Angel Locsin

Angel Locsin (born Angelica Colmenares on April 23, 1985), is a television and film actress, commercial model, film producer and fashion designer in the Philippines.

Locsin rose to prominence after being cast as one of the lead stars in the fantasy-themed television series Mulawin in 2004. Soon after, she starred as the superheroine Darna in the TV adaptation of the Mars Ravelo comics. When her contract expired on March 2007, Angel did not renew her contract with GMA Network and signed an exclusive contract with ABS-CBN despite her booming career on the first. Her first project under ABS-CBN was the television series Lobo. Locsin recently starred her first box office movie under Star Cinema, Love Me Again, directed by Rory Quintos.

She is currently featured in the TV series Only You with Sam Milby and Diether Ocampo.

Early life

Locsin was born in Santa Maria, Bulacan, Philippines. Her parents separated when she was 14 years old, and she has since lived with her father, Angelo Colmenares.

Education

Locsin had her elementary education in Bulacan and finished high school at the University of Santo Tomas High School, Manila. In August 2007 she attended a short-course for fashion design at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London, United Kingdom.

Early work

Locsin was discovered by a talent scout while she was shopping at SM City North EDSA in Quezon City. She then auditioned for several commercials. She is supposed to be a part of ABS-CBN's Star Circle Batch 9, but failed to sign a contract because her father, Angelo Colmenares, did not agree. After a year, she became a contract star of GMA Artist Center, first appearing on the 1999 teen-oriented series Click. Locsin was also included in the cast of Ang Iibigin Ay Ikaw Pa Rin which also starred Christopher De Leon, Richard Gomez and Alice Dixson on the lead roles. In 2004, she also starred in All Together Now.

GMA Network

In August 2, 2003, Locsin starred in Mulawin, where she portrayed the role of Alwina and was paired with Richard Gutierrez, who played Aguiluz. It ended on March 18, 2004.

After Mulawin, Locsin played the title role of super heroine Darna in the fantasy television series Ravelo's Darna with Dennis Trillo as her leading man. According to AGB and AC Nielsen, Darna was the first primetime series to reach a 47.1% rating in 2005. It also generated 52.1% rating, the highest rating achieved by any GMA-7 show by that year, on its fourth episode, when Angel transformed from Narda to Darna. Since then, she received several TV commercials and endorsements, film projects, lead role projects thus getting huge popularity in the Philippines.

In March 20, 2006, Locsin starred in another fantasy television series, Majika. She played the role of Sabina, the elder daughter of Ayesa and Garam which were played by Carmina Villaroel and Zoren Legaspi. She was paired with Dennis Trillo playing the role of Argo. It ended on September 29, 2006.

In 2007, Locsin starred in Asian Treasures with action star Robin Padilla. Angel's role was inspired by Angelina Jolie's movie portrayals of Lara Croft. It was the first Philippine TV series that was shot in multiple countries such as Mongolia, Thailand and China. It aired on January 15, 2007 and ended June 29, 2007, which turned out to be her last project for GMA.

ABS-CBN

On August 11, 2007, Locsin signed a two-year exclusive contract with ABS-CBN., where her first assignment was an episode in the drama series Maalala Mo Kaya. In this exact episode is also where Angel won her first award as a Best Single Performance by an Actress in the recent 22nd PMPC Star Awards for Television.

In January 28, 2008, Locsin launched her first drama series (teleserye) in ABS-CBN entitled Lobo where she was paired to Piolo Pascual. It premiered with a rating of 27.7%. Eventually, in the end of the series, it got the highest rating of 33.4% in the nationwide ratings game conducted by NUTAM Ratings. The series ended on July 11, 2008.

This 2009, Angel launched her new TV series, Only You, a Philippine remake of the Korean drama of the same title aired by SBS (South Korea) in 2005. Angel stars with Sam Milby and Diether Ocampo, directed by Rory Quintos which aired last April 27, 2009 at ABS-CBN Primetime.

Films

Locsin first starred in films such as Ping Lacson Supercop, Mano Po 2, Kuya and Singles. In 2004, Locsin starred in the films Mano Po 3 and Sigaw which both included in 31st Metro Manila Film Festival.

In 2005, GMA Films released the film, Let the Love Begin starring Locsin with Richard Gutierrez, Jennylyn Mercado and Mark Herras, directed by Mac Alejandre. It grossed PHP 122 million on the Box office. Locsin also reprised her role as Alwina in Mulawin: The Movie with Richard Gutierrez.

In early 2006, Locsin starred her second valentine movie film with GMA Films, I Will Always Love You with Richard Gutierrez and directed by Mac Alejandre. She starred the Filipino horror film, TxT and in 2006's Metro Manila Film Festival offering, Mano Po 5.

In early 2007, Locsin also reunited with Richard Gutierrez in The Promise where their roles were considered more mature than their last film. This was her last film with GMA Films before she signed a contract with Star Cinema.

Locsin had also produced her own film entitled Angels, which was shown in theaters on April 12, 2007.

In 2009, Locsin starred in her first movie under Star Cinema, Love Me Again. The film was shot in Impasug-ong and Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. Other scenes were also shot in Darwin, Australia. The film premiered on January 15, 2009.

Interests

In April 23, 2007, Locsin celebrated her birthday with Gabriela foundation, a political-sector partylist that support women and less-fortunate children. In April 20, 2008, Locsin set a gift-giving to the less fortunate children in Payatas, Quezon City and helped certain poor children gave food, clothing and their basic needs. It was her birthday gift which was supported by her sponsors.

FROM: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_Locsin