my-mom-is-definitely-crazy-she-would-totally-be-a-stage-mom-if-i-was/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [I should have been born a crazy rich Asian because I do have expensive taste. I have champagne taste but I'm on a beer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/i-should-have-been-born-a-crazy-rich-asian-because-i-do-have/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) [Explore all 68 Nico Santos quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) ## More American quotes > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-american-names-the-sharp-names-that-never/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. 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The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [Firefighters and rescue workers are American superheroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/firefighters-and-rescue-workers-are-american-superheroes/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [New York and San Francisco are distinctly different. San Francisco is driving the American media, not New York. You have young, microwaved millionaires and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/new-york-and-san-francisco-are-distinctly-different-san-francisco-is/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. 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But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) [Browse all 7,717 American quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It still baffles my brain that I actually get to portray a character on American television that's this gay, femme-y Filipino guy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nico Santos" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/it-still-baffles-my-brain-that-i-actually-get-to-portray-a-character/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/it-still-baffles-my-brain-that-i-actually-get-to-portray-a-character/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7c/nico-santos-10028_american_it-still-baffles-my-brain-that-i-actuall_2073976.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7c/nico-santos-10028_american_it-still-baffles-my-brain-that-i-actuall_2073976.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7c/nico-santos-10028_american_it-still-baffles-my-brain-that-i-actuall_2073976.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It still baffles my brain that I actually get to portray a character on American television that's this gay…” — Nico Santos", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Nico Santos", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It still baffles my brain that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/it-still-baffles-my-brain-that-i-actually-get-to-portray-a-character/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/it-still-baffles-my-brain-that-i-actually-get-to-portray-a-character/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```