Janella Salvador

Biography

Janella Maxine Desiderio Salvador (Tagalog: [dʒaˈnɛlɐ]; born March 30, 1998) is a Filipino actress and singer. Debuting in the morning drama series Be Careful with My Heart (2012–2014), she followed with lead roles in Oh My G! (2015), Born for You (2016), So Connected (2018), The Killer Bride (2019–2020), Darna (2022–2023) as Mars Ravelo supervillain Valentina, and Under Parallel Skies (2024). Her awards include three PMPC Star Awards, a FAMAS Award and Princess of Philippine Television.

== Early life == Janella Maxine Desiderio Salvador was born on March 30, 1998 in Cebu and raised in San Juan in Metro Manila. Her parents are West End musical actress Jenine Desiderio and Juan Miguel "JM" Salvador, Awit Award recipient songwriter and former lead singer of Rage Band. She has a half-brother and two step siblings.

== Career ==

=== 2008–2014: Early years, debut === Salvador has expressed interest in performing arts at a young age. Between 2008 and 2009, she represented the Philippines in a world trade fair in Seoul, Korea. She appeared on stage in venues such as Meralco Theater, her first lead role being the school musical Paul! Paul! After guesting on Eat Bulaga's Sa Pula Sa Puti (then-airing on GMA Network), management directors Manny Valera and Star Magic's Johnny Manahan signed her a contract as their talent. Her official acting debut came in 2012 through the hit daytime drama, Be Careful With My Heart, which aired until 2014. Salvador's character, middle daughter Nikki Grace Lim, was widely known for her Taglish catchphrases. Winning newcomer awards, she would become one of the youngest faces of Garnier skin care. In 2013, she was officially launched as part of Star Magic Circle 2013. Salvador signed film contracts with Regal Entertainment and Star Cinema, both in 2014.

=== 2015–present: Lead roles and music ===

ABS-CBN in 2015 cast Salvador in her first leading role in Oh My G! as an orphan who blames God for the trials in her life. On July 1, Salvador released her debut album, which eventually became certified platinum by PARI. After being selected to interpret the theme song "Happily Ever After" for Hong Kong Disneyland's 10th anniversary, she made her film debut in director Jun Lana's Haunted Mansion. The film was a top grosser at the 41st Metro Manila Film Festival and won Salvador the New Actress of the Year.

In 2016, she had her second major lead TV role through the music-based drama Born for You with Elmo Magalona. Salvador portrays an aspiring musician who studies and works in Tokyo. In the soundtrack, she released her first Japanese language songs. Salvador was announced to work with Disney a third time following her Disney in Concert, Kia Theatre performance with a Philippine exclusive version of Moana's "How Far I'll Go". 2017 came her first solo concert Super Janella. The same year, Salvador would appear in Topel Lee's ensemble film Bloody Crayons. It was announced Salvador would be cast in crime drama The Good Son (formerly Kung Kailangan Mo Ako) but following major script changes, announced she would step down from the role. She then accepted to join Himig Handog a third time through the Karlo Zabala penned song "Wow Na Feelings" which won 4th Best Song and TFC's Global Choice Award. By 2018, she headlined two films. Following a portrayal as a singing mermaid in fantasy film My Fairy Tail Love Story, she would garner praise as a love-struck waitress in director Jason Paul Laxamana's rom-com So Connected. In 2019, Salvador returned to the small screen after three years through gothic thriller The Killer Bride. Her role as Emma, a mortuary cosmetologist who becomes possessed by the town's spirit won her Princess of Philippine Television at the national Box Office Entertainment Awards. By year end, Salvador starred opposite veteran actress Maricel Soriano in film The Heiress, which was based on the Philippine barang folklore. In 2020 she appeared in Tren, the second highest rating episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya for the year. She played Aira, a university student who reconciles with her past lover. On November 19, 2021, she was confirmed as supervillain Valentina / Regina Vanguardia in Mars Ravelo's Darna, to be directed by Chito S. Roño. After months of stunt training, the series premiered in August 2022 and concluded February 2023. Her supporting role in Derick Cabrido's 2023 film Mallari gained her a Metro Manila Film Festival Award for Best Supporting Actress nomination. In July 2023, she also concluded principal photography in Hong Kong for the international romance film Under Parallel Skies. She stars opposite Thai actor Win Metawin, with direction by Kita Kita director Sigrid Andrea Bernardo. It had its world premiere at the 17th Asian Film Awards, its nationwide theatrical release in the Philippines on April 17, Singapore on May, 1 and Thailand on May 9, 2024, as well as limited screening in Laos, Cambodia, UAE and Vietnam. Salvador had her third exclusive contract with ABS-CBN on February 23, 2024, marking 12 years with the network. For Pride Month 2024, Salvador released a music video for her song Hey You that features a sapphic romantic storyline. Extended screenings for Under Parallel Skies lasted until October 2024 in Japan. In 2025, she appeared in her first two indie films, Fleeting, and queer film Open Endings for Cinemalaya 2025; the latter performance winning her a shared Cinemalaya Award for Best Group Ensemble. From October 2025 to April 2026, she top-billed the mystery series What Lies Beneath with an all-star cast, showing on both Netflix Philippines and Kapamilya. The series reached number 1 in the country on Netflix upon debut, and stayed in the top 10 for several months. Since mid 2026, she stars alongside Jodi Sta. Maria, Francine Diaz, Arci Muñoz, Ji Chang-wook, and Michelin star-recognized Filipino chef JP Anglo in the Philippine-Korean international variety show Kumusta. Airing simultaneously live on TV5 and online through Viu (Asia, Middle East, Africa) and Viki (America, Europe, etc), the program aims to introduce Filipino cuisine abroad as the cast open a restaurant in Gangnam.

=== Upcoming projects === She is confirmed as a main actor for the Philippine adaptation for The Good Doctor.