Sheryl Cruz

Acting career

Cruz started her career at a very young age. She won the FAMAS Best Child Actress award for her portrayal in the movie "Mga Basang Sisiw" opposite Janice de Belen, Che Che and the late Julie Vega. She also won best child actress for the movie "Roman Rapido" opposite her late uncle the King of Filipino Movies, Fernando Poe Jr.

She was later contracted by Regal Films along with Kristina Paner and Manilyn Reynes to form the sensational group "TRIPLETS". Among the three, Manilyn Reynes became the Star of the New Decade and Sheryl Cruz became the Princess of Philippine Cinema. At that time, GMA Network established the youth oriented TV show "That's Entertainment" hosted by German Moreno, where she became part of the Wednesday group.

Her movie career blossomed as part of Philippine cinema's most memorable loveteams, that of herself and Romnick Sarmenta. Sheryl then signed a contract with Seiko Films. Sheryl was named during her teen years as "The Princess of the Philippine Movies". She later married and moved to the United States. In August 2004, Sheryl decided to return home, and starred in her comeback movie, Mano Po 3: My Love, with her godmother the Star for All Seasons, Ms. Vilma Santos-Recto, governor of Batangas.

But her biggest break was starring in two seasons of Now and Forever, "Tinig" and "Ganti", which garnered high ratings (equivalent to that of a primetime show) despite its being on an afternoon timeslot. She appeared on Bakekang, in which her antagonist character, Valeria, became a household name. In 2007-2008, she transferred to ABS-CBN after her blooming career on GMA when she was offered to play Miss Minchin, the main antagonist of Princess Sarah, as Xandra in Komiks Presents: Varga, and a special participation role in Lobo that is starred by Angel Locsin. She decided to transfer back to GMA Network and decided to stay at her home network to do Luna Mystica, opposite a former talent of ABS-CBN, Heart Evangelista.

In the mid-plot of the Sine Novela offering, Tinik Sa Dibdib, she was cast as an additional character in the series, rumored that she was the replacement of Ara Mina. In the series, she was the lead antagonist, the love triangle between Lando (portrayed by Marvin Agustin) and Lorna (portrayed by Sunshine Dizon in the first three weeks and Nadine Samonte onwards.)

After her role on Tinik sa Dibdib, Cruz was chosen by GMA Network to appear in Langit sa Piling Mo as a guest star. She also starred in the first season of the GMA reality comedy series Ang Yaman ni Lola and Grazilda.

In 2011, Cruz moved to TV5 and joined the cast of Mga Nagbabagang Bulaklak.

In 2012, she later returned again to ABS-CBN as Cruz appeared in a special participation role in the last episodes of the hit phenomenal teleserye Walang Hanggan, playing the role of a younger Manang Henya (portrayed by her aunt Ms. Susan Roces) in flashbacks. She, along with her cousin Sunshine Cruz, is currently a part of the 2013 hit afternoon action-horror-drama series Galema: Anak ni Zuma, starring Andi Eigenmann.

On December 7, 2013, Cruz won the P1,000,000 in The Singing Bee with four consecutive answers.

She returned to her home network, GMA Network once again in 2014. She had been working there ever since. She has been given many roles and TV appearances. Her latest role is in the afternoon drama series Buena Familia. She portrays Josephine Carter, alongside Bobby Andrews, who portrays Arthur Buena, her love interest and Angelu de Leon as Bettina Agravante-Buena, whom she sees as her competition for Arthur's love.

Personal life

Her parents were both Sampaguita Pictures stars - Ricky Belmonte and Rosemarie Sonora. Her ethnicity is French-Chinese on her maternal side, Tagalog on her paternal side, and Spanish-Filipino on both her maternal and paternal sides. She is the niece of actress Susan Roces, the Queen of Filipino Movies. Cruz and her husband Norman Bustos were married in 1996 but filed for divorce in March 2008. They have a daughter named Ashley Nicole.

Discography