Pinoy Actor Focus: Vilma Santos

Number of films: 193

Number of awards: 36 wins (including: 6 FAMAS Awards; FAMAS Hall of Fame; 4 FAP Awards, 8 Gawad Urian Awards; 1 Cinemanila Award; Cinemanila Lifetime Achievement Award; 1 Brussels International Festival award)

Most important films: Trudis Liit (1963); Kampanerang Kuba (1973); Darna and the Giants (1974); Burlesk Queen (1977); Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng Tagak (1978); Relasyon (1982); T-Bird at Ako (1982); Broken Marriage (1983); Sister Stella L. (1984); Tagos ng Dugo (1987); Ibulong Mo Sa Diyos (1988); Pahiram ng Isang Umaga (1989); Dahil Mahal Kita (1993); Bata, Bata...Paano Ka Ginawa? (1998); Anak (2000); Dekada '70 (2002)

Relasyon (1982)

Dekada '70 (2002)

My favorite Vilma Santos performances: As Sister Stella Legaspi (Sister Stella L.), a nun who realizes her true calling amidst social injustice; as Dolzura Cortez (Dahil Mahal Kita), the first publicized Filipino HIV/AIDS patient; and as Lea Bustamante (Bata, Bata...Paano Ka Ginawa?), a woman with an abundant lust for life and love.

Dahil Mahal Kita (1993)

Bata, Bata...Paano ka Ginawa? (1998)

Popularity: Along with Nora Aunor, Santos is the Philippines's most popular, awarded, and well respected actress. She has gained the moniker "Star for All Seasons."

Current status: Governor of Batangas province. Last film was Mano Po III: My Love in 2004.

What I'd love to see her in: A supporting role (just for a change; huge Filipino actors doing supporting roles is extremely rare); an international film

Image sources: Philippine Cinema Vault, Video 48, Star for All Seasons
Information source: IMDb