Famous Filipino Film & Theater Personalities

Golden Globe-nominated actor Lou Diamond Phillips is best known as Ritchie Valens from the film La Bamba. His performance in the Broadway revival of The King and I earned him a Tony nomination. He has also appeared in a string of TV and radio projects and participated in poker championships.

Lea Salonga is a Filipina actress, singer, and columnist. She achieved international fame at the age of 18, when she originated the role of Kim in Miss Saigon, winning the Laurence Olivier Award under the Best Actress in a Musical category. Lea Salonga became the first Asian actress to receive a Tony Award when she reprised the role on Broadway.

Pia Wurtzbach is a Filipino-German beauty queen who participated in the 64th Miss Universe pageant where she was crowned Miss Universe 2015. Wurtzbach is also a model, actress, and TV personality; she had to quit her showbusiness career temporarily to participate in the beauty pageant. She is also an advocate for gender equality and works towards raising awareness of HIV.

Famous for her baby-face and youthful skin, the South Korean singer and actress is a celebrity not just in her country, but also in the Philippines. Despite her humble beginning, Sandara Park rose to prominence as a singing sensation with a number of chart-topping songs. She also featured in television shows and movies and is considered as a trendsetter.

Nadine Lustre is a Filipina actress, music video director, and singer best known for her portrayal of Eya Rodriguez in the 2014 romantic comedy film, Diary ng Panget. One of the most decorated Filipina celebrities, Lustre has won several prestigious awards, such as the Young Critics Circle award, Asian Academy Creative Award, Myx Music Awards, and Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award.

Born Charice Pempengco, Filipino singer Jake Zyrus came out as lesbian in 2013 and then as transgender later, changing his name in 2017 and going through a chest reconstruction and hormone treatment. Jake had grown up supporting his family by performing and later struck gold with the single Pyramid.

Daniel Padilla is a Filipino recording artist and actor. In 2015, Padilla became the first Pinoy artist to receive the Kids' Choice Award under the Global Slime Star category. He has also won several other awards, such as Myx Music Awards and Awit Awards. Also known for his philanthropic efforts, Padilla often participates in charity events.

Bea Alonzo is a Filipina model, actress, and former singer. Widely regarded as one of Asia's biggest stars,Bea Alonzo has won many prestigious awards for her skills as an actress. In 2016, she was adjudged Movie Actress of the Year at the 32nd PMPC Star Awards for Movies for playing Basha Belinda Eugenio-Gonzales in the 2015 film, A Second Chance.

Isabel Preysler is a  Filipina socialite and TV host. As a teenager, she participated in beauty pageants and worked as a model. She later started working as a journalist. An elegant woman, she is considered a fashion icon. Her first husband was Julio Iglesias, a Spanish singer.  Enrique Iglesias and Julio Iglesias Jr. are her sons.

Marian Rivera is a Spanish-Filipino model and actress. She is known for playing important roles in TV series like Marimar, Amaya, and Temptation of Wife. Apart from winning awards for her acting skills, Rivera has also been named FHM Magazine's Sexiest Woman on a couple of occasions. Also known for her philanthropic efforts, Marian Rivera often participates in fundraising campaigns.

Maine Mendoza is a Filipino television personality and actress. She is best known for playing Yaya Dub in the popular TV variety show, Eat Bulaga! Over the years, Maine Mendoza has won several awards, such as the Metro Manila Film Festival Award for Best Supporting Actress, which she won for her performance in the 2015 movie My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore.

Filipino comedian, talk show host, actor, and TV presenter Vice Ganda has appeared in some of the highest-grossing movies in Philippine cinema. As a comedian, he uses observational comedy, situational irony, and sarcasm in his routines. Also active on TV, he regularly hosts the noontime variety show It's Showtime. He is openly gay and is considered an LGBTQAI+ icon.

Heart Evangelista is a Filipina actress, TV host, singer, philanthropist, and socialite. She began working as a model and actress while still in her teens. As a young woman, she continued acting while also establishing herself as a painter. She launched the foundation 'Heart Can' to help children with special needs. She is married to politician Francis Escudero.

Coco Martin is a Filipino actor, director, and producer. He is best known for his lead role in the film Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin. He began acting in the early 2000s with small roles in TV shows. In the ensuing years, he moved on to more serious roles in TV series and films. He made his directorial debut in 2017.

Filipina actor Maja Salvador became a household name with her award-winning role in the film Thelma. The series Wildflower and The Killer Bride catapulted her to international fame. In 2018, she rekindled her romance with her long-lost boyfriend of her 20s, Rambo Nunez. She now owns a talent company.

Andrea Brillantes is a Filipina actress and recording artist best known for her leading role in the TV series Annaliza. She started acting as a child and first appeared in the children's comedy show Goin' Bulilit. As a young woman, she has acted in dramas and fantasies, portraying versatile roles. She has received one Urduja Heritage Film Award. 

Kim Chiu is a Filipino model, actress, singer, dancer, host, and vlogger. Nicknamed the Multimedia Idol, Chiu has achieved immense popularity in the Philippines. Regarded as one of the most popular actresses for her generation, Chiu is also counted among the highest grossing stars of the 2010s decade. She is also one of the most decorated performers of her generation.

Neile Adams is a Filipino-American dancer, actress, and singer. Before establishing herself in the American entertainment industry, Adams lived in Manila where she worked as a spy as part of the Philippine resistance movement during the Second World War. She then moved to the USA, where she became a dancer and actress.

Julia Montes was raised by her deaf Filipina mother after her German father abandoned them. Julia began modeling at 5 and later soared to fame with series such as Mara Clara and films such as A Moment in Time. She has lately been rumored to be dating Coco Martin.

Filipino-Australian actor-singer James Reid had been a talented gymnast and swimmer in childhood. He is best known for pairing up with Nadine Lustre in projects such as Diary Ng Panget and On the Wings of Love. Though he and Nadine dated later, they broke hearts with their split in 2020.

Also known as FPJ and Da King, Fernando Poe Jr. was a popular actor in the Philippines and won 5 FAMAS Best Actor awards. He later stepped into politics as a member of KNP, or the United Opposition. He is also known for testifying against the criminal gangs known as the Big Four.

Regine Velasquez is a Filipina singer, record producer, and actress. Renowned for her belting technique and vocal range, Velasquez is counted among the most influential personalities in Philippine popular culture. She is the best-selling Filipino musician of all time as she has sold over seven million records so far. Regine Velasquez is also credited with influencing several other performers.  

Filipina-French celebrity Solenn Heussaff dons many hats, and is an actor, a designer, a singer, and a make-up artist at the same time. Known for her appearances in films such as Temptation Island and series such as Survivor Philippines: Celebrity Showdown, she is also an animal lover and owns two tortoises.

While Filipino actor Paulo Avelino won an MMFF award for his performance in the film Fan Girl, a few pranksters posted a screenshot of him exposing himself, captured from the film, on various social-media platforms. He has previously gained fame with series such as Bridges Of Love.

Filipina actor-singer Kyline Alcantara was catapulted to fame by series such as Kambal, Karibal and Inagaw na Bituin. The teen sensation had initially gained popularity with her musical.ly clips and her YouTube videos. Her performances have also won her honors such as the Asian Acadaemy Creative Award.