Marian Rivera

Biography

Marian Rivera Gràcia-Dantes (Tagalog: [ˌmaɾjɐn ɾɪˌbɛːɾɐ ˈdantɛs]; born 12 August 1984) is a Filipino model, actress, singer, host, and dancer best known for her portrayals of leading heroines and her performances in romantic dramas films and television series. Widely regarded in the entertainment industry as the "Primetime Queen" and the "Queen of Philippine Movies of Her Generation" for her sustained commercial success and contributions to Philippine cinema, Rivera's accolades include three FAMAS Awards, five PMPC Star Awards for Television, a PMPC Star Awards for Movies, two PAFTA Awards ten Box Office Entertainment Awards, and a Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival Award, including nominations from Asian Television Awards, Luna Awards and Metro Manila Film Festival. In 2020, Forbes Asia named her one of the most influential Filipino celebrities in the Asia-Pacific. Rivera initially began as a commercial model and ventured into acting in the mid-2000s. In 2005, she made her film debut in Enteng Kabisote 2: Okay Ka, Fairy Ko... The Legend Continues!. The film earned her a nomination for New Movie Actress of the Year at the 2006 Star Awards for Movies. She started playing minor and supporting roles in various projects and rose to stardom in the remake Marimar (2007). She gained wider recognition for her leading roles in television shows such as Dyesebel (2008), Darna (2009), Endless Love (2010), Amaya (2011) and Temptation of Wife (2012). She also top-billed the remake of Super Inday and the Golden Bibe (2010), earning her a nomination for Best Actress at the Metro Manila Film Festival. She has received three nominations for the FAMAS Award for Best Actress. Among her highest-grossing and most commercially successful films are One True Love (2008), Shake, Rattle & Roll X (2008), My Best Friend's Girlfriend (2008), You to Me Are Everything (2010), Temptation Island (2011), Ang Panday 2 (2011), Kung Fu Divas (2013), My Big Bossing's Adventures (2014), and Rewind (2023). As a leading actress, her films have collectively grossed more than ₱1.9 billion at the Philippine box office, establishing her as one of the highest-grossing Filipino box office stars of all time. Appointed by the Congress of the Philippines as an honorary ambassador for women and children with disabilities, Rivera is also a volunteer for numerous charitable institutions. She is the most-followed Filipino celebrity on Facebook. Preview magazine named her one of the most influential Filipino personalities in 2022. She was the first Filipina to be inducted into the FHM Philippines' Hall of Fame for being the "sexiest woman" in the country for three cumulative years (2008, 2013, and 2014). She was also chosen as one of the members of the selection committee at the Miss Universe 2021 pageant. As a recording artist, Rivera has released two albums: Marian Rivera Dance Hits (2008) and Retro Crazy (2009), receiving Platinum and Gold certifications from the Philippine Association of the Record Industry. She currently hosts the drama anthology series Tadhana (2017–present).

== Early life and education == Marian Rivera Gràcia was born in Madrid, Spain to Francisco Javier Gràcia Alonso, a Spaniard, and Amalia Rivera, a native Tagalog from Cavite. Her parents married and eventually divorced when she was three years old, after which her mother brought her to the Philippines where she grew up. However, her mother had to continue with work commitments abroad and Rivera was sent to her maternal grandmother, Francisca Rivera, in Maragondon, Cavite. Rivera pursued her elementary and high school education at Saint Francis of Assisi College, and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree from the De La Salle University – Dasmariñas. She had completed her practicum at the National Center for Mental Health in Mandaluyong, dispensing medication alongside conducting examination and evaluations of patients.

== Career ==

=== 2004–2008: Career beginnings === Marian Rivera pursued ramp modelling in her elementary schooling years then later as TV commercial model for SkinWhite Lotion, Sky Flakes Biscuits, and other labels. These commercial appearances led TAPE Inc. executive producer Antonio Tuviera commissioned her for roles in the afternoon TV soap operas Kung Mamahalin Mo Lang Ako, Agawin Mo Man ang Lahat, and Pinakamamahal. Rivera made her first supporting role film appearance through OctoArts' Enteng Kabisote 2: Okay Ka Fairy Ko: The Legend Continues in 2005 as the fairy Alyssa. In 2006, she signed a contract with Regal Entertainment that featured her debut in the horror film Pamahiin. In February 2007, GMA Network cast her for motherly roles; first in the Filipino-Malaysian TV drama series Muli. and lastly in the fantasy TV series, Super Twins as the protagonist twins' mother, and villain on later episodes that concluded on 1 June 2007. In June 2007, Rivera auditioned for and won the lead role in GMA Network's adaptation of the popular Mexican series MariMar (based on Televisa's the 1994 Mexican telenovela of the same title). Opposite to Dingdong Dantes, the show became the highest-rated prime time drama show on Philippine television at that time and launched Rivera to stardom. She was acknowledged as a Phenomenal TV Star in the 38th Box-Office Entertainment Awards by the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation, Inc. in 2008. That year she won an award for her work in the show, as well as several product endorsements. She was named the country's sexiest woman by FHM Magazine, and was also included in the "hottest" list of other magazines like Maxim and Uno.

