Angel Locsin

Angel Locsin 

(born Angelica Colmenares;April 23, 1985) is a Filipina television and film actress, commercial model, film producer andfashion designer. She came to prominence for her television roles as Alwina in the 2004 fantasy-themed television series Mulawin and as the superheroine Darna in the TV adaptation of the Mars Ravelo comics. Locsin was a contract artist of GMA Network up to early 2007 until she transferred to its rival network, ABS-CBN.

She then starred as Lyka in the television series Lobo, which earned her an International Emmy Award nomination for best performance. She later on starred in blockbuster films In The Name Of Love and One More Try for which she garnered critical acclaim for both performances. The two films earned Locsin the Star Award for Movies for Movie Actress of the Year and the Box-Office Entertainment Award for Film Actress of the Year, winning both awards two consecutive years. In 2013, she won the FAMAS Award and the Film Academy of the Philippines Award for best actress for her performance in One More Try.

Early life and education

Locsin was born on April 23, 1985 in Santa Maria, Bulacan. When she was only 14 years old, she got separated from her mother and since then have lived with his father, Angelo Colmenares.

She studied at St. James College in Quezon City for her primary education and finished high school at the University of Santo Tomas High School in Manila. In August 2007, she attended a short-course for fashion design at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London. Despite being of Christian faith, she is a part of a Muslim Royal Family in Marawi City in the province of Lanao del Sur through her mother. Reports said that Locsin's maternal grandfather is one of the 15 sultanates in Lanao del Sur.

Career

Early work (2001-2004)

Locsin in a Coca-Cola commercial, 2002.

Locsin was discovered at a shopping center by a talent scout.

She then auditioned for several commercials and was supposed to be a part ofABS-CBN's Star Circle Batch 9, but failed to sign a contract because her father opposed the idea.

Later, she became a contract star of GMA Artist Center, first appearing on the second season of the teen-oriented series, Click and was also included in the cast of Ang Iibigin Ay Ikaw.

Breakthrough and GMA Network (2004-2007)

In August 2004, Locsin starred in the fantasy-themed TV series Mulawin, alongside Richard Gutierrez, wherein she portrayed, "Alwina", one of the two main protagonists.

The show was a huge success and received high ratings until its finale on March 2005.

Following the success of Mulawin, Locsin was cast in the title role as Darna in the 2005 fantasy-themed TV series of the same name. The show was also highly regarded by the public, gaining immensely high ratings and surpassing the records set by her previous TV show. Darna's pilot week average is 50.08% and its highest rating was 52.1% while the lowest was 33.3%.

Locsin starred in another fantasy-themed TV series, Majika, together with Dennis Trillo, which was aired from March to September 2006. She played the role of Sabina, a seemingly ordinary girl who lived in the world of mortals but is unknowingly the one destined to become the most powerful female magician. Afterwards, she was cast in Asian Treasures, oppositeRobin Padilla. It was the first Philippine TV series that was shot in multiple countries such as Mongolia, Thailand and China. The show was aired from January to June 2007. Both shows were also well received.

ABS-CBN (2007-present)

Locsin at the Manila International Airport in 2007.

In August 2007, Locsin signed a two-year exclusive contract with ABS-CBN.

Her first acting appearance with the network was via Maalaala Mo Kayain the episode "Pilat". Her performance gained her the Star Award for TV for Best Single Performance by an Actress. By January 2008, she launched her first drama series with the network entitled Lobo, together with Piolo Pascual in the lead role. She earned an International Emmy Award for Best Performance by an Actress nomination for her performance in the series.

In 2009, Locsin starred in the top-rated TV series, Only You, a Philippine remake of the Korean drama of the same title aired by SBS Korea in 2005. She starred alongside Sam Milby and Diether Ocampo. The show was directed by Rory Quintos.

Later in 2010, she starred in the TV series Imortal, the sequel to her earlier work, Lobo, together with John Lloyd Cruz. It was directed by Chito Roño.

In 2011, she became a guest star in the comedy sitcom, Toda Max. However, her guesting eventually turned into a regular stint.

Films

Locsin's first film appearance was in 2000 via Ping Lacson Supercop, wherein she played the role of a young Robina Gokongwei. She later on made a cameo appearance in Mano Po 2 in 2003 and starred in the teen-oriented movie Kuya in 2004 as well as in the comedy film Singles. Also, she starred in the drama film Mano Po III: My Love and in the horror film Sigaw which were both entries to the 2004 Metro Manila Film Festival.

In 2005, Locsin with Richard Gutierrez starred in the romantic film Let the Love Begin, released under GMA Films. She and Gutierrez also reprised their roles as Alwina and Aguiluz in the movie adaptation of the TV series Mulawin, which was an entry to the 2005 Metro Manila Film Festival.

Early in 2006, Locsin starred in the romantic movie I Will Always Love You. She also starred in the horror film TxT and in the romantic drama-comedy film Mano Po 5. The latter was an entry to the 2006 Metro Manila Film Festival.

Locsin reunited with Gutierrez in the romantic drama film The Promise in 2007 where their roles were considered more mature than the previous films they both starred in. She had also produced her own film entitled Angels, which was shown in theaters on April 2007.

In 2009, she starred in the movie Love Me Again together with Piolo Pascual in the lead titles and made a cameo in the romantic comedy film, My Amnesia Girl in 2010.

Locsin gained critical acclaim in her 2011 drama film with Aga Muhlach, In the Name of Love. Her performance garnered her several accolades including the Star Award for Movies for Movie Actress of the Year, the Gawad PASADO Award for Pinakapasadong Aktres, and a nomination for best actress at the FAMAS Awards.

She reunited with John Lloyd Cruz in the romantic comedy film Unofficially Yours in 2012 and then starred, together with Dingdong Dantes and Angelica Panganiban in the drama filmOne More Try, Star Cinema's entry to the 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival. Locsin's performance in the latter was highly praised by film critics and media personalities and earned her the Star Award for Movies for Movie Actress of the Year for the second year in a row, the FAMAS Award for Best Actress and the Film Academy of the Philippines Award for Best Actress.

Personal life

On April 23, 2007, Locsin celebrated her birthday with GABRIELA Foundation, an NGO that supports women and children. On April 20, 2008, Locsin organized a gift-giving to the less fortunate children in Payatas, Quezon City and gave poor children food, clothing and other basic needs. It was her birthday gift supported by her sponsors