In Conversation With Eva Noblezada
Eva was photographed at the Civilian Hotel in New York by Alison Engstrom; she was styled by Sarah Slutsky at The Wall Group; assisted by Carlee Princell; on-site styling assistance by Seela Meehan; Hair by Sky Kim at The Only Agency; Makeup by Liz Olivier for Exclusive Artists using Dear Dahlia Beauty.
Congratulations on all of the projects you have recently created! Before we chat about that, I’d love to start of when you decided to pursue performing. When you look back, what were your initial dreams and goals when you started out?
I didn’t know what dreams were back then, I just knew what made me happy and for me, it was singing and storytelling. I remember when my grandparents lived in San Diego, my Papa had all of these tools and one day I was so inspired that I asked him if I could make a stage, I was five. I am sure it was dangerous getting wood and nails, but that was my Filipino grandfather (laughs). I got a bunch of plastic chairs, told everyone I was going to put on a show and that everyone needed to pay for tickets. I don’t remember how much I was charging, but I employed my cousin and said, you have to take their money and show them to their seats. I wouldn't even know what I was going to do (laughs).
How did you find your way from San Diego to New York?
My parents moved when I was seven or eight to Charlotte. They were young when they had me and the neighborhood they had me in wasn’t the best, I guess you could say. We had family who had moved out to Charlotte and the pictures they sent us were so green, and lush; it was a lot cheaper and there was more space. So my parents decided to take that brave step and move across the country in our Suburban. It was just the three of us, but I am glad they did it.
While we were in North Carolina, I was able to reunite with my auntie, my dad’s cousin, who was on Broadway—she was a dancer, singer, and musician. The second she heard me singing and found out what I wanted to do, she put the key to the ignition and told me, you can do that, that’s a thing you can achieve. She was so supportive, anything I had questions about she had answers for. You need people like that in your life, who support you no matter what, and my auntie was definitely that person. If there were any open calls in Charlotte, she would take me and make sure I was taking piano and guitar lessons. What got me to New York was the Miss Saigon audition when I was in high school, which she coached me through. I found casting director Tara Rubin through the Jimmy Awards, when I was in high school, and that’s what led me to New York. I did a five-year detour in the West End. You can’t imagine all of the amazing things that can happen in your life, you just have to be ready.
Above Eva is wearing a jacket and skirt by Elisabetta Franchi; earrings by State Property; rings by Fernando Jorge and KATKIM.
Was there ever a moment or instance where you knew you would be able to ‘make it’ in the industry?
I think I learned early on I can’t think I am safe in something that isn’t living or breathing. The industry employs humans but it’s not human itself. I had to make sure I could be my safety and that’s a huge challenge. I am very privileged to have a background in doing concerts and during the pandemic when everything stopped, I said I would be happy to be a bartender. Life isn’t all about performing, I had to learn that early on. I used to think, this is it, this is everything and it’s my whole life, but no, your whole life is bigger than this. When it comes to performing, you see what you want, you work for it, and if you get rejected it’s not that you aren’t good enough, the universe has something better for you, you just don’t know about it yet.
If you could give your younger self the wisdom about the industry that you know now, what would it be?
I never really wished that I knew something different back then because I am very happy with the woman I am right now. I needed to go through those lessons and I needed to make massive mistakes. I needed to know what it felt like to treat myself like shit in order to be like, we cannot do this anymore; or, that being burned out is what happens when I am not taking care of myself and I’m letting my job take over my life in a way that is not healthy. I needed to learn those things but my gosh, it was rough. Even though I learned those lessons when I was very young, I am glad I did because I feel at my age now, I am set up for my version of success.
That’s great, I am also a big believer in paying wisdom forward to help someone maybe suffer a little less.
I forget who said this to me, but it always stuck with me. This person was trying to give me advice, but I was so overwhelmed with everything. They said, I can give you all of the advice I want to give you but you have to be ready to hear it. I am just giving you these seeds, feel free to plant them when you are ready and feel free to water them when it feels applicable to your life. I thought that was an open and organic way of being a sponge and learning lessons as you get older. You don’t have to force yourself to be a better person, just be open to the idea of change and treat yourself and others with respect.
You are a two-time Tony nominee, a Grammy winner, really amazing! Out of all the things you have accomplished so far, what are you are the most proud of?
