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Interview: Xyza Cada Talks About ‘The Season’ and Why Representation Matters
- Jianne Soriano
- 6 hours ago
- 8 min read
INTERVIEW
For Xyza Cada’s first day on the set of The Season, she had to smoke alongside Toby Stephens, who plays her employer, Christopher Hext, in the series. “I spent so much time sitting there with Toby that we probably smoked one whole pack because of the technicalities,” she says. For Cada, that was a new experience. She’s been offered and played roles of domestic workers in the past, but this is the first time that her character is not fitted within the expected mould. “[The production team] really thought of [being a domestic worker] as a real job. They have a uniform. [My character] got to smoke with her employer,” she gushes.
Cada is talking about her character Gloria, in The Season, a six-episode revenge drama set in Hong Kong, centred around the city’s wealthy elites and socialites. The Viu Original Series is produced by the team behind Crazy Rich Asians. In it, Gloria is the Hext family’s house manager.
When auditioning for the role, the team originally intended for Gloria to be 50 years old. At that time, Cada was 42. “Funny enough, I was shortlisted. But I wasn’t expecting much until my representative told me I got the job,” she recalled. It didn’t sink in until she was on set. “Gloria isn’t just a background character. She really has a part [in the story],” Cada adds. The production team even adjusted Gloria’s age to match Cada’s.
The Season marks the Hong Kong-based actress’s drama debut, but she already has several acting credits under her belt, including Still Human (2019), We Don’t Dance for Nothing (2022), and Salubsob (2025). For Cada, artistry runs in the family. “From an early age, I was exposed to the performing arts through repertory experiences… as well as my father’s work as a musician and painter,” she tells CSP Times. The constant exposure ultimately sparked a passion for performing, leading to independent films and community-driven projects in her adult years.
But beyond her love of performing arts, representation matters for Cada. She rejected projects in the past that, to her, didn’t accurately portray Filipinos in Hong Kong. “I want to make sure that we’re well represented and people will see our stories as an inspiration,” she says. She admits that it took a lot of courage to say no, especially as an independent actress. “I want to protect how we’re represented, so I will stick with that no matter what.”
That is why a character like Gloria has been a long time coming. “I take a lot of pride in this role because I feel a real responsibility to honour Gloria without reducing her to a stereotype or a cliche [portrayal] of a Filipino helper,” she admits. “She’s actually driving the story, and it sends a powerful message.” In fact, when I first saw Gloria in the teaser, I doubled back because I wasn’t sure what she was supposed to be. Cada says, “I could be anything you want me to be.” This multi-layered depiction is worlds away from years of trite characters, oftentimes even reduced to caricatures of the lived experiences of Hong Kong’s Filipino community.
After stepping into the biggest role of her career, we sat down with Cada to discuss her first drama, playing Gloria, and the importance of Filipino representation and authentic storytelling, even in a story focused on the city’s wealthy.
All images are courtesy of Viu, Xyza Cada, and Emily Tse
Xyza Cada talks about The Season, playing Gloria, and Filipino representation
Can you tell us more about the audition and casting process for The Season? What attracted you to the project?
When they posted the [casting] for Gloria’s character, she was supposed to be 50 years old. But at that time, I was only 42. I don’t even look my age, so I wasn’t really sure about it. But I gave it a try because I could just put on makeup or change my voice. During the audition, I told myself to just be me. Gloria’s tiny, but she’s feisty — that’s who I am as well. Why put on an act when I can just be me?
Funny enough, I was shortlisted. I wasn’t expecting much, but to my surprise, my representative Kate said, “You got the job.” I waited for another week [to believe it] since things might change. I only realised that it was really happening on the first day [of filming]. On set, one of the producers came up to me and said that they adjusted Gloria’s age. That made the role much easier and more natural for me. I didn’t need to pretend that I was 50 years old. I could really focus on embodying Gloria.
The character suited me perfectly when I first read the script. Gloria isn’t just a background [character]; she really has a role. What drew me in is the power that Gloria has. She drives the story and is not reduced to a stereotype. We’re trying to change the narrative about Filipinos in Hong Kong, away from the cliche characters that we often see on screen. Gloria has presence and an impact, so that’s what made the role very exciting to step into.
How did you prepare for the role? Were there any personal inputs that you gave to shape Gloria's character?
I always try to be truthful and give respect to the characters that I’m portraying. So I do research, and I speak to people as well. I train helpers for home makeovers, like a training manual to enhance their skills, so I’ve always worked closely with them. I also help some NGOs, so I have a few friends who are domestic workers that I talk to.
