Veteran actress Princess Punzalan said she hopes Nurse the Dead leaves audiences with a deeper appreciation for nurses and the sacrifices they make every day, especially as someone who lives that reality herself.
Princess portrays Camille in the Hollywood-set iWant series, a role that closely mirrors her life. Aside from continuing her career in front of the camera, she also works as a registered nurse in the United States, balancing long hospital shifts with acting projects.
Speaking during the Nurse the Dead finale media conference, Princess admitted that portraying a nurse felt especially meaningful because it reflected the profession she now calls her own.
"I was very excited and grateful that we had this project because it felt nice to be able to do what I actually do in real life...I was also excited to be able to guide in some way [my fellow actors] ... I felt like I had the responsibility to help guide on what really happens and how things are done in the hospital," she said.
Long before becoming a healthcare professional, Princess had already cemented her place in the Philippine entertainment industry through memorable antagonist roles. She is best known for playing Selina Matias in the iconic ABS-CBN drama Mula sa Puso.
Looking back, Princess said one of the biggest lessons she continues to carry from her years in Philippine showbiz is the importance of building genuine relationships with fellow actors.
"I learned that interacting with your co-actors is really important. Getting to know them personally would help a lot in the chemistry. If I got to know my co-workers better, then the work will be much better [also]."
Beyond the acting, Princess hopes Nurse the Dead will also help viewers better understand what nurses experience behind the scenes.
"I want people to understand, both the families and the patients themselves, that us nurses are really trying our best. We want to help you. We want to find solutions. We want to be able to give the best care possible. It is just at some times, there's too many tasks to be done in too little time. And more often than not, we rarely eat. We rarely take our breaks. We can't even go to the toilet. We try our best to help as much as we can and it's nice when we meet patients and families who are understanding and kind. I just want them to know that we are trying our best," she maintained.
Princess moved to the United States after enjoying a successful acting career in the Philippines. In an earlier interview with Luchi Cruz-Valdes, she shared that relocating abroad was largely influenced by her husband.
Although she was encouraged to continue acting in America, Princess instead chose to pursue a different path. She initially considered becoming a psychiatrist before ultimately deciding to study nursing. Because of several family relocations and varying state requirements, it took her six years to finish nursing school. She later passed the nursing board examination on her first attempt.
In May 2025, Princess also reflected on how much the profession has changed her life.
"I am incredibly grateful for the privilege of being a nurse. It is a role that has allowed me to grow both personally and professionally, fostering a deep sense of fulfillment and purpose. The ability to advocate for patients, collaborate with a team of dedicated healthcare professionals, and continuously learn and adapt is something I cherish every day," she wrote in an Instagram post.
Despite building a career in healthcare, Princess never completely stepped away from acting. In recent years, she has appeared in international productions including The Cleaning Lady, as well as Get Your Story Straight, Self Storage, Yellow Rose, and Pandemic Bread, among other projects.
Through Nurse the Dead, Princess now finds herself combining both of her passions, acting and nursing, while helping tell a story that pays tribute to Filipino healthcare workers around the world.
Watch Nurse the Dead exclusively on iWant.