Film directors are usually tucked away behind the scenes, barefaced, dressed in casual clothes and rubber shoes – quietly serving as the creative force behind the spotlight. They’re rarely styled like the stars they direct, but it’s their vision that brings stories to life and allows those stars to shine.
But this time, the spotlight turns to the woman behind the camera. Emille Joson, a fierce advocate for women’s rights who co-founded Alaga Producers Cooperative, a master of visual storytelling, and a proud bearer of the striking Filipina-Mexican beauty she inherited from her mother’s lineage – is no longer just behind the scenes. She’s caught the eye of international celebrities, many of whom have followed her on social media, acknowledged her films, or even made personal gestures admiring her charitable efforts and beauty.
From Italian filmmakers to Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams, surprising her on a virtual talk show, to Jawbreaker director Darren Stein reposting her Halloween look, Joson’s charm and presence are hard to ignore. Even horror legend Robert Englund gifted her a signed selfie, calling her “pretty” after learning she’s a huge fan of the Elm Street franchise. Golden Globe winner Kim Cattrall followed her on Twitter, while Oscar winner Mira Sorvino connected with her on Instagram.
But today, we’re zeroing in on the international heartthrobs who are also widely famous in the Philippines that made the internet pause when they noticed Joson. These are the top 6 most unforgettable “noticing and following” moments from male superstars whose attention sent fans – and Joson’s name, into a frenzy.
1. Mark Read (A1)- On January 10, 2023, British pop superstar Mark Read of the beloved boyband A1, hugely popular across Asia, especially in the Philippines, sent Filipino fans into a frenzy when he followed award-winning Filipina filmmaker Emille Joson on Instagram. Joson gleefully shared the moment in her Instagram Story and twitter, complete with a “kilig” caption.
MY BATANG ’90s MALANDI HEART!!! ❤️ My Boyband crush followed me on instagraaaam!!! pic.twitter.com/nvr27stwBi
— Emille Joson (@emillebjoson) January 10, 2023
2. Justin Bieber- In 2021, a heartwarming moment that thrilled Filipino fans sparked rumors that Filipina filmmaker Emille Joson had received a signed CD from Justin Bieber. It began when Joson commented on an Entertainment Weekly post, writing, “Omg! But sad I just Lost my ‘Yummy’ disc last month huhu!” – prompting someone from Bieber’s team to briefly reply, asking for her home address. The exchange was later deleted after drawing attention from fans, but not before screenshots circulated online, fueling speculation of a private conversation. A month later, as Joson marked her anniversary in the Philippine film industry, she shared a photo of her signed memorabilia collection from various film projects – where eagle-eyed followers spotted a Justin Bieber-signed CD. While Joson has neither confirmed nor denied it, fans continue to speculate about the mysterious interaction.
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3. Fernando Carillo- It comes as no surprise that Emille Joson’s late father was well-connected in the Latin entertainment scene, having worked as an accountant for Solar Entertainment, the company that pioneered the airing of Mexican telenovelas in the Philippines. So when Rosalinda star Fernando Carillo sent a video greeting for Joson’s older sister, Malou Joson – a longtime fan of the hit series where Carillo starred opposite Latina icon Thalía, it felt like a nostalgic nod to the family’s connection to Latin pop culture. But what drew the attention of netizens was a subtle gesture: Carillo mentioned Emille Joson for the first time, a gesture he had never made in previous greetings to the family since the early 2000s. It sparked a kilig reaction from many ’90s babies.
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4. Ken Chu- Emille Joson has always been vocal about her admiration for artists and television shows and among them is the iconic Taiwanese series Meteor Garden. It remains the only Asian drama she followed religiously, even collecting official merchandise, plus a DVD box set she purchased during a childhood trip to Taiwan with her late father. In May 29, 2025, Joson wore a vintage T-shirt featuring the original F4 cast, she captioned “Adding a touch of nostalgia to today’s event outfit! Hola to the OG boys who defined an era and stole our hearts!”. Chu reacted to the photo, commenting in Taiwanese, which translated to: “I love it! Thank you for remembering!” The moment broke the internet and made headlines, with many F4 fans calling for the iconic boyband to visit Manila once again.
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5. Aaron Carter- Long before his sudden passing in 2020, last November 16, 2018, 90s teen pop sensation Aaron Carter – who became a teen crush in the Philippines during his peak. Carter interacted with Filipina filmmaker on Twitter. The brief exchange sparked speculation of a possible private conversation, especially after Carter left a fire emoji comment on one of Joson’s photo. At the time, Joson had not yet gained international recognition, but observant fans later uncovered the interaction through her archived Instagram Story highlights where Joson reacting to Carter following her on Twitter.
6. Lucas Bravo- The dashing leading man of Lily Collins in the hit Netflix series Emily in Paris has become an international heartthrob since the show’s release, to the point of visiting Manila in 2022. During the first season, many girls have tagged him online, but not everyone was lucky enough to receive a response. However, Emille Joson caught the attention of the French actor himself, who reacted with a heart emoji to her “Team Gabriel” post and also liking one of her sexy selfie video in her IG story.
What makes these moments so powerful isn’t just the star-studded attention – it’s what Joson represents. A woman of color who defies convention with both brilliance and authenticity, and whose presence challenges outdated narratives about who belongs in the limelight. In an era that finally celebrates authenticity of who you are and what you are, Emille Joson stands as proof that the world, and the entertainment industry, has evolved. The fact that international icons are now taking notice? That’s not just flattering. That’s quietly revolutionary.
