Donna Cariaga looks back on unexpected acting journey: ‘I didn’t even plan on becoming an actor’

Actress and comedian Donna Cariaga looked back on her journey in the entertainment industry, from her beginnings in theater to finding her place on television, film, and the stage.

 In an Instagram post, Donna reflected on how her love for acting began almost by accident when she was still in college.

 “Before the cameras, there was theater. I accidentally joined Tanghalang SLU in college because I needed to support myself through school. I didn’t even plan on becoming an actor. Plot twist: naging buhay ko pala,” Donna first shared.

 Despite being known for her comedic personality and being comfortable in front of an audience, Donna revealed that she is actually an introvert—a contrast she has learned to navigate throughout her career.

 “I’m actually an introvert with an extremely extroverted job. My job requires me to talk to strangers, cry in front of people, make people laugh, perform in front of hundreds of people, attend events, network, audition, pitch myself…then go home and not talk to anyone for 3 business days,” she added.

 Her journey took a major turn in 2017 when she moved to Manila on her own to pursue more opportunities in acting: “I moved to Manila with no manager and honestly… no connections. So most of the time, ang diskarte ko: ‘Sige, audition lang.’ Tapos bahala na si Lord.”

 Fortunately, a new door opened for Donna with It’s Showtime’s Funny One segment. “Then Funny One happened. One audition changed the trajectory of my life. From someone who was trying to figure out where acting could take me… biglang may nakakakilala na sa pangalan ko.“

 Winning the second edition of Funny One in 2017 gave Donna her unexpected entry into the mainstream entertainment industry, but it also came with a new kind of pressure.

 “And suddenly, people expected me to be funny. Which is a different kind of pressure when you personality is actually just…tahmik. Wow! I won Funny One in 2017, and that became my unexpected entry point into the mainstream industry,” she said.

 Donna also acknowledged the challenges that came with becoming more visible in the industry.

 “And yes, being visible means people will have opinions about you. Some people will love you. Some people will make fun of you. Some people will reduce you to a meme, a face, a joke, a bad performance, a weird outfit, a bad angle. And sometimes you laugh with them. Sometimes it hurts.”

 Despite the challenges and uncertainties that come her way, Donna said she continues to pursue the craft and take on opportunities that once seemed out of reach.

 “I still don’t have the most connected path in this industry. I still audition. I still get rejected. I still get nervous. I still question myself. But I also keep getting opportunities I once thought were impossible,” she wrote.

 “From a little theater in Baguio… to television… to comedy….. to films… to stages and sets I used to only dream about. So maybe being a freelance actor isn’t about having a straight path. Maybe it’s about being willing to keep walking even when you have no idea where the next job is coming from,” she continued.

 Looking ahead, Donna remains committed to growing as an actor while embracing the different roles she has taken on throughout her career.

 “So, hi. I’m Donna. Actor. Comedian. Theater kid. Freelancer. Professional auditioner. Occasional overthinker. Still building a career. Still figuring it out. Still saying yes to the next thing,” she said.

 Since winning the second edition of It’s Showtime’s Funny One, Donna has gone on to appear in various television series and films, including Rabid, On the Job: The Missing 8, 18th Rose, A Very Good Girl, A Lab Story, FPJ’s Batang Quiapo, and Mujigae, among others.

 Currently, she is among the new batch of comedians and personalities in the second season of LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines hosted by Vice Ganda.