Marian Rivera

Marian Rivera (born Marián Gracia Rivera on August 12, 1984 in Madrid, Spain) is a Filipina commercial model and actress, known for her roles in Marimar, Dyesebel, Darna, Amaya and Temptation of Wife. As a recording artist, Rivera has released two studio albums: the Marian Rivera Dance Hits and Retro Crazy. She has also starred in some movies such as: My Bestfriend's Girlfriend, Tarot,You to Me Are Everything, and Panday 2. In 2009, Rivera ranked #5 in Manila Standard's "2009 Top Celebrity Endorsers", #3 in "Top 10 Most In-demand Celebrity Endorsers in 2010 and was also included in 2011's Top 20 Endorsers. She was hailed as FHM's Sexiest Woman in 2008 and recently, for the second time this 2013 dethroning Sam Pinto as the Sexiest Woman in the Philippines. She clenched the FHM's Sexiest Woman in 2014 again after her prior win the year before setting the record of three consecutive victories on FHM's Sexiest Woman. he men's magazine on Friday announced, through its website, that Rivera bagged again the coveted title, her third since topping the list in 2008 and 2013. Out of a total 13 million votes, the GMA-7's Primetime Queen received 1,529,974 votes, almost double in number from her last year's figure (890,490). Rivera is one of the tv network's biggest and busiest stars today. The actress recently topbilled evening series "Carmela," joined noontime variety show "Eat Bulaga," and launched her self-titled dance program. She also endorses Belo Medical Group and clothing line Bench. Following Rivera's lead are Sam Pinto (1,482,072 votes), "The Legal Wife" actress Angel Locsin (1,042,226 votes), Jennylyn Mercado (1,025,702 votes) and Cristine Reyes (858,283).

n 2008, Rivera played the title role Dyesebel which aired on April 28, 2008, the famous Philippine mermaid character acted by many famous Filipinos actresses from as early as 1970. The series is another team-up with Dantes who. The year also marked Rivera's first lead role opposite Richard Gutierrez in a Valentine film by GMA Films entitled as My Best Friend's Girlfriend. In the same year, the Dantes-Rivera love team debuted in a film, One True Love directed by Mac Alejandre which grossed more than her film with Gutierrez.Aside from the two films, she also acted in two Metro Manila Film Festival entries such as Shake, Rattle & Roll X, an omnibus horror trilogy in which she played the role of Nieves:The Engkanto Slayer and Desperadas 2, a sequel of her 2007 movie with Rufa Mae Quinto, Iza Calzado and Ruffa Gutierrez. Rivera was among the third batch of stars honored in the Eastwood City Walk of Fame located in Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City in 2008. Rivera released her first dance music album, Marian Rivera Dance Hits under Universal Records in 2008. It was a compilation of 12 dance musics like Jessica Jay's Chichiquita, Soul Control's So Sexy and Surina's Nasty Girl, danced and choreographed by Rivera. The album was certified 2x Platinum by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry. In 2009, she released her first single, "Sabay Sabay Tayo" under her second album Retro Crazy. The single and the album both received Gold Award and later on, Platinum Award from the PARI. In early 2009, she appeared in her first straight drama series, Ang Babaeng Hinugot Sa Aking Tadyang, an adaptation of Carlo J. Caparas's graphic novel. It was her third team-up with Dingdong Dantes. Later that year, she was paired with Dennis Trillo in an adaptation of the famous historical fiction heroine in the Philippines which is Darna. Rivera played the role of Narda, who turns into the superheroDarna, after swallowing a magical stone. Nestor Torre of Philippine Daily Inquirer described the series as "loud and livid", praising Rivera's acting.

Later that year, Trillo and Rivera teamed-up for the second time on the horror-suspense film Tarot produced by GMA Films and Regal Entertainment. According to Manila Bulletin, it is Rivera's scariest film after Pamahiin and Shake, Rattle and Roll. She also appeared on her first sitcom, Show Me Da Manny alongside Filipino boxing champion, Manny Pacquaio. According to Philippine Star, Rivera showed a natural comic skill. MANILA, Philippines Actress Marian Rivera is once again FHM’s Sexiest Woman in the Philippines, as chosen by its readers in a poll. In an article on it’s website, the magazine announced that the actress won the title with more than 1,529,974 votes, making her the first Filipina to win the title for three years. Marian won the title in 2013 and in 2008. On it’s official Instagram account, FHM congratulated the actress.

Rivera was born in Madrid, Spain to Francisco Javier Gracia Alonso, a Spaniard and Amalia Rivera, a Filipina from Cavite, Philippines. After her parents separated 2 years after her birth, her mother brought her to the Philippines where she grew up most of her life. However, her mother had to leave to continue her work commitment abroad that she was sent to her maternal grandmother, Francisca Rivera in Bacoor, Cavite. Rivera pursued her elementary and high school education at Saint Francis of Assisi College System, and spent her college education finishing Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in De La Salle University Dasmariñas. After graduating, she worked for National Institute of Mental Health in Mandaluyong City where she gave out medicines, examinations and evaluation to patients, among others. She also tried becoming a SPED teacher before she was discovered for showbiz.