That same year, she appeared in two films, Desperadas and Bahay Kubo, both Metro Manila Film Festival entries.In 2008, Rivera played the title role in Dyesebel, which aired on 28 April 2008, the famous Philippine mermaid character acted by many famous Filipinos actresses from as early as 1970. The series is another team-up with Dantes. The year marked Rivera's first lead role opposite Richard Gutierrez in My Bestfriend's Girlfriend. In the same year, Dantes and Rivera debuted in One True Love, directed by Mac Alejandre. She also appeared in two Metro Manila Film Festival entries such as Shake, Rattle & Roll X, an omnibus horror trilogy in which she played "Nieves, The Engkanto Slayer", and Desperadas 2, a sequel of the 2007 film of the same with Rufa Mae Quinto, Iza Calzado, Ruffa Gutierrez, and Ogie Alcasid. She was among the third batch of stars honored in the Eastwood City Walk of Fame located in Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City in 2008. Rivera released her first dance music album entitled Marian Rivera Dance Hits under Universal Records in 2008. It was a compilation of 12 songs, danced and choreographed by Rivera. The album certified a 2× Platinum Record Award by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI).

=== 2009–2014: Rise to fame === In 2009, she released her first single, "Sabay Sabay Tayo" under her second album Retro Crazy. The single and the album both received a Gold Award and later on a Platinum Record Award from PARI. In February 2009, she appeared in Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang, an adaptation of Carlo J. Caparas' graphic novel. It was her third team-up with Dingdong Dantes. Later that year, she was paired with Dennis Trillo in an adaptation of the famous historical fiction heroine created by Mars Ravelo, Darna. She played Narda, who turns into superheroine Darna, after swallowing a magical stone. Nestor Torre of Philippine Daily Inquirer described the series as "loud and livid", praising Rivera's acting. Trillo and Rivera later teamed up for the second time on the horror-suspense film Tarot produced by Regal Entertainment. She appeared on her first sitcom, Show Me Da Manny, alongside Manny Pacquiao. According to The Philippine Star, Rivera showed a natural comic skill. Rivera, starred in the Philippine adaptation of Endless Love, a Korean series, aired on GMA Network. Rivera reunited with Dantes in You to Me Are Everything, a romantic-comedy film under GMA Films which premiered on 5 May 2010. She played Francisca Carantes, a girl from Cordillera who turns out to be the daughter of a millionaire. Gracia starred in her own Metro Manila Film Festival entry, Super Inday and the Golden Bibe, for which she was nominated as Best Actress at the festival's awards night. She starred on a Holy Week drama special, Anghel sa Lupa (Earth Angel), produced by APT Entertainment, as well as in a Christmas series aired on GMA Network, The Christmas Doll. In 2011, she was cast in Joey Gosiengfiao's Temptation Island, a remake of the 1980 film of the same name. She played the role of Cristina G., a beauty queen aspirant who has been trapped on an island together with contenders acted by Heart Evangelista, Solenn Heussaff, Lovi Poe, and Ruffa Mae Quinto. She also starred in Bong Revilla's fantasy film, Ang Panday 2. That same year, she headlined Amaya, a historical drama fiction depicting early Filipinos in the 16th century. She won several awards and accolades including "Favorite TV Actress" on 2011 KZONE Awards, "Best Actress" in a Prime Time Television Series on NSSUA Awards, and for the first time as "Best Actress" in Golden Screen TV Awards in 2013. That same year, she won her second "Best Actress" award for the same show at the 2013 Northwest Samar State University Annual Awards. The series is promoted by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and Department of Education due to its cultural concept that shows and depicts the Filipino material culture, beliefs, traditions and mores in the Pre-Hispanic era. In 2012, Rivera headlined on different programs of GMA Network such as My Beloved, a Filipino romance drama-suspense-thriller series created and written by RJ Nuevas, under the helm of Dominic Zapata and Lore Reyes. The series premiered on 13 February 2012, it follows the life and love story of an angel of death named Arlan, a fictional character portrayed by Dantes, who falls in love with a human named Sharina, played by Rivera. He was punished and sent to earth to become human being. But complications arise when he found himself trapped in the body of a notorious criminal. She was cast on her second sitcom Tweets for My Sweet, which earned her two nominations as "Best Actress in comedy show" on 2012 PMPC Star Awards and 2013 Golden Screen TV Awards. Rivera hosted a reality show, Extra Challenge, with Richard Gutierrez and Boobay. The show is a recurring reality show originally aired in 1999, 2003 and 2006. In the latter part of 2012, Rivera gained another fame through the Philippine adaptation of a popular Korean series, Temptation of Wife, which aired on the same network. She played Angeline, a long-suffering wife, who has been lied to by his husband, Marcel and a friend named Heidi. Angeline returned as "Chantal", a rich sophisticated woman who takes revenge on the people who had hurt her. The series once again gave fame to Rivera on various Asian countries, resulting to a fan meeting and television guesting's in Vietnam, where the series was aired, along with her other works. The series gave Rivera a "Best Actress" award at the PMPC Star Awards for TV and a "Best Actress in a Lead Role" nomination from the 18th Asian Television Awards with Lorna Tolentino in the series Pahiram ng Sandali. She appeared on her second movie with Richard Gutierrez in a romantic-comedy film entitled My Lady Boss. According to her, "It's my first time to play a mean but ultraconservative character...", referring on her role as Evelyn, "the boss from hell". Rivera made an appearance for Ekstra: The Bit Player, an official entry to the 2013 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. Rivera appeared with Ai-Ai delas Alas in Kung Fu Divas, a film distributed by Star Cinema as part of their 20th Anniversary in the Philippine Film Industry, Rivera also act as co-producer of the said film.