Who I am as a person. I struggled with bulimia quite severely when I lived in London. I started seeing a therapist from the age of 17 and I am proud of myself for always showing up for myself even at a young age. I am also not ignoring that voice that is constantly surrounding me. When it becomes the voice in the back of your head, it means you have buried your innate, authentic self with dreams of society rather than what you believe to be true for yourself. I am so glad I stuck with myself, I pushed myself, and gave myself chances to recover. I am glad I made such hard decisions in my life that maybe for others looked really messy, but honestly I don’t give a shit what anyone else thinks. They don’t know who I am. I am so grateful that I continue to nourish the relationships I have in my life–the friendships I have made are everything to me and that’s what I am the most proud of. The awards and accolades are incredible, I didn’t just win the Grammy for Hadestown, I was part of something bigger than me. The Tony’s are great to celebrate with each other, I just wish there was a chance to recognize everything and everyone. Sure nominations add a certain dazzle to a category in my life, but for me at least, there are so many other things out there that deserve my time and energy. I don’t feel sad about not winning because we all have jobs and we all are healthy.
Above Eva is wearing a dress by Christopher John Rogers; rings by KATKIM; and earrings by Grace Lee.
It’s really healthy, admirable, and something we should all aspire to equate our successes with our self-worth. Now to talk about Easter Sunday from comedian Jo Koy–which is so hilarious–where you play tala. What was your reaction when you first got acclimated with the project?
I don’t usually see scripts for auditions but I had a general idea of the movie, obviously, I was going to jump at the fact that it was an all-Filipino cast. Also, if I could get a job during the pandemic, when we were unemployed for a year and six months, then absolutely that would be great.
I always like to ask in your words and for those who haven’t tuned in yet, can you share what it’s about and how does your character Ruth come into the picture?
It’s about the rawness of family. It’s about the curiosity and the realness of being first-generation living in America and having stereotypes and biases pushed against you. Hopefully, everyone has family and they know what it feels like to love and to be loved by your family members. It’s also about knowing where you came from. In the movie Lou Diamond Phillips says, you have to come home sometimes. I love that because it’s so easy to get swept up in the hype of everything, I get overwhelmed and I forget who I am. It’s because I am focusing on things that aren’t living and using all of my energy towards something that isn’t what I want. Also, representation does matter; I wish there were more Filipinos and people of color on creative teams. I am glad to be in the room but until there are people who look like me in all corners of the room and we are seen as equals in that space, then I will feel like we made it.
I read your great Variety essay about representation and how you reflect upon that fact that this is the first film that’s entirely Filipino, except for Tiffany Haddish. What have fans of the film said to you about it so far?
From what I have seen, people seem to really enjoy it. Filipinos are the best–our culture is super special, I don’t even know how to describe it. I love seeing pictures of these massive Filipino families posing next to the film’s poster. I’m excited to show my future kids, and I am so happy my brother and sister loved it.
Now to talk about the apple tv+ Film Luck, where you are the voice of Sam the main character. Can you talk about the creative process of stepping into the new form of animation?
It was so different, I thought it was going to be a walk in the park because I am a singer and I use my voice. I thought I would go in there and read the script, but it really involves your whole entire body. I never got to meet the rest of the cast in real-time but I really didn’t need to because Peggy (Holmes), the Director, was reading all my lines with me and her energy was always extremely infectious and high. I grew up loving animation, I watch it all of the time, so to be the voice for someone like Sam, the lead of the movie, is nutzo to me. I still can’t believe I am seeing these billboards, it’s just crazy.
Above Eva is wearing earrings by Grace Lee.
I always find movies like this for younger audiences to be quite meaningful and prolific. What do you hope your young audience take away from it?
I hope that they see the importance of a forever family, it’s something my character is looking for. She grew up in the foster care system, which I know in America is quite broken. I find it wonderful that an animated movie chooses to put in real and raw subjects to hopefully inspire empathy and a wider perspective of the world. I didn't know about the foster care system when I was five or six years old.
Sam is searching for her forever family and for her friend Hazel, who is young and in the foster care system. She wants to find the people who don’t leave and who stick with you no matter what. I hope that whoever watches it are thankful for their forever family or that they want to add more people to their forever family, whether that is the family they are born into or the one they put together in their life. My character is very clumsy and goes through a lot of bad things when she comes to this point where she thinks she’s bad. I hope when young people see it they realize they will make mistakes and have messy moments in their life but it doesn’t mean you are a bad person. Everyone sees themselves in each of the characters and I think that’s a great aspect of a movie.
It’s a great message for kids and adukts alike. I Always like to ask, is there something you want dream to do that you haven’t yet?
One of my funny dreams—because I don’t want to take it too seriously— is that I’d love to be a Bond Girl. Not the one that is beautiful, 5’8” and dies–I want to be the one kicking ass and taking names. I also want to relax. I have been doing this show schedule for some time and I feel exhausted and grateful, but I am excited to see what comes into the next chapter of my life. I have goals and aspirations, but at the moment I just have to take it one day at a time.
Follow Eva Noblezada on instagram
catch ‘easter sunday’ in theaters or stream on netflix
stream ‘luck’ on apple tv+
Catch Eva in ‘Hadestown’ on Broadway
A special thank you to this team, Wolf-Kasteler PR, M18 PR, and the Civilian Hotel