‘The Rings of Power’ stars feel lucky to have Filipino fans

MANILA, Philippines — They say fans can make or break a show — or even a star. For these cast members of Prime Video’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” they believe that if you’re lucky enough to have a Pinoy fan, you’re set for life.

When The STAR attended the media junket in Singapore for the Asian premiere of the show’s second season, we were surprised by how Puerto Rican actor Ismael Cruz Córdova and Australian actor-singer Tyroe Muhafidin quickly turned our exclusive interview into an opportunity to discuss their Filipino fans.

In the new season of the show, set in Middle-earth’s Second Age — thousands of years before the events in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” — Ismael reprises his role as the elf-soldier Arondir. He becomes the protector of Tyroe’s character, Theo, after the latter’s mother — Arondir’s human lover, Bronwyn — fails to survive an orc attack in Season 1.

Even before starring in “The Rings of Power,” Ismael, whose previous TV roles included Mando in “Sesame Street” and Hector Campos in “Ray Donovan,” shared that Filipinos were among his “OG (original) fans” from the onset of his acting career.

“I’ve not yet been to the Philippines, but I have to,” he told this writer. “I have such, like, great Filipino friends. All my best friends are from the Philippines, so I have a lot of titas and lolas.

“Also, I have very good, very passionate fans from the Philippines. Every time I do a ‘live’ (on social media), they’re right there. And they go, ‘When are you coming? When are you coming?’

“And remember Dayanara Torres?”

Of course, who doesn’t know the former Miss Universe, who endeared herself to local pageant fans and, for a time, pursued showbiz in the country?

“She’s from Puerto Rico,” Ismael continued. “I’m from Puerto Rico.”

“So, I mean, there are so many things that are calling me to the Philippines. I’m supposed to go there at the end of November for a wedding,” he said.

Tyroe, for his part, also revealed his Pinoy connection.

“I have so many friends from the Philippines. My very best friend is Filipino,” said the young actor listed in Variety’s 2022 Power of Young Hollywood.

“And I have so much love for