MANILA, Philippines — Filipino-American Darren Criss, who won the Golden Globe for his performance in “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story,” thanked his Filipino mother onstage, saying he’s proud to be the son “of a firecracker Filipino woman,” according to online reports yesterday.
“This has been a marvelous year for representation in Hollywood, and I am so enormously proud to be a teeny, tiny part of that, as the son of a firecracker Filipino woman,” Criss said in his speech during the awarding ceremonies on the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday night.
“Mom, I know you are watching this. You are hugely responsible for most of the good things in my life. I love you dearly. I dedicate this to you.”
Backstage, the actor explained his sentiment (especially as he was criticized in the past for how he’s spoken about his racial background).
“I always tell people, being half Filipino is one of my favorite things about myself because I had no control over that,” he explained. “I feel like I’ve been given a superhero cape.
“If there’s any young (people), either half-Filipino or full, or anyone in the Filipino community that looks to my work as a source of inspiration or direction, sign me up,” he added.
“I’m on board for that. It’s a great privilege and it means the world to me. I’m very proud.”
Criss also spoke to reporters of his parents individually. Criss’ mother is a native of Cebu while his father is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
“They’re kind of my biggest bragging rights,” he said.
“My dad taught me how to make other people more comfortable, and my mother was the other half, and taught me how to be comfortable with yourself. They were both very supportive at an early age.”
Before his breakout role as Andrew Cunanan in “The Assassination of Gianni Versace,” Criss was best known for his portrayal of Blaine Anderson on the Fox musical comedy-drama series Glee. In January 2012, Criss made his Broadway debut, replacing Daniel Radcliffe in the role of J. Pierrepont Finch in the revival of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”