Maricel Soriano

Biography

Dubbed as the 'Diamond Star' in the Philippine entertainment industry with 108 movies and several television awards (including Best Child Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Achiever Award as actress/producer, Best Performer and Best Actress) from various award-giving bodies such as FAMAS, PMPC, Empress, FAP, YCC, Pasado, GMMSFP, MMFF, Manila, Iloilo and Cinemanila Film Festivals. She was also known as 'Taray Queen' for her feisty roles in movies, where she's usually loud and energetic at the same time.

Soriano started acting at the age of six in the 1971 film My Heart Belongs to Daddy with Tirso Cruz III and fellow child actress Snooky Serna.

Soriano developed her comic skills under the guidance of the late Dolphy (King of Comedy) and the late Nida Blanca, one of the country's top caliber actors, both of whom she considered as second parents, especially when she grew up acting in John en Marsha where she was a regular cast.

In the 1980s, she was launched to full stardom as one of the Regal Babies along with Snooky Serna, Dina Bonnevie, Gabby Concepcion, Albert Martinez, Alfie Anido, Jimi Melendez and her loveteam partner, William Martinez. Her 1985 film Hinugot sa Langit, produced by Regal Films and directed by national artist Ishmael Bernal, is now considered as one of the classics of Philippine cinema.

She was also named as "Drama Anthology Queen" in the early 90's because of her successful weekly drama show (produced by Regal Films and ABS-CBN) topped the primetime ratings game since its airing in October 1986. After two years, she with sister Maria Victoria and former manager Manny Valera established Excellent Productions and took the helm of producing the show. The drama show lasted for ten years and was awarded by the Catholic Mass Media Awards in 1988 and 1989 and the KBP Media Awards in 1992 and 1993 as outstanding drama anthology. As main performer, she received Star Award's best actress for drama honors in 1988, 1989 and 1992.

In September 2009, Soriano appeared in Florinda, the third and final episode of Sineserye Presents: The Susan Roces Cinema Collection.

In 2010, Soriano guested in Pilyang Kerubin where she played a mother who gives to her children; this was her first GMA Network show.

Success and fame

Soriano was launched into full stardom in 1980 via Regal Films' Underage, where her thespian talent and charisma shone brightest among the lead stars of the movie. Her tandem with William Martinez was launched via the movie Oh My Mama in 1981. She was considered the top 'Regal Baby' in the 1980s and 1990s prompting the Regal matriarch, Lily Monteverde to quip, "Regal without Maricel is nothing".

Versatility

Unmatched in the history of Philippine Cinema, Soriano has the most number of comedy films, from John en Marsha in 1973 to I Will Survive in 2004. Her Inday series (Inday, Inday sa Balitaw, Inday Bote and Super Inday) is a landmark in the comedy arena. Some of her dramatic films are now considered classics, most notable of which are Saan Darating Ang Umaga? (1983), Kaya Kong Abutin ang Langit (1984), Hinugot sa Langit (1985), Babaeng Hampaslupa (1988), Ikaw Pa Lang ang Minahal (1992), Inagaw Mo Ang Lahat sa Akin (1995), Abot Kamay ang Pangarap (1996) (The Philippine entry to the Oscar Awards), Soltera (1999), Mila (2001), Filipinas (2003) and Inang Yaya (2006). Her action-oriented films with action superstars are all certified hits starting with the record-breaking Batang Quiapo (1986) until her last in 1998's Sige, Subukan Mo.

Soriano is also considered the 'Dancing Queen' of the 1980s, and her signature dance numbers, "I Am What I Am", "Body Dancer", "Rico Mambo", among others have continued to be associated with her even to this very day. While not a professional singer, she even managed to record two songs, the theme song of the movie, Oh My Mama and the gold record hit "Ngayon At Habang Panahon". Aside from a sold out concert at the Araneta Coliseum entitled "Hello, Hello Maricel" in 1987, she has appeared in hit concerts locally and abroad in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The TV icon

Aside from successfully conquering the movie scene, Soriano duplicated her feat on television with a variety of shows. From the sitcom John en Marsha, she also starred in Kaluskos Musmos and Kuskos Balungos, youth oriented programs in the 1970s. She has appeared in musical variety shows (Maria! Maria!, Maricel Live!), a drama anthology (Maricel Drama Special), comedy shows (2+2, Kaya ni Mister, Kaya ni Misis, Mary d' Potter, Bida si Mister, Bida si Misis), soap operas (Vietnam Rose) and John En Shirley (a spin-off of her original sitcom), where she is reunited with Dolphy and Susan Roces.

The Diamond Star can be considered foremost a progeny of television and her face has continued to become a staple in the small tube. Even with her short hiatus in making movies, Soriano was consistently seen in the longest-running drama anthology which was named after her, and the reprisal of the role of Shirley Purontong brought her into full circle as a certified icon in Philippine TV.

