Even as she builds a new future in the United States, James Graham isn’t ready to say goodbye to the career that first introduced her to audiences.

The Filipino-American actress shared that while she is focused on earning a nursing degree, the move is meant to provide long-term security rather than replace her love for performing.

“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,” she said during an interview on 24 Oras.

For James, education serves as a safety net, but acting remains a passion she has carried since childhood. She admitted that stepping away from the entertainment industry for good is something she simply cannot imagine.

“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 said.

Her remarks come shortly after she publicly embraced her identity as a transgender woman, a deeply personal journey that she said unfolded unexpectedly after videos from her private TikTok account reached a wider audience.

James revealed that she initially intended to keep those posts within a small circle of family and friends before they gained public attention. Although the experience brought moments of fear and online criticism, she chose to embrace her truth instead of hiding it.

“I’ve seen a lot of hate comments too, but it was mostly positive comments. I don’t really care anymore. I want to live my life and not let anybody dictate it,” she said.

She also stressed that strangers can never fully understand another person’s journey.

“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 added.

Now pursuing a new chapter abroad, James remains optimistic about what lies ahead. While she is preparing for a career in healthcare, she made it clear that the stage and the screen will always be part of who she is, leaving the door open for a future return to Philippine show business.