James Graham on returning to acting: 'I don't think I can forever let go of that'

James Graham is not closing her doors on acting and the entertainment industry despite being away from the limelight for a few years now.

In Nelson Canlas’ report on “24 Oras” on Thursday, the Filipino-American Sparkle star was asked if she had plans to return to her public life in the Philippines.

“I guess, because I’m only studying to secure my future. I want to have some kind of degree, so that I have like a falling mat where I can fall to if being an artist doesn't work,” James said.

“One of my passions is acting, one of my passions is entertainment. I don’t think I can forever let go of that because it's been a part of me ever since I was young,” she added.

Per Canlas' report, James is now preparing to transition.

James surprised netizens earlier this week when she unexpectedly came out as part of the LGBT+ community. On TikTok, the Sparkle star posted a video of herself embracing her feminine side.

According to James, she did not plan on coming out and that her TikTok videos were meant for her friends and family.

“Meron akong secret account on TikTok, kumbaga 'yung server ng account na 'yun is sa United States, so it wouldn’t really show up in the Philippines unless one of my videos blow up. It was initially for my friends and my closest family,” James shared.

“Tinanggap ko na lang po kasi I’ve been wanting to tell people. I guess not now, but since it's happening now and I just have to accept it and live my life,” she added.

James also revealed that she felt scared at first as her gender identity was a secret to the public back when she was still in the Philippines.

“I've seen a lot of hate comments too, but it was mostly positive comments and just like what I said earlier, I don't really care anymore. I want to live my life and not let anybody dictate it."

Despite the negative comments, James remains true to herself.

“I just brush it off. Pinapabayaan ko na lang like opinyon mo 'yan, that's not gonna affect me in any way. You don’t know me as a person. You don’t know why I feel like this. You don’t know why I wanted to be like this,” she said.

James rose to fame after appearing in the Kapuso murder mystery series “Royal Blood” in 2023 as Louie.

In 2024, she reprised her role in “Royal Blood” when her character Louie made a crossover in “Widows’ War.”

In February 2025, James moved to the US to pursue a nursing degree. —Jade Veronique Yap/CDC, GMA News