She has received two awards from the Asian TV Awards as Best Actress in a Comedy Show aside from her two awards for the same category from the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC). She was also given two awards as Best Actress in a Drama Anthology and Best Actress for Drama in a Soap Opera (Vietnam Rose) also coming from the PMPC.

A sought after celebrity endorser, she has endorsed a wide variety of products and is considered one of the most credible among the elite group of endorsers. She is reported to lend her name only with those products she believes in and uses it as well. Her appeal to consumers help catapult a number of products (and infomercial) to gain a sizable share of the market, most notably: Ever Gotesco, Modess, Green Cross Alcohol, Green Cross Soap, Whisper, Alaska, Globe, Swift Spaghetti, Swift Corned Beef, Loviscol, McDonald's, Jollibee, Mr. Clean, Breeze, Minola, Fiesta Noodles, Fiesta Cooking Oil, Aji Ginisa, Vaseline shampoo, Argentina Corned Beef, DOH's Newborn Screening, Quick Chow Noodles and Saucy Me.

The Movie Queen

With her movie output already reaching the millennium mark and a range of films unsurpassed by all other actresses, she is one of the few bestowed by filmdom with this title. The Diamond Star has practically worked in all the major film outfits in the industry, appeared with every major star, and set acting standards and box office records.

She is the third most awarded film actress of all time with 19 (child, supporting and lead actress) trophies to boost from various legitimate award giving bodies such as FAMAS, PMPC, Empress, FAP, YCC, Pasado, GMMSFP, MMFF, Manila, Iloilo and Cinemanila Film Festivals. Aside from these, Soriano has received other acting awards from various sources such as fan magazine publishing companies and people's choice awards.

In 2006, Soriano was back with Regal Films as the lead star of Bahay Kubo, a movie intended for the 2007 Metro Manila Film Festival.

Personal life

Previously married to Edu Manzano from 1989 - 1991. She has two sons, Marron Soriano and Sebastien Soriano. She has three other siblings, Bec Soriano, mother of Meryll Soriano, Michael "Mykee" Martinez and Mel Martinez

Discography

Soriano recorded a few songs in the 1980s including the gold single "Ngayon at Habang Panahon" penned by Tito Sotto and the theme song of her movie Oh My Mama in 1981.

Films

Upcoming

• Darna - Darna's Mother (Star Cinema)

Famous memorable lines

Awards and nominations

Soriano has received a number of awards, most notable of which are the two Asian TV Awards as Best Comedy Actress, and three FAP awards, three FAMAS and five PMPC Star Awards for her drama performances. In 1974, she received her first award as Best Child Actress at the age of nine at the 9th Metro Manila Film Festival for Virgo Film's Alaala mo, Daigdig ko ("Your Memory is My World"). She won her second acting award at the 1974 Ilo-ilo Film Festival for the movie version of the TV sitcom John En Marsha which later became the longest-running Philippine sitcom. She received four consecutive nominations for FAMAS Awards in the years 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997. Her 1995 film, Inagaw Mo Ang Lahat sa Akin, produced by Reyna films was the official Philippine entry to the 1996 Oscar awards. In 1999, she was named as one of the Top 100 Stars of Philippine Cinema All-Time by Manila Times and in 2005 she was listed by the Director's Guild of the Philippines as one of the Top 15 Best Actresses of All Time. On January 5, 2008, she won the Best Actress award for Bahay Kubo at the Metro Manila Film Festival; this is her 3rd Best Actress prior to 1997's Nasaan ang Puso and 2003's Filipinas. Soriano also won in the 38th Box Office Queen and King Entertainment Awards as Film Actress of the Year for her performance in A Love Story.

International awards

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Local awards

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PASADO Awards

Gawad TANGLAW Awards

People's Choice Awards

GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Awards

Manila Film Festival

Iloilo Film Festival

OFW Kakampi Awards

2015 BEST ACTRESS Ang Dalawang MRS. REAL

ENPRESS Golden Screen TV Awards

Nominated

28th PMPC Star Awards for TV Best Drama Actress || Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real

28th PMPC Star Awards for TV Best Actress in a single performance Kulungan Kanlungan

27th PMPC Star Awards for TV Best Actress in a single performance Baldadong Puso

PMPC Star Awards for TV Best Actress in a single performance MMK: Sing-along Bar

5th Best Drama Actress for TV Best Drama Actress || Maricel Regal Drama Special and Maricel Soriano Drama Special

Won

Asian Television Awards

Golden Dove Awards

Golden Screen for TV Awards

CMMA Awards

Record awards and concerts

Entertainment and industry awards