‘On My Own,’ but never alone: Emily Bautista revisits Éponine for Filipino audiences

Why revisiting Éponine years later feels more personal and more powerful for Emily Bautista.

One of the popular songs from the musical “Les Misérables,” which is based on Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel, is Éponine Thénardier’s song, “On My Own.”

In the Manila run for “Les Misérables: The World Tour Spectacular,” FilAm artist Emily Bautista will reprise the role, which she breathed into multiple times in the past.

In Manila, Emily debuted as Eponine to a much larger and predominant Filipino audience. According to her, “It is incredible to share this story with the Filipino people.

“It is very special for me to look out at the audience every night and see young boys and girls, who look like they are engaging with our show.

“I feel a sense of responsibility representing her on stage, but with a deeper sense of gratitude for the opportunity to do so,” said Emily, beaming when  she told radar Entertainment about how she felt performing for the Filipino audience.

Emily was with the US and North American tour of “Les Misérables” in 2018.

Looks back on her first time to be part of the theater world

Before her professional theater stints, she had already gained experience through high school productions. She played Anita in “West Side Story” and Éponine in “Les Misérables,” making the role familiar to her.

Her first professional theater stint was her Broadway debut in “Miss Saigon” as an ensemble member, where she also served as an understudy for Kim in the 2017 Broadway revival.

But the fondest memory she vividly recalls from her journey as a theater artist is this: “I remember feeling like I had found my place—an outlet where I could be so authentically myself and feel that I was working toward my fullest potential.

“I remember leaving theater camp one day and thinking, ‘Wait, I think I’ve found the thing I’m good at,’ and vibrating from that feeling.”

If not in the theater, what would she be? Admittedly, Bautista is into therapy and psychology. “I love understanding human nature, why people are the way they are. I think it’s why I have such a love for acting.”

Fundamentally, psychology as a discipline helps actors understand human behavior, motivations, and emotions—for them to create authentic, three-dimensional characters.

It comes in handy, but with all honesty, Bautista pointed out: “I don’t want to do anything but this!”