Throughout its eight-week run, iWant Original series "Nurse the Dead" consistently secured a spot among the Top 10 most-watched shows on the streaming platform—even beyond its season finale premiered on July 31.
With how it seamlessly blends supernatural comedy and heartwarming drama, splendidly showcases the talents of Filipino actors and creatives, effectively resonates with viewers' personal experiences, and astonishingly displays the heart, culture, and traditions of various ethnicities as represented by the actors, the series earned praises from viewers in the Philippines and around the world.
But apart from its refreshing and interesting narrative, another factor that made the series particularly special was the return of four seasoned Filipina actresses whom audiences had not seen on screen for years: Princess Punzalan, Ruby Rodriguez, Tootsie Guevarra, and Gigette Reyes.
During the global media day of "Nurse the Dead" which was livestreamed on iWant’s official Facebook page on July 31 ahead of the season finale, the four actresses enthusiastically shared their experiences on the series—one that marked a long-awaited comeback for each of them.
Princess, best known for her kontrabida portrayals in teleseryes and films such as the legendary "Mula Sa Puso," moved to the United States to pursue a career in nursing and settled in California with her family. For her, joining "Nurse the Dead" was both exciting and meaningful.
"I was very excited and grateful that we have this project because it felt nice to be able to do what I actually do in real life, except for the character also. But I was also excited to be able to guide in some ways I can guide," she stated. "I felt like I had the responsibility to help guide on what really happens and how things are done at the hospital."
She received praise from their director, writer, and showrunner Mark Labella for her commitment and dedication to this project, as she managed to balance filming with her full-time job at the hospital. According to Director Mark, there were times when Princess would finish a 6 AM shift and head straight to the set without getting any sleep or rest.
Despite the exhausting schedule, she was amazed by how she'd remained in good spirits and never missed a line as Camille Alejandro, one of the nurses assigned to the notoriously haunted Ward 5 who was introduced to be a former prominent young star in the Philippines—just quite exactly like her in real life!
PHOTOS: Go behind the scenes of “Nurse the Dead” with these candid moments shared by the Pinoy cast
Humbled by the remark, the former primera kontrabida, commented, "'Pag mahal mo talaga ang ginagawa mo, gusto mo ang ginagawa mo, you'll do everything to make it possible. Para mangyari siya."
Ruby, meanwhile, brought plenty of personality and humor to the series as Ros, the spunky janitress of Ward 5. After leaving her decades-long hosting stint on the Philippines’ longest-running noontime TV show, Ruby migrated to the United States and eventually worked at the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles.
According to her, being part of "Nurse the Dead" allowed her not just to go back to acting but also to reunite with old friends and former colleagues she had worked with throughout her showbiz career.
"I was like, 'Oh my God, I'm going to work with my friends! I'm gonna work with all my buddies that I've worked with in the Philippines!' It's so fun working, especially when you're doing something that you really, really love and then missing it so much," she enthused.
Ruby actually hadn't realized how much she missed acting until she arrived on the set for their first day of taping. She expressed how she genuinely enjoyed working with everyone and quickly grew fond of the cast and crew, who affectionately called her “Ta Rubs.” For Ruby, being called by the nickname felt like a term of endearment—and a reflection of the close bond that developed among everyone on set.
She also relished the opportunity to work again with her “old buddies,” Princess and Gigette, whom she had known and worked with in the Philippines. Making this experience extra surreal and fun for her was when she and Gigette discovered while doing the series that they're actually cousins, so they've been attending family reunions together.
For Gigette, “Nurse the Dead” was nothing short of an answered prayer.
“I haven’t been able to pursue acting since 2010, since my son and I moved because he wanted to go to college here and I had to hold down a full-time job to support him and all that. So, I had to put acting aside for so long,” she recounted.
Just when she was already gearing up to finally pursue acting again after retiring at 62, it got postponed due to the historic Writers Guild of America strike that transpired in 2023. She found it so hard to even get in, so she prayed and prayed for a series and "Nurse the Dead" finally came.
Lastly, for Tootsie, she shared the things that she would cherish the most about this experience and the lessons she will carry on in her acting journey moving forward. A former singer and actress in the Philippines, Tootsie moved to the US two decades ago and is now a healthcare executive. Thus, for her, the project was another opportunity to reconnect with a career she had once devoted much of her life to.
Tootsie began by expressing how grateful she was with directors Mark and Wesley Villarica when they reached out to her about joining the series.
Drawing from her current profession and her years in showbiz, Tootsie hoped she was able to do justice to the role of Zeny, the arrogant nurse supervisor of Ward 1, because she personally wanted to live a life of legacy. As someone whose ambition was really to become an actor, she considers this stint a huge addition not only in her résumé but also as a deeply personal experience.
And while the four actresses have spent years building lives and careers in the United States, their return to Philippine showbiz may not be entirely out of the question. When asked whether they would be willing to return to the Philippines should a golden acting opportunity come their way, Princess, Ruby, Gigette, and Tootsie all answered "yes."
For these four actresses, "Nurse the Dead" was more than just a television comeback. It was a reunion with a craft they had missed, a chance to reconnect with old friends, and a reminder that sometimes, the right opportunity comes along precisely when you least expect it.
This iWant milestone series also stars Filipina-American actress Jelynn Malone as lead character Noa Reyes and Anthony Jennings as the Grim Reaper, alongside an ensemble cast.
Catch all eight episodes of “Nurse the Dead” on iWant, with subscription plans starting at P35/month in the Philippines and USD 4.99/month in the US and available in other countries worldwide (promo price in the US is valid until October 31, 2026).
Enjoy all the feels you want, only on iWant, the Home of Filipino Feels. Download the iWant app and subscribe through Google Play or the Apple App Store.
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