Get ready for award-winning Fil-Am actor Jon Jon Briones in ‘Ratched’

Award-winning Fil-Am actor Jon Jon Briones, who portrayed Modesto Cunanan in Ryan Murphy’s “The Assassination of Gianni Versace,” now comes back to another Ryan Murphy TV show as Dr. Richard Hanover in the TV drama series, “Ratched.”

Critically-acclaimed for his performance as The Engineer in the “Miss Saigon” musicals, Ryan now joins a formidable cast, which includes Sarah Paulson, Judy Davis, Sharon Stone, Cynthia Nixon, Sophie Okonedo, Vince D’Onofrio and even his son Teo Briones (as Peter).

We had an exclusive interview with the talented Jon Jon Briones and below are excerpts of our conversation with him

Can you please talk about being part of the Ryan Murphy universe?

Being part of the Ryan Murphy universe is like winning the lottery. The way he works is like a repertoire. You finish one project and then you put on your next costume for the next one. The material he writes, the way he tells his story, his taste of surroundings, of his storytelling are just amazing. He is a wonderful artist. Everyone is lucky to work with him.

With Sharon Stone in 'Ratched.' Courtesy of Netflix

According to Sharon Stone, Ryan Murphy said that you are the Marlon Brando of your generation. What is your reaction to that?

Oh wow. (laughs) I don’t know about that. I am just very thankful.

Ryan is known for championing and featuring in his stories actors of colors like you, Darren Criss and even your son Teo in his shows. Can you please comment on that?

Ryan champions people of color and under-represented LGBTQ, the handicapped, people of a certain age, and the list goes on. He loves to tell stories that are not told and when he chooses one story, he tells it and it becomes like magic.

His fans will tell you that they are wonderful stories. The way he tells it shows that this can be normal and in Hollywood, people of color inhabiting that world, it gives them hope.

Can you please talk about working with your son Teo (as Peter) in this series?

Teo is an amazing actor. I am a big fan of Teo. There was a time in his career when he was working more than we were. He is so realistic, so dynamic in his performance that’s why when I found out that he booked the job, I was so happy. I worked with Isa before in “The Assassination of Gianni Versace.” And now here in “Ratched” with Teo. Now I am looking forward to working with Megan.

Teo Briones in 'Ratched.' Courtesy of Netflix

Probably in the next Ryan Murphy TV series.

Yes! (laughs)

You also worked with some Filipino actors as your family in the courtroom scene especially with Aida Basco who is the matriarch of the talented Basco family. Can you please talk about that?

I showed up at the scene, which was new — they actually rewrote it. When I showed up on the set, I didn’t know who they hired. Then I was talking to Aida Basco and she mentioned to me that she was the mother of the talented Basco brothers. I am a big fan of their family. Aida was so funny and nice to me. And the little girl was also good. As well as my wife but I forgot her name now. That scene was important because it showed where my character came from.

Your character is Dr. Richard Hanover also known as Dr. Banaga. Can you talk more about that transition?

Without giving much away, Dr. Richard Hanover is a brilliant doctor and he means well. Truly, he believes he can cure anyone because he is that good. That got him into trouble. Using all the methods that were not tested yet but heard about from another country, he used those. And because of his mistakes, he had to run away from that life and have a different personality.

In an earlier interview, you talked about Dr. Fe del Mundo who is a pioneer Filipino-American doctor. Can you please talk more about how she came about in your research?

I was approached by someone, her nephew or her great grandson, asking me about my interest in her story because she was an amazing woman. Also, she came from the same province as me — Torrijos, Marinduque. She is an amazing person and she went through a lot to get to Harvard medical school. They accepted her thinking she was a man. And they could not even house her. So she really went through a lot which kind of help me for my character since I was also coming from a different country and really doing something.

Jonjon Briones with Judy Davis in 'Ratched.' Courtesy of Netflix

I love your dance sequence with Judy Davis. Can you please talk more about that and how much did you rehearse for it?

That was a gift. Doing the show was amazing but doing the dance scene with Judy Davis was a gift. I am a musical theatre person and to be able to dance with Judy Davis was great. It was a lot of work but it was so gratifying. That was on episode five. We were doing episode four so after doing our scenes, we would go to rehearsals. I am looking forward to everybody seeing that.

How was it working with Sarah Paulson again, this time also as your producer?

I worked with her a couple of times. She is an amazing artist. She made things easier for me. This show is the biggest thing for me that I have done so far. Sarah is very supportive. We became friends. I am so happy to work with her because she is the best leader of production I have ever had. She really set the tone. She set the pace. She knows her process and is protective of it. It is like you are attending a theatre school.

With Sarah Paulson in 'Ratched.' Courtesy of Netflix

Sarah mentioned to us that she loves that you have taught her to toast martinis after work.

(laughs) Yes, I love my martinis. Yes, I am a bad influence on her. She said I can’t drink that. And I said, “Oh, you can have just one shot.” — LA, GMA News