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Rising Actor Sam Morelos on Embracing Filipino Pride and Bringing Lexie to Life in 'Regretting You'

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Lance Joseph Martinez

<p>Filipinos have always taken immense pride whenever someone with Filipino roots rises and showcases their talent on the international stage. Whether it’s in a singing competition like <strong>Jessica Sanchez</strong>, being part of a global project like <strong>KATSEYE’s</strong> <strong>Sophia</strong>, or in the acting field like acclaimed actress <strong>Dolly De Leon</strong>, the Filipino community never fails to celebrate one of their own.</p><p>And this time, another Filipino-American talent is steadily making noise in the global scene—<strong>Sam Morelos</strong>, a rising actor who continues to prove that Filipino artistry knows no bounds.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760675308700morelos_sam_1747271850_3632702036017320769_7964738295 (1).jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo by @emilysoto via @morelos_sam</span></span></span> </div><p>Sam, who previously headlined the Hollywood film <strong><em>Summer of 69</em></strong>, portrayed <em></em><strong>Lexie</strong><em></em> in the upcoming romantic drama <em><strong>Regretting You</strong></em>, a film adaptation of <strong>Colleen Hoover’s</strong> 2019 novel of the same name.</p><p>Set to be released in Philippine cinemas on October 22, 2025, <em>Regretting You</em><em></em><strong><em></em></strong> explores the strained relationship between a young mother, Morgan Grant (<strong>Allison Williams)</strong>, and her teenage daughter, Clara (<strong>Mckenna Grace</strong>). The tension between them worsens after the tragic death of Morgan’s husband, Chris (<strong>Scott Eastwood</strong>), and her sister and Jonah&#x27;s (<strong>Dave Franco</strong>) wife, Jenny (<strong>Willa Fitzgerald</strong>), forcing both women to navigate life, love, and loss together.</p><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="925" height="525" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eAQzHAFixzM?si=uKJTg-Sey4YFqp3V" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>As one of the cast members of the upcoming adaptation, Sam shared in an exclusive interview with <strong>Metro.Style</strong> how they prepared for the role by reading the source material to deeply understand the essence of their character.</p><p>“Reading the book was an amazing tool for me to understand Lexie and have a reference point for my character work, and I feel my adaptation of Lexie’s character and the film as a whole uses the book as a solid foundation to build this world upon,” they shared.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760675817819Regretting You_Josh Boone, Mckenna Grace, Mason Thames, Sam Morelos.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">(From left) Director Josh Boone, Mckenna Grace, Mason Thames and Sam Morelos | Photo from @regrettingyoumovie</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Sam expressed how every film adaptation comes with the challenge of not only staying true to the book but also capturing its emotional depth and expanding the narrative for the screen. For them, understanding the book was crucial to portraying Lexie authentically, and one of the aspects they admired most about the story was its raw depiction of family and grief.</p><p>“My favorite part of <em>Regretting You</em> is its emphasis on family and how grief can transform your relationships with the other people in your life. Every event in this story traces back to love, loss, and how to grow from it,” they revealed.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760675969101Screenshot 2025-10-17 at 12.21.50 PM.png" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Screenshot from Paramount Pictures</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>When asked about the film’s tagline—“Risk everything, regret nothing”—Sam reflected on how this powerful phrase has influenced their own outlook in life since reading the novel.</p><p>“I’m currently in the process of adopting this mindset. As someone who constantly runs through the ‘what ifs’ of my life, I’ve grown weary of second-guessing or doubting myself. It’s a terrifying thing to risk everything, to wholly commit to living your life without any promise that it’ll all work out,” they opened up.</p><p>For Sam, taking risks is something that has become increasingly important, especially now that they’re entering their 20s and learning to embrace new experiences.</p><p>“But without that risk, all the ‘what ifs’ spiral into regrets, forcing you to live off the sidelines of your own life. As I begin my 20s, I’m learning how to ‘risk everything’ by saying yes to new experiences in my life and growing from them,” they added.