Marian Rivera

Marian Rivera Gràcia-Dantes (Tagalog: [ˌmaɾjɐn ɾɪˌbɛːɾɐ ˈdantɛs]; born 12 August 1984) is a Filipino and Spanish actress, television host, model and entrepreneur. She is known for her portrayals of heroines and roles in romantic dramas. Her accolades include three FAMAS Awards, five PMPC Star Awards for Television, a PMPC Star Awards for Movies, ten Box Office Entertainment Awards, and a Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival Award, including nominations from Asian Television Awards and Metro Manila Film Festival. In 2020, Forbes Asia named her one of the most influential Filipino celebrities in Asia Pacific.

Rivera initially began as a commercial model and ventured acting in 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, earning her a nomination for Best Actress at the Metro Manila Film Festival. She scored three nominations at the FAMAS Award for Best Actress for the films Ang Panday 2 (2011), Kung Fu Divas (2013), and Rewind (2023), the latter of which became the highest-grossing Philippine film of all time from January to November 2024. Her most successful films at the box-office include Shake, Rattle & Roll X (2008), My Bestfriend's Girlfriend (2008), Ang Panday 2 (2011), You to Me Are Everything (2010), One True Love (2008), Rewind (2023), and Balota (2024).

Appointed by the Congress of the Philippines as the Ambassador for Women and Children with Disabilities, Rivera is also a volunteer of 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 at the FHM Philippines' Hall of Fame for being the "sexiest woman" in the country for three cumulative years (2008, 2013 & 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 is currently the host of the drama anthology Tadhana (2017–present).

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 leave to continue her work commitment abroad and Rivera was sent to her maternal grandmother, Francisca Rivera, in Maragondon, Cavite.^{[citation needed]}

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. After graduation, she worked for a mental institution in Mandaluyong where she gave out medicine and conducted examinations and evaluations of patients.

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.