Early Life and Education
Aquino was born in the Philippines, where she recognized her gender identity very early in childhood, later saying she had always known she was a girl despite being assigned male at birth. She began hormone therapy in her mid-teens and faced frequent bullying, though her parents supported her transition.
As a teenager she moved to the United States to study at the Berklee College of Music, graduating summa cum laude. Initially, she pursued singing, believing that acting opportunities for a transgender Filipina would be limited. After undergoing gender confirmation surgery, she decided to return to her original dream of acting.
Career
Aquino built her career on stage in New York, performing with The Drilling Company in its Bryant Park and Shakespeare in the Parking Lot productions. Her roles included Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Desdemona in Othello, Mark Antony in Julius Caesar, and Isabella in Measure for Measure.
Her breakthrough came when she was cast as Cecilia Chung in When We Rise. At the time of her audition she had mostly played cisgender roles and was not publicly out, but she chose to disclose her identity to writer Dustin Lance Black, who was specifically seeking transgender actresses for authenticity. She publicly came out as transgender during a press event for the series in early 2017. Aquino met with Chung while preparing for the role, and the two developed a close friendship.
Aquino has since appeared on other television projects, including the crime drama FBI: Most Wanted, where she played Cassie in the first season episode “Silkworm.” In 2022, she was cast as Alysia Yeoh in the planned DC Extended Universe film Batgirl.
Activism
Aquino is an outspoken advocate for transgender rights, particularly concerning the protection of transgender children. She has criticized policy rollbacks that removed federal protections for trans students.
Personal Life
Aquino lives in New York City. She is fond of her Shih Tzu, Chewybear, and is a niece of former Philippine president Corazon Aquino.