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760675998823Screenshot 2025-10-17 at 12.22.06 PM.png" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Screenshot from Paramount Pictures</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>As a Filipino-American, Sam proudly shared how their cultural identity has always been central to their journey as an actor, something they hold as a non-negotiable in their craft.</p><p>“One of the reasons I do what I do is to amplify Pinoy voices and to tell our stories. I have an immense pride in being a first-generation Filipino-American; it is the one non-negotiable I have when I’m acting,” they said.</p><p>“There is no character that I play that will not be Filipino because my skin is the one thing I cannot take off, and I don’t want to,” they added.</p><p>For Sam, representing Filipino culture in international productions is not only an honor but also a mission that feels personal and deeply fulfilling.</p><p>“To represent my culture and my people on such a platform as this feels like I’m fulfilling a role I wish I had in the media growing up,” they said.</p><p>They also took a moment to express gratitude to the Filipino community, whose warmth and encouragement have played a huge part in their growing success.</p><p>“The Filipino community has been so generous with their love and support, and I am so grateful to be in the ranks of other Pinoy creatives that I respect and admire. With every new project, our voices are only growing louder. This is just the beginning,” they added.</p><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/CdTYL77LXYS/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=1080&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A1018610%2C%22ls%22%3A731430.0000000001%2C%22le%22%3A732432%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="587" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>Before wrapping up the interview, Sam became candid about the kind of artist they aspire to be, one who leads with honesty and depth in every role they take on.</p><p>“The artist I want to be known for is an honest one, so the roles I wish to take on or that pique my interest don’t necessarily have a through line other than characters with a deeply rooted want for something specific, something bigger than themselves,” they revealed.</p><p>“I never want to pigeonhole myself as an artist or stick to one kind of character—I love the challenge of creating a person completely different from who I am in my personal life,” they added.</p><p>To conclude, Sam emphasized their desire to remain authentic, fearless, and constantly learning, both as an artist and as a person.</p><p>“The artist I want to be known for is authentic and unafraid, one who is a good listener and a never-ending student of the craft. I think the artist I want to be known for is also the kind of person I strive to be,” they shared.</p><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-4" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/CXXIGZtPaDG/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=1080&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A4%2C%22os%22%3A1068329%2C%22ls%22%3A731430.0000000001%2C%22le%22%3A732432%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="542" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-4" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>From the best-selling author of <em>It Ends with Us </em>and the director of <em>The Fault in Our Stars</em>, <em>Regretting You</em> is a story of growth, resilience, and self-discovery in the aftermath of tragedy. Directed by Josh Boone, based on Colleen Hoover&#x27;s book, the movie stars Allison Williams, Mckenna Grace, Dave Franco, Mason Thames, and Sam Morelos, with Scott Eastwood, Willa Fitzgerald, and Clancy Brown.  <em></em><br/></p><div><strong><em></em><em>Regretting You opens only in cinemas on October 22.</em></strong><strong></strong><em><br/></em><em></em></div><div><br/></div><p>Photos from <strong>@morelos_sam</strong>,<strong> @regrettingyoumovie</strong>, and <strong>Paramount Pictures</strong><strong></strong></p>

<p>Another Filipino-American talent is steadily making noise in the global scene—<b>Sam Morelos</b>, a rising actor who continues to prove that Filipino artistry knows no bounds.</p>

Another Filipino-American talent is steadily making noise in the global scene— Sam Morelos , a rising actor who continues to prove that Filipino artistry knows no bounds.

Metro Exclusive: Sam Morelos on Embracing Filipino Pride and Bringing Lexie to Life in 'Regretting You'

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Metro Exclusive: Sam Morelos on Embracing Filipino Pride and Bringing Lexie to Life in 'Regretting You'

Lance Joseph Martinez

Published Oct 17, 2025 02:00 PM PHT

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Updated Oct 17, 2025 02:05 PM PHT

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Sam Morelos

Regretting You

Colleen Hoover

Pinoy pride

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Josh Boone

Allison Williams

Mckenna Grace

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