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Gretchen Barretto

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In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Castelo and the surname or paternal family name is Barretto.

Gretchen Barretto
Born
Gretchen Castelo Barretto

(1970-03-06) March 6, 1970 (age 54)
Manila, Philippines
OccupationActress
PartnerAntonio Cojuangco Jr.
ChildrenDominique Cojuangco
Relatives
Family

Gretchen Castelo Barretto (Tagalog: [ˈgɾɛtʃɛn baˈrɛto]; born March 6, 1970) is a Filipino former actress and socialite. She was launched in Regal Films' 14 Going on Steady as a singer-actress, with the release of her debut single "Going Steady", which served as the soundtrack single to her debut film. In the late eighties, Barretto rose to prominence after gaining success in skin flicks produced by Seiko Films like Tukso, Layuan Mo Ako!, Ang Bukas Ay Akin, Ama, Bakit Mo Ako Pinabayaan?, Lumayo Ka Man Sa Akin and Bakit Ako Mahihiya?. She has released two studio albums under Star Records. Her debut album, Unexpected, was released in 2008, and her second album Complicated was released a year after. Her two younger sisters, Marjorie and Claudine, and niece Julia are also actresses. She has been a contract star of ABS-CBN since 2010.

Biography

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1984–1987: Early career beginnings

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Barretto was launched as one of the newest Regal Babies together with former child actress Janice de Belen and upcoming actress Nadia Montenegro. Barretto released her debut single entitled "Going Steady", which was also the official theme song of the movie 14 Going on Steady in which she top-billed along with de Belen and Montenegro.[1] The single was critically panned but became a radio hit in the Philippines. Rumors swirled about the rift between Barretto and de Belen about who should have sung the soundtrack single.[2] In the aforementioned film, Barretto was chosen to record the song, while de Belen got more screen time dancing to the song as shown in the movie credits.[3] Barretto continued to star in films like Ang Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang, Paalam, Bukas ang Kasal Ko, Life Begins at 40 and Goat Buster. Despite being launched as a singer-actress, Barretto never got the chance to record a studio album due to the annual movies lined up for her. She soon dropped out of high school to fully concentrate on her acting career.[4]

1988–1993: Softcore movies and hosting stint

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In 1988, Barretto was signed by Robbie Tan to become a contract star of Seiko Films. In 1989, Barretto's image was revamped from being a teenybopper actress to a full-fledged sex siren. She appeared in several films like Ang Lihim Ng Golden Buddha, Ipaglalaban Ko, Tukso, Layuan Mo Ako!, Ama, Bakit Mo Ako Pinabayaan and Paminsan-Minsan. Due to the string of successful softcore films she starred in, Barretto, along with actresses Rita Avila, Cristina Gonzales and Rina Reyes, were tagged as the "ST Queens" (which stands for "sex trip") since they were among the most popular softcore actresses in Philippine cinema at that time.

In 1992, while shooting the movie Ako Ang Katarungan, Barretto was involved in a highly controversial relationship with married actor Bong Revilla whom she had an affair with for four months.[5] Barretto moved back to her home studio Regal Films in that same year. Some of her biggest films included Bakit Ako Mahihiya? and Kailangan Kita in which she was paired opposite Gabby Concepcion, all of which were produced by Regal Films. In 1994, Barretto embarked on a hosting career. She joined Boy Abunda in the late night talk show Show & Tell. It was in that same year that she ended her contract with Seiko Films in an attempt to make her image more wholesome and commercial to the public. Barretto left Show & Tell after she became pregnant with Tonyboy Cojuangco's love child. She was replaced in the show by another sexpot in Anjanette Abayari. The show was canceled in less than a year, after poor ratings.

In 1993 Barretto was linked to the Brunei beauties affair.[6]

1994–1999: Public scandals and pregnancy

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In June 1994, Barretto stood as the whistleblower to the scandal in the Manila Film Festival (not to be mistaken with the Metro Manila Film Festival which is held every December).[7] In that said event, Barretto presented the award for Best Actress alongside Miss Universe Mauritius beauty queen Viveka Babajee and actor Rocky Gutierrez, where both announced actress Ruffa Gutierrez as the recipient of the award when it was Aiko Melendez who actually won the award.[8][9] Rocky Gutierrez was caught on camera slipping the envelope with the winner's name in his pocket while Babajee was heard uttering the words "Take it! Take it!" while handing the award to Ruffa Gutierrez.[10] The same incident happened to the announcement of the winner of Best Actor in which Ruffa Gutierrez and actress Nanette Medved declared Gabby Concepcion as the winner, when it was actor Edu Manzano who was the real recipient of the award. Barretto revealed that it was Concepcion's agent, Lolit Solis and Gutierrez' mother, Annabelle Rama (who was also Babajee's talent agent) who masterminded the apparent fraud, and she also told reporters that Solis promised her a Best Actress win, a year later if she kept quiet about this plan.[11] Solis pleaded guilty to the offense of orchestrating the hoax, while siblings Ruffa and Rocky Gutierrez, Medved and Babajee were all charged with estafa.[12][13]