This prompted her to appear for the first time on ABS-CBN, rival network of GMA Network. She appeared on three consecutive episodes of Kris TV, a taped interview in Showbiz Inside Report, and a live interview on The Buzz with Delas Alas. Her last appearance on ABS-CBN was a live interview in Bandila. During the interviews, she revealed she had her on-the-job training (OJT) in ABS-CBN during her college days.

=== 2014–2022: Later years === Rivera returned to prime time with a heavy-drama project titled as Carmela: Ang Pinakamagandang Babae sa Mundong Ibabaw (formerly Catarina) broadcast by GMA Network on 27 January 2014, wherein she was paired with Alden Richards. On 19 April 2014, she headlined in another Lenten television drama anthology special, Panalangin. It was the fourth time she had starred in a Lenten series which was also produced by APT Entertainment and broadcast in the same network. In 2015, Rivera was supposed to appear in her comeback television program entitled The Rich Man's Daughter, but due to her pregnancy, she was then replaced by fellow Kapuso celebrity Rhian Ramos respectively. Despite her first pregnancy, Rivera pursued to continue some of her appointments in which she appeared in different television commercial ads namely Biofit Tea, Hana Shampoo, Kopiko Cafe Blanca, 555 Tuna, and the recent Del Monte Quick & Easy TV ad, together with her husband Dingdong Dantes. Magazine covers that featured Rivera such as UNO Magazine, Mega Magazine, Preview, Speed Magazine, and Weddings & Beyond Magazine are to be name the few. In the cover of UNO magazine, Rivera was quoted as saying "Pregnancy is a beautiful thing", describing her present condition in her Instagram account. Rivera was selected as USTv's Student Leaders Choice for Female Social Media Personality Gawad Sulo ng Bayan Natatanging Pilipinang Aktres sa Pelikula at Telebisyon on Golden Torch CCA, Inc., and the 2nd PEPList Choice Awards for its Newsmaker of the Year category, with Dingdong Dantes, was accepted by ABS-CBN newscaster Korina Sanchez on behalf of the couple. Rivera was included to Rogue Magazine's Top 50 Most Influential Filipino Online. That same year, she headlined with Ai-Ai delas Alas, joined by Alden Richards, Julie Anne San Jose, as well as comedians Jose Manalo and Wally Bayola in the comedy-variety show Sunday PinaSaya. In 2016, Rivera marked her comeback in television as part of the remake of GMA Network's fantasy TV show, Encantadia. Rivera made her surprise cameo appearance in romantic-comedy film, Imagine You and Me which stars the love team of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza. In 2017, Rivera debuted in her drama anthology for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), Tadhana, which premiered on 20 May. She appeared in Super Ma'am since September. In 2021, Rivera was a member of the selection committee for Miss Universe 2021 held in Eilat, Israel. In 2022, Rivera starred along with Dantes in a sitcom, Jose & Maria's Bonggang Villa which ran for two seasons.