Gigette Reyes: From Teleseryes to Disney’s Freakier Friday

Veteran Filipina actress Gigette Reyes, a familiar face from teleseryes like Pangako Sa ’Yo, Darna, and Sana Maulit Muli, makes her Hollywood debut in Disney’s Freakier Friday as Loretta, the mother of Manny Jacinto’s character Eric Reyes. (Photo from Gigette Reyes’ Facebook page)

LOS ANGELES – A familiar face in Philippine television and film is making a Hollywood turn. Veteran Filipina actress Gigette Reyes, known for memorable roles in teleseryes like Pangako Sa ’Yo, Darna, and Sana Maulit Muli, appears in Disney’s highly anticipated comedy sequel Freakier Friday (2025).

A Hollywood Debut with Filipino Flavor

Reyes plays Loretta, the mother of Eric Reyes (portrayed by Filipino-Canadian actor Manny Jacinto) and the soon-to-be mother-in-law of Lindsay Lohan’s character, Anna Coleman. In a nod to her heritage, her scenes include cultural touches such as the traditional Filipino greeting “Mano po” during a family rehearsal dinner, an Easter egg that delighted Filipino audiences and underscored Disney’s embrace of diverse representation.

A Storied Career in Philippine Entertainment

Gigette Reyes is no stranger to Filipino viewers. She first rose to prominence in the 1970s, debuting in Ang Tatay Kong Nanay (1978), directed by National Artist Lino Brocka and starring Dolphy. From there, she built a decades-long career across film, television, and theater.

On television, she became a reliable supporting actress in hit dramas that defined the golden era of teleseryes – Pangako Sa ’Yo (2000), Hiram (2004), Darna (2005), Sana Maulit Muli (2007), and Lobo (2008). She also appeared in films like Chasing Fire (2013) and most recently in Vic and His Nanay (2024), a short film that screened at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.

Reyes is also a stage veteran, having been part of the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA). Now based in Los Angeles, she continues to work on projects that bridge her Filipino roots with an international audience.

A Global Milestone

With Freakier Friday, Reyes joins an ensemble cast led by Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, reprising their roles from the 2003 hit. For the actress, the cameo marks a milestone that connects her storied Philippine career with Hollywood visibility, bringing Filipino representation to a global franchise.