Ella Jay Basco joins ’88rising Speakers’ to discuss Filipino pride, ‘Birds of Prey’ & more

In the latest episode of 88rising Radio’s (Ch. 305) 88rising Speakers series, the show continues to provide an outlet for the important conversations happening among members of the AAPI community about diversity, inclusion, representation, and identity. This week, recurring host Dolly Li is joined by multi-talented actress, singer-songwriter, and beyond Ella Jay Basco on May 23 at 8pm ET.

During the latest iteration of the weekly series, Li talks with Basco about her experience in a leading role in Birds of Prey, plus working on a film with an Asian director, Cathy Yan. While expanding on her acting career, half Korean and half Filipino background, and foray into music, Basco explains how she’s able to juggle it all while also being a voice for her community and generation.

Ella Jay Basco is quickly making a name for herself with her dramatic acting chops and ability to perform. Basco made her big-screen debut opposite Margot Robbie, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Rosie Perez, and Ewan McGregor in Birds of Prey, she earned an MTV Movie and TV Award for Best Fight and a Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor in a Film. She’s also held roles in television and short film, as well as getting her start in an Old Navy print campaign. Basco’s credentials also include being a trained dancer, singer-songwriter, and accomplished musician. As a musician, she’s released an EP and multiple songs, including “Gold,” a timely new anthem for the AAPI community that chants, “When you learn to love your true reflection, then you’ll always be rich with a gold complexion.”

Li tells investigative and nuanced cultural stories about communities, from the Mississippi Delta Chinese to Korean American adoptees to global Asian diaspora. Her videos have been published on Al Jazeera, the South China Morning Post, PBS, and other outlets. 88rising Speakers is a special ongoing speaker series in response to the rise in hate against Asian Americans. 88rising is gathering their most active and outspoken community members who lead the movement in anti-racism. 88rising is committed to sharing resources, leading action, and taking accountability with 88rising Speakers by inviting AAPI experts in their fields to talk about their work and discuss how to heal, learn, and support one other.