Carmina Villarroel

1986–1996; Early years

Villarroel made her first television appearance in the now defunct show That's Entertainment, up until 1996 on GMA Network. A year later in 1987, she began co-hosting in Eat Bulaga, which at the time was ran on Radio Philippines Network and ABS-CBN. Later, she gained her first main role in Palibhasa Lalake as Cathy. After five years of participating in the show, Villarroel played her first antagonist role in Abangan Ang Susunod Na Kabanata in 1991 up until 1997.

In 1994, she made her first and only appearance so far on TV5 while hosting Tropang Trumpo. Two years after, Villarroel became part of the cast of Oki Doki Doc.

1997; Antagonist roles and Esperanza

Villarroel then portrayed the role of Cynthia Salazar aka Rosella Salgado in the hit primetime television series Esperanza, opposite of Judy Ann Santos, portraying main antagonist of the series till 1999. Star Cinema then distributed a film based movie of the same name in 1999, and she reprised her role as Cynthia and Rosella. In that same year, Villarroel played another antagonist role in !Oka Tokat, as Carmela de Dios.

1998–2002; Leading, popularity and breakthrough roles

After almost 11 years of working with ABS-CBN, Villarroel returned to her home network GMA Network and starred in Ganyan Kita Kamahal, as Eloisa Espiritu. This marks Villarroel's first lead roles. Then Villarroel joined the cast of Halik Sa Apoy and played another lead role as Attorney Alyssa, the main protagonist of the series.

After a year of her career on hiatus, she returned to ABS-CBN to star in Recuerdo de Amor with co-star Diether Ocampo, which gained immense popularity. Villarroel was given critical acclaim for her portrayal as Luisa and Rebecca. Returning to the network, she became a co-hostess in 2002 to 2003 in Morning Girls with Kris and Korina, alongside with Box-Office Queen Kris Aquino and actress/news anchor Korina Sanchez.

2003–2011; Supporting and minor roles

In 2003, Villarroel played the role of Primavera Grande and main antagonist of the series in Narito Ang Puso Ko. She then became a co-hostess in the talk show SiS. For that work, Villarroel won the award of Best Celebrity Talk Show. During 2005, Villarroel was a part of the remake series of Mars Ravelo's Darna, as Sabrina or Sulfura.

Later she played a minor role in Majika in 2006 as Ayesa. In 2009, Villarroel went back to ABS-CBN to star in an episode of the drama anthology series Maalaala Mo Kaya. She then went back to GMA Network to star as the younger version of Susan Roces, Remedios Dionisio, in Sana Ngayong Pasko. Then in 2010, Villarroel was part of The Last Prince as Reyna Lamara. With portraying supporting roles for the past years, Villarroel got her first main role once again in Pepito Manaloto as Maricar del Valle. She then hosted the show Love ni Mister, Love ni Misis.

In 2011, she guested on Munting Heredera, the television series starring veteran actress Gloria Romero. She played the role of Alyssa. Later during that year, Villarroel portrayed a lead role in Pahiram ng Isang Ina, as Emily Martinez after 13 years.

2012–2014; Return to ABS-CBN 2

With two years in working with GMA Network, Villarroel returned to its rival network ABS-CBN to co-host in Showbiz Inside Report until 2013. In 2012, she guested on It's Showtime, and Lorenzo's Time as Kat-Kat Gonzalez, opposite of Zaijian Jaranilla. Villarroel later guested on Toda Max as Chef Mina. A wedding special for her wedding with Zoren Legaspi was named Zoren-Carmina: Always Forever, A Wedding Like No Other. Their celebrity and non-celebrity friends attended their wedding.

Villarroel then became part of the cast of May Isang Pangarap and played the role of Nessa Francisco. After May Isang Pangarap, she joined the reformatted The Buzz now called Buzz ng Bayan. Villarroel co-hosted with Janice de Belen She later became part of Got to Believe, opposite Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, as Juliana Manansala, to 2014.

2015–present; Recent roles

After the success of Got to Believe in 2013-14 with the final episode rating if 25.3%, Villarroel went back to primetime to star in the critically acclaimed telenovela Bridges of Love which had aired overseas to Latin American countries including Peru. She played the role of Alexa Antonio the second main antagonist of the series, opposite Edu Manzano, Maja Salvador, Paulo Avelino and Jericho Rosales. The series premiered on March 16, 2015 and concluded on August 7, 2015 with a total of 103 episodes.

Later in 2015, after the ending of Bridges of Love, Villarroel went back to daytime on Kapamilya Gold afternoon block to star in Doble Kara, as Lucille Acosta-Dela Rosa, the main antagonist of the series. She received a nomination for the 30th PMPC Star Awards for Best Drama Supporting Actress, along with co-star, Julia Montes, who portrayed Kara Dela Rosa and Sara Suarez.

Personal life

Villarroel was previously married to Rustom Padilla (later BB Gandanghari) in 1994 the two had no children, but filed for annulment several months after, which was granted in 2002.

Villarroel married her partner Zoren Legaspi on November 15, 2012; the couple had their twins Maverick Peter and María Cassandra on January 6, 2001 in the United States. Legaspi planned a surprise proposal and civil wedding with the help of their families and the network. The ceremony was later air the following Saturday as the television special Zoren-Carmina: Always Forever, A Wedding Like No Other. The idea of a surprise proposal followed by a flashmob-style instant wedding was inspired by a remarkably similar episode of the US television programme Mobbed, hosted by Howie Mandel.