Star Wars: The Acolyte premiered last June 4 on Disney+. But apart from its compelling storyline and stunning visuals, one actor has swooned viewers left, right, and center: Manny Jacinto, who’s playing the role of Qimir.

The Manila-born Filipino-Canadian actor is best known for his role as the adorable Jason Mendoza in The Good Place. Since then, he has starred in numerous series and films, including Top Gun: Maverick and Brand New Cherry Flavor.

Here are 8 things you should know about the internet’s newest crush:

He was born in Manila

Manny was born in 1987 in Manila, Philippines. When he was about three years old, his family immigrated to Canada, settling in Richmond, British Columbia.

“He was also shy as a kid, but that changed along the way,” said his father Lito in an interview with ABS-CBN.

He’s an introvert

Given his soft-spoken demeanor and how he gets shy whenever someone compliments him, it’s easy to see why Manny considers himself an introvert. 

When asked about how he feels about his “sex symbol” status by Flaunt Magazine, he said, “I’d need to ask a sex symbol! [laughs] Hmm. Who would that be? [pauses] Harry Styles. Or any of these pop icons. Timothée Chalamet? I don’t really think about myself as ‘a sex symbol.’”

He studied civil engineering

Manny shot to fame playing Jason Mendoza on The Good Place, but he’s a lot smarter than the lovable himbo he portrayed. In fact, if Manny weren’t an actor today, he’d probably be a civil engineer. His family is full of engineers (on his father’s side), and he’s got a civil engineering degree from the University of British Columbia.

Manny Jacinto used to go to my university! I always knew UBC was a Good Place
byu/ranzprinzessin inTheGoodPlace

Can you imagine him playing the role of an engineer on a TV show or movie? That would be a full-circle moment.

He can dance

Manny’s not just a handsome and talented actor — he can also light up the stage with his moves. The Good Place star was part of a hip-hop dance group that competed in competitions like the Las Vegas World Hip-Hop Championships. Fun fact: he’s a fan of Jabbawockeez. 

He pursued an acting career because of dancing

Believe it or not, Manny didn’t initially plan to be an actor. But after he discovered dancing, he realized that he loved performing, which brought him to acting.

“As long as you ride it and take the jump, so many different doors can open. If you can live through the downs and celebrate the ups, it can be a very exciting experience. That really appealed to me. That really appealed to me. That, and being able to play pretend—to do that as a means of work was exciting to me,” the actor shared with Backstage Magazine.

He’s always down for challenging roles

While some actors fully embrace their comfort zone, Manny keeps his doors wide open to unconventional characters. He has a go-big or go-home attitude and wants people to see and appreciate the efforts he puts into his craft.  

“I want to do things that haven’t been explored. I want to do it all, to be honest. There’s so much I still want to do, and it still feels like the beginning,” the actor told Timid Magazine.

In fact, he would love to play a young Tony Leung, famously known for Wong Kar-wai’s In The Mood for Love! Someone, make it happen! ASAP!

He’s had his share of bad auditions

Most actors can still vividly remember their worst auditions, and for Manny, it has something to do with comedy. In an interview with Backstage Magazine, it all happened because he decided to try a new acting technique, and paid the price of being asked by the casting director: “You do know this is a comedic show, right?”

The moral of the story? It’s always best to stick with what you know.

He’s already engaged

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Manny is off the market, folks. He’s happily engaged to Canadian actress Dianne Doan, who he met at a hip-hop training program.

After years of being together, he proposed to Dianne in 2019 in the most romantic way possible! In an interview on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Manny said that he took his fiancée to significant places in their relationship (such as where he first saw her and where they had their first date) before going down on one knee while his family held the sign saying, “Will you marry me?”

Wala nang pila. Pwede na kayong umuwi.

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