Julia Christine Botin

Fil-Am actress Frankie McNellis stars in Hollywood series ‘Doctor Odyssey’

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<p>Filipino-American actress Frankie McNellis was recently seen in the ABC series &quot;Doctor Odyssey&quot; as Young Avery, the younger version of the character of played by Phillipa Soo.</p><p>Prior to &quot;Doctor Odyssey,&quot; McNellis  appeared in &quot;Black-ish&quot; (Hulu and Disney+), &quot;13: The Musical&quot; (Netflix), &quot;Honey Girls&quot; (Sony Pictures), and various Dreamworks animated series.</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1746752554336image3.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"/></div><p>When asked how she got the role, McNellis replied that she had to go through the same audition process as any other Hollywood actress.</p><p>“It was actually a brief audition process. My agents provided me the audition, which I taped at home with my mother. They approached me a few days later and offered me the role,” she said via press release.</p><p>“My mother and father have always supported my career. My mother encourages me to be authentic and strive for excellence in all acting roles. I do not believe there is such a thing as a small role. It&#x27;s really how you make every role memorable,” she added. </p><p>Critics applauded McNellis&#x27; interpretation of her role in the series, describing her as a young artist to watch out for in 2025 with a strong screen presence.</p><p>“To prepare for the role, I binge-watched the entire series. I wanted to ensure that I captured every feature and mannerism of Phillipa Soo&#x27;s character. Before shooting, I collaborated with the director to ensure that we got every aspect and viewpoint correct,” she shared.</p><p>“I learned a lot from my director and co-stars. They have demonstrated professionalism, which is extremely crucial in the entertainment industry. I was fascinated by how they accomplished it. They know exactly what they&#x27;re doing,” she added. </p><p>McNellis highlighted the beauty of acting, saying, “There is no way to accurately express it. I just adore acting because it allows me to see life from many characters&#x27; perspectives.”</p><p>McNellis also discussed her experience on set, particularly meeting Soo, who told her she could be her younger sister.</p><p>“It was so much fun. The guys and I discussed school and the realities of juggling our acting schedules. I really met Phillipa while having my hair done. She was very polite, and we were surprised at how similar we are,” she said. </p><p>McNellis is proud to represent the Filipino-American community in Hollywood. She also stated that she hopes to get the support of fellow Filipinos as she forges her own path in the entertainment industry.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1746752563895image0 (3).jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"/></div><div><br/></div><p>“While I live in America, I am always proud of my Filipino heritage. Being Filipina is a part of who I am, and I will never leave the values that have been instilled in me. Surrounding myself with my family allows me to be the most authentic version of myself. I can understand Tagalog and Kapampangan, but I only know a few words,” she proudly shared.</p><p>The young singer-actress also revealed that she is currently working on new songs and animations.</p><p>“I am working on music. I recently began teasing a few tracks on TikTok. I&#x27;m excited to see what the future holds for myself and my music. I&#x27;ve also been working on some animations. I can&#x27;t reveal too much just yet, but I&#x27;m very thrilled for you to meet my characters,” she ended. </p>

<p>Prior to "Doctor Odyssey," Frankie McNellis appeared in "Black-ish" (Hulu and Disney+), "13: The Musical" (Netflix), "Honey Girls" (Sony Pictures), and various Dreamworks animated series.</p>

Prior to "Doctor Odyssey," Frankie McNellis appeared in "Black-ish" (Hulu and Disney+), "13: The Musical" (Netflix), "Honey Girls" (Sony Pictures), and various Dreamworks animated series.