Some online users expressed surprise after learning that “The Pitt” actress Isa Briones is the daughter of Filipino-American actor Jon Jon Briones, known for his work in musical theater and television.
A clip of the actress at the Actor Awards 2026 (formerly Screen Actor Guild Awards or SAG Awards) was posted online, showing her being interviewed on the red carpet.
“The Pitt,” a show she stars in, won Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series at the ceremony.
Isa was among those who accepted the award on behalf of the series.
“What does it mean to be a part of the it show?” Isa was asked by a reporter during the Actor Awards red carpet event.
“It’s something I never in my wildest dreams thought I could say. I’m the daughter of an immigrant. I’m here in… with… and I have my dad with me and it’s just the most special…” the actress said.
Isa then called Jon Jon over from the background at the reporter’s encouragement.
“This is, I think, our wildest dreams,” she said.
“It’s wild because everyone in the Philippines right now are crying and their hearts are full and uh, very proud of this little one,” Jon Jon said.
They were also asked to give a shoutout to the Filipinos, to which Isa responded with a wave, “Mabuhay!”
“Kumusta na kayo lahat? Nandito kami para sa inyo,” Jon Jon said, gesturing to himself and his daughter.
‘The Pitt’s Isa Briones is joined by her dad, Jon Jon Briones, on the #ActorAwards carpet, where he shares how proud the fans in the Philippines are of her. 🥹 pic.twitter.com/HPlz6455oh
— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) March 1, 2026
The video has earned 8,800 likes, 1,500 reposts, and 31 replies so far, with some X (formerly Twitter) users expressing surprise at her relationship to Jon Jon.
“Omg, I didn’t realise she was from the Philippines,” an online user commented.
“Oh, didn’t know she’s the daughter of Jonjon Briones! Another brilliant Filipino actor!” another wrote with a heart emoji.
“That’s her DAD????? This is very, very slay,” a different X user commented.
“No wonder she’s a good singer. [Her] father is one of the best Filipino performers,” another wrote.
“Isa Briones’ father is THE JON JON BRIONES OF MISS SAIGON? Get outta here!” a different online user commented.
Jon Jon is born and raised in the Philippines before moving to the United States in 1997.
He is known for appearing in Ryan Murphy productions such as “Ratched,” “American Horror Story: Apocalypse,” and “American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace.”
Jon is also renowned for his theater accomplishments, including his critically acclaimed portrayal of The Engineer in the “Miss Saigon” revival in London’s West End and on Broadway.
Meanwhile, Isa portrayed Dr. Trinity Santos in the Emmy-award-winning medical drama “The Pitt,” which follows the challenges faced by healthcare workers through the lens of frontliners at a Pittsburgh hospital.
Apart from this, she also had a starring role in “Star Trek: Picard” and appeared in the first season of “Goosebumps.”
A video of Jon Jon and Issa doing an impromptu “I’m an actor” spiel was also posted by ABS-CBN Hollywood correspondent Yong Chavez, in which the patriarch delivered his lines in Filipino.
“I’ve been covering SAG-AFTRA’s @actorawards for more than a decade now, and this year, Pinoy representation broke another record with The Pitt and Sinners winning,” she wrote.
“I asked proud Isa Briones dad/amazing actor @jonjonbriones to do an impromptu ‘I’m an actor’ spiel — because I know, one day soon, our talents will be front and center, opening the show with their own actor stories. That he did it in Tagalog is a delicious ube on top of this special halo-halo red carpet moment,” Yong added.
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This was not the first time an actor of Filipino descent graced the awards ceremony.
In 2019, Darren Criss, an actor of Filipino descent on his mother’s side, took home the award for Best Actor in a Limited Series, making him the first Filipino to be recognized by the award-giving body.
READ: Darren Criss’ Golden Globes win and his Filipino ‘firecracker mom’
