SPOILER ALERT: This interview comprises spoilers for “Central,” the fifth episode of “Expats,” now streaming on Prime Video.

Lulu Wang’s “Expats” steps into feature-length territory for this week’s episode, which focuses on the working class ladies by diving into the lives of the assistance, Essie (Ruby Ruiz) and Puri (Amelyn Pardenilla). The story steps away from the rich world of Margaret (Nicole Kidman) and Hillary (Sarayu Blue), as a substitute following Essie and Puri on their time without work, unwinding from their hectic work. 

Poor Essie has spent a lot of the sequence fraught with guilt over the disappeareance of Margaret’s son, Gus, blaming herself for not being there the night time the younger boy vanished on the Night time Market. Early on this week’s episode, the nanny is Facetiming together with her son, who’s within the Philippines, anticipating that she’s going to return “quickly.” Essie believes Margaret will head again to America together with her husband and household and terminate her within the course of.

As a substitute, she will get the shock of her life when Margaret sits her down and confesses her torment. Her jealousy over Gus’ closeness to Essie led her to ask Mercy (Ji-Younger Yoo) for assist that night time. In an emotional second, Margaret makes a suggestion that’s simply too good to be true – inviting her to work for the household in America. Essie is then confronted together with her personal new battle: does she return house as she had hoped or does she transfer to America? 

Ruiz displays on the episode, breaking down in tears as she recollects being despatched a video of Wang throughout a Q&A, during which the present’s creator and director praised her: “Ruby is the center and soul of your entire present.”

“I can’t clarify how glad I’m,” Ruiz tells Selection. “Taking part in Essie, I didn’t have that intention. I’m doing my half. Listening to that from a director who I really admire is like getting an award. It validated all the pieces that I did.”

Learn on for the complete dialog with Ruiz.

This episode is a change of tempo, wanting into the lives of Abroad Filipino Employees (OFW). What was it like studying the script for it and seeing what Wang and the group had achieved to inform their story?

I used to be actually stunned. I couldn’t assist however name Lulu and inform her this was unbelievable. I used to be studying one thing that basically speaks to the lives of Filipino employees. After I obtained to the scene between Essie and Margaret, I needed to cease as a result of I might see her dilemma. I might really feel how harm she was for all the pieces that had occurred to Gus and the way she blames herself for all the pieces. She doesn’t perceive why she wasn’t on the night time market. And for the primary time, she understands Margaret as she’s opening as much as her. 

Nicely, studying it was one factor. What was it like appearing that scene out with Nicole Kidman and having all of it come collectively?

Proper earlier than the take, Lulu requested me if I used to be nervous. I wasn’t as a result of I used to be utterly zoned in as Essie. As Essie, she’s going by these feelings pondering she is about to be fired. As a substitute, we hear how Margaret is tormented, however how necessary Essie is to the household and desires to carry her to the USA. Nicole Kidman had an extended monologue, and I simply had to have a look at her and hearken to her intently as I had by no means heard these traces earlier than. I did nothing however hear and react to her. The second she stated how a lot Essie meant to the household, I began to cry. It wasn’t within the script, however I couldn’t assist however really feel these phrases. I couldn’t assist however have these tears stream. Nicole was simply so convincing as Margaret. It jogged my memory of the time I needed to say goodbye to an employer once I was a nanny in Toronto. Despite the fact that it was a unique state of affairs, there was this parallel. I felt that Nicole and I have been linked at that very particular second. 

There are unbelievable nuances within the episode which might be particular to Filipino tradition, resembling standing in line on Sunday at Western Union to ship cash house, sitting in McDonald’s and gathering with buddies and different housekeepers. What did it imply to see these cultural touchpoints?

That scene by Western Union once they’re standing within the rain was actual. There was a storm after we shot that. It’s one in every of my most memorable scenes in the entire sequence. After I noticed the setup and all of the OFWs, being in the midst of that was simply overwhelming. 

Going again to the confrontation scene, watching it was an emotional rollercoaster since you really feel she’s about to get fired and you’re feeling a second of dread for Essie. How is she feeling on the finish of the dialog?

She’s confused as a result of her thoughts is already set on going again house. It’s at all times the case that when the employer goes again to their nation that’s the tip of your contract. Proper? However in that scene, I felt like Margaret was speaking to her mom. She’s very apologetic and really uncooked and trustworthy. By the tip, Essie feels appreciated. Leaving Essie behind [at the end of the series], I spotted how necessary it’s for helpers, nannies and OFWs to listen to compliments. It’s so innate for Essie to have handled the household as her personal. So when Margaret articulates all the pieces, it’s so emotional for her.

Once you’re spending six episodes with a personality, do you craft a backstory and work with Lulu? What was your course of?

I learn the scripts 3 times. I obtained it throughout quarantine and I used to be so engrossed within the story. I didn’t do something as a result of all of the little particulars in regards to the character have been there. 

When it comes to illustration, Essie is the epitome of an Abroad Filipino Employee. What does it imply to have performed Essie and to have this genuine character on the market?

I felt I had the accountability to have the ability to painting her realistically and in truth. I had this accountability to painting our unsung heroes. My goal as an actor was to painting that function with dignity. I would like OFWs to say, “Sure, that’s us.” In a single scene, I used to be supposed to talk English nevertheless it appeared like “Carabao English” (poorly written English), and I introduced it to Lulu’s consideration. I stated, “I can’t ship the road as a result of we don’t communicate the best way you do, as fluent as that. Plenty of OFWs are well-educated and plenty of of them are college graduates or professors. I wouldn’t need to painting or depict an OFW that means.” I believed after six years, Essie would have assimilated and be capable to talk and ship dialogue with appropriate grammar they usually understood that.

This interview has been edited and condensed.