It’s been 20 years since actress Tia Carrere walked the red carpet for a starring role. That was for Disney’s “Lilo and Stitch,” in which she voiced Nani Peleka. Tonight, she gets to do it for Universal’s “Easter Sunday.”

Carrere plays Tita Teresa in Jo Koy’s film about a family coming together on Easter Sunday, which features an all-Filipino cast. She calls playing Koy’s aunt in the film a “dream role.” After four decades in the industry, Carrere, who starred in “Waynes World,” “True Lies” and “Rising Sun,” has nonetheless faced her fair share of rejection for roles because she was considered too “ethnic” or “exotic.”

Carrere sat down with Variety to talk about why Tita Teresa is a first for her and what’s in store for her next music album.

Has it really been 20 years since your last red carpet?

Well, the only reason...