I do a lot of internalisation before I go on set and take the time to build the character and get a sense of who she is emotionally and psychologically. I read my script, but also others, so that I would know what the next scene is.
It's not often that we see Filipino representation on screen in a Hong Kong series. What does playing Gloria mean to you?
I take a lot of pride in this role because I feel a responsibility to honour Gloria without reducing her to a stereotype or a cliche [portrayal] of a Filipino helper. Casting a Filipino actress is pivotal. All roles directly challenge the old habit of typecasting us as background or support. Here, we’re not just cleaning, serving, or filling up the scene but actually driving the story. It sends a really powerful message. This role really elevated me because I’m the house manager and not just a random person. [The production team] really thought of it as a real job. I have a uniform, and I have a say. [My character] even got to smoke with my employer [in the show]. It’s my favourite scene because it changes how the audience sees us.
Gloria is not just a one-dimensional [character]; she also has desires and moral dilemmas. “Do we have to do this for the sake of doing it, or do we do the right thing?” That kind of complexity opens the door to a richer story moving forward. On a personal level, it’s been very meaningful. It sends a signal to the new generation of Filipino actors that we can and should aim beyond one-dimensional roles. Gloria’s on every episode, even if it’s just a little snippet, and I really appreciate that.
What does Gloria show us about being Filipino? Does her story fit into the larger story depicted in The Season, and in Hong Kong as a whole?
Gloria embodies a quiet, deeply human strength. It goes beyond any single identity or label. Her roots are part of her values. But what defines her is her emotional intelligence. Sometimes, we can’t hold back and just throw out words that we want to say. So the perspective she shows is her ability to navigate complex relationships with care and clarity. She’s quiet, but she’s observing things. She understands people in ways that others don’t. Carrying both empathy and insight allows her to move between worlds and connect them.
Growing up in Hong Kong, there’s a divide given within the Filipino community. I always aim for unity. We don’t need labels. In this way, Gloria opens up the door to a more nuanced and layered portrayal that allows the Filipino identity to be present. She’s a fully realised character whose story resonates across cultures.
Tell us what it's like on set, the filming, and working with such an international cast.
I have a lot of great memories with them, because we weren’t just working, but we were also having fun. During break time, we’d just eat in the corner while waiting for our scene, which built the friendship over time. We have a group chat so [that] whenever they’re in Hong Kong, I can see some of them.
I’ve become close with a few of them, like Yvonne [Chapman]. She’s lovely, and she’s one of the most humble people I’ve known. Everyone’s friendly, and it was nice to work with them. They didn’t make me feel like a newbie or a “small potato” where you sit just in the corner, but instead, made me feel that I belong. We went out together. I took them to Wong Tai Sin Temple, went to the museum, and ate together. Some of them went hiking. We did quite a few things together off-camera.
I really appreciate the production because they really included me. I’ve worked with other productions before where I didn’t get the same experience. With [The Season], I have a resting room, and I can pre-order what kind of food I want. So, I hope this is the start of protecting Filipino actors because it’s not always the same experience. I’ll stand by the right that every actor should have the same rights. Isabelle [Daza] is also part of the cast, and there’s another Filipino actress, Jayan [Marquez], who has a small part, but we all felt that the production team took care of us regardless, so I’m grateful. I hope it continues that way.
The Season touches on the themes of legacy. Many may not know the deep roots of Filipinos in Hong Kong. As a Hong Kong-based Filipino playing a Filipino character, through Gloria, what do you hope viewers will take away?
Filipinos have ties in Hong Kong, and the community is diverse. There are more Filipino stories in Hong Kong to tell. But the majority of people don’t get to see that. So more than anything, I hope viewers walk away with a greater appreciation for the unseen contribution and layered identities within Hong Kong. Gloria represents a perspective that is often present but not fully understood. Through her story, I hope that perspective feels more visible.
Filipinos have historical ties to Hong Kong, like Jose Rizal [the Philippines’ National Hero who worked and lived in Hong Kong between 1888 and 1892], and even the Philippine flag was first sewn here. There are deeper stories that I don’t think a majority of people know about. But in due time, I hope they see how great our culture is. I’ll never get tired of talking about this, and I take great pride in being a Filipino actress in Hong Kong.
If you haven’t watched it yet, please watch The Season, not only because I’m there, [laughs] but also because it’s a binge-worthy drama. It presents a mix of emotions, different relationships, and high-stakes drama. Plus, you’ll see great views of Hong Kong that you may not have seen yet in other shows.
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