Jamaine Punzalan

Fil-Am actress plays White House chief of staff in Netflix's ‘The Residence’

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<div><br/></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1902434931365630399&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring&amp;sessionId=217f7db0d5ca6659e765dce245414e692ca24a43&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:550px;height:873px;display:block;flex-grow:1" data-tweet-id="1902434931365630399"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><p>Netflix’s latest murder-mystery-comedy series, &quot;The Residence&quot;, brings a refreshing perspective to one of the most iconic buildings in the world: the White House. Instead of focusing on politicians, the show delves into the lives of those who keep the presidential residence running—the dedicated staff members who serve behind the scenes.</p><p>Fil-Am actress Sumalee Montano is part of its powerhouse ensemble cast and she plays the White House Chief of Staff. The series is led by Uzo Aduba, best known for her role in &quot;Orange Is the New Black&quot;. Aduba plays a sharp and witty investigator who approaches her job with a unique perspective.</p><p>“She really loves her job, and she was excellent at it,” Aduba shared in an interview. “She could see things that other people couldn’t and put pieces together in ways others might not have considered.”</p><p>The cast also includes Randall Park, one of AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) trailblazers in Hollywood. For Park, the show was an eye-opening experience.</p><p>“When I think of the White House, I think of the politicians, the President, and all the intrigue,” Park said. “But I never think of the everyday people. That’s the beauty of this show—it spotlights the workers who are there for every administration.”</p><p>Another notable in the cast is Susan Kelechi Watson, widely recognized from &quot;This Is Us&quot;. Unlike Aduba’s detective character, Watson admitted she wasn’t a fan of suspense in real life.</p><p>“I don’t like surprises, so I wanted to know who did it right away,” she said. “That’s why I don’t watch thrillers or horror films—don’t pop up on me. Let me know you’re coming. I want to prepare.”</p><p>With Shonda Rhimes, the mastermind behind Grey’s Anatomy, serving as one of the executive producers, The Residence offers a compelling mix of murder mystery and sharp humor. But beyond its entertaining plot, the show provides a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the White House, highlighting the often-overlooked individuals who ensure everything runs smoothly.</p><p>The show’s dedication to authenticity extends to the costume design as well. Aduba expressed particular love for a key wardrobe piece:</p><p>“Our costume designer, Lyn Paolo, described my jacket as a superhero cape, and I totally felt that when I wore it. It really bridged the traditional elements of detective stories with a fresh, modern take on the genre.”</p><p>While political dramas often focus on those in power, The Residence shifts the spotlight to the people who serve. The series reminds audiences that the White House is more than just a political hub—it’s a workplace, a home, and a place where history unfolds daily.</p><p>With its unique concept, diverse cast, and gripping storytelling, The Residence, now streaming on Netflix, is not just another whodunit, it’s also a tribute to the unsung heroes of the White House.</p>

<p>While political dramas often focus on those in power, The Residence shifts the spotlight to the people who serve. The series reminds audiences that the White House is more than just a political hub—it’s a workplace, a home, and a place where history unfolds daily.</p>

While political dramas often focus on those in power, The Residence shifts the spotlight to the people who serve. The series reminds audiences that the White House is more than just a political hub—it’s a workplace, a home, and a place where history unfolds daily.

Fil-Am actress plays White House chief of staff in Netflix series ‘The Residence’

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Fil-Am actress plays White House chief of staff in Netflix series ‘The Residence’

Yong Chavez

Published Mar 25, 2025 10:46 AM PHT

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