By Len Armea
For years, Marian Rivera has embodied what it means to be the “Kapuso Primetime Queen.” Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful faces and most influential figures in Philippine showbiz, her charisma continues to soar. The series and films she stars in become hits, her Tiktok clips go viral within hours, and the brands she endorses benefit from strong public trust and wide reach.
Her 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Rewind” was so successful that it became the highest-grossing Filipino film, amassing P1.2 billion in ticket sales. And while it may seem difficult to duplicate such a feat, Marian remains unfazed.
After all, she is “Queen” Marian, one of the few stars in showbiz who continue to shine, steadily and sincerely.
Landing Acting Awards
Fresh off the commercial success of “Rewind,” Marian went on to film the socially-charged “Balota,” a project that would earn her major acting accolades. The film, an entry in the 2024 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, garnered her the Best Actress award from the prestigious festival.
In “Balota,” Marian takes on the role of Emmy, a humble public school teacher who unexpectedly becomes the lone protector of a ballot box that could sway the outcome of her town’s election. Her life quickly spirals into danger as she fights to uphold the truth.
The film, which reflects the political landscape in the Philippines, ran in cinemas for four weeks, making it one of the most successful Cinemalaya entries to date.
Marian’s momentum continued in 2025 as she bagged two more acting awards for “Balota,” one at the 53rd Box Office Entertainment Awards by the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation, Inc. in June, and another at the FAMAS Awards in August.
Standing before the crowd, the actress thanked her supporters and reminded them why the film mattered.
“I hope this movie brings clarity to its real message: that the pain of corruption is what continues to choke our nation. It’s a disease we should never accept, because it should never be considered normal,” she said.
It was Marian’s first FAMAS award, one that further solidifies her legacy as one of the great actresses of her time, capable of moving with ease between commercial appeal and critical acclaim.
Read the full article in the November 2025 issue of the Filipino-Japanese Journal, out now in Japan.
(Photos courtesy of GMA)