A year later, Barretto got pregnant and gave birth to a daughter named Dominique. She also went public in announcing her relationship with billionaire business tycoon Antonio "Tony" Cojuangco Jr., a man twenty years her senior. Cojuangco admitted to being the father of Barretto's daughter.[14] Barretto took a hiatus in showbiz to concentrate on her life as a mother, and partner to Cojuangco.

2000–2009: Showbiz comeback and music career launch

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Throughout the late nineties, Barretto co-hosted the variety show ASAP in ABS-CBN but her serious comeback to acting began in a special portrayal in the drama series Sa Dulo Ng Walang Hanggan top-billed by sister Claudine Barretto in 2001. Barretto revealed that it was her sister Claudine who convinced her to return to acting after a long break from being away from the spotlight. In 2001, Barretto appeared with sisters Marjorie and Claudine in Private Conversations with Boy Abunda which became her first public interview together with her siblings. In 2006, Barretto and actress Dawn Zulueta engaged in heated exchange of insults after it was reported that the latter did not approve of the prima donna behavior displayed by the former during a Pantene shampoo commercial they made along with actresses Ruffa Gutierrez and Angel Aquino.[15] Both actresses revealed that they were not in good terms with each other in separate interviews.[16] Several months after the said incident, Zulueta told reporters that they have finally settled this issue in private.[17] Later that year, Barretto finally accepted the lead role in the Metro Manila Film Festival entry Matakot Ka sa Karma released by Canary Films in December 2006. Matakot Ka Sa Karma became Barretto's first film since 1995's Tirad Pass: The Last Stand of Gen. Gregorio del Pilar and she received huge buzz regarding her movie comeback.[18] Barretto was a no-show in the Metro Manila Film Festival Awards Ceremony as well as in the Parade of Stars several days prior to the event.[19] The movie opened to modest reviews and placed fourth in the box office.[20] Barretto was also set to reunite with former flame Bong Revilla in the movie Kapag Tumibok Ang Puso: Not Once, But Twice but backed out after a supposed feud arose between her and Revilla's wife Lani Mercado, during the film's pre-production.[21][22] In 2007, a photo of Barretto kissing actor John Estrada circulated and went viral causing controversy in the showbiz industry.[23] Both Barretto and Estrada denied having an affair or relationship.

In 2008, Barretto released her debut album Unexpected to signal the launch of her music career. She released the single "Please Don't Ask Me" in support of the album. She promoted Unexpected through a series of mall shows around the country. In that same year, Barretto returned to acting through an episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya where she played a mistress of a politician, opposite Phillip Salvador and Tonton Gutierrez.[24] It was in this drama anthology that Barretto finally won her first acting award, PMPC Star Awards for TV's Best Single Performance by an Actress. A year later, she released her second album entitled Complicated and released the single "Ready to Take a Chance Again". Barretto was once again involved in a controversial relationship with Rodolfo "Dody" Puno, the Executive Director of the Road Board of the Department of Public Works and Highways.[25] Rumors broke out that both Barretto and singer Pops Fernandez were receiving commission from the funds of the Department of Public Works and Highways, as allotted by Puno himself.[26]

2010–present: Award wins and acting in primetime dramas

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In 2010, Barretto returned to do another episode in Maalaala Mo Kaya portraying a widow who falls in love with a parish priest, which was portrayed by Jomari Yllana.[27] Barretto again won another the award for Best Single Performance by an Actress in the PMPC Star Awards for Television, marking her second win in this category. Barretto embarked in her biggest television project in 2010 with the drama series Magkaribal, which originally featured Barretto opposite sister Claudine, however, the latter moved to rival network GMA during the show's pre-production. Magkaribal starred Barretto alongside actress Bea Alonzo (who became Claudine's replacement), Angel Aquino and model-actor Derek Ramsay. In that same year, Bench launched Barretto's first perfume line called Greta.[28] Barretto won the award for Best Drama Actress in the PMPC Star Awards for Television for Magkaribal a year later. After the success of the show, Barretto was slated to star in Alta, a drama series about high society and the mining industry, with KC Concepcion and Angelica Panganiban, but the show was shelved in 2012.[29] It was because of the cancellation of Alta that she was offered the role of Ashi Behati in Princess and I in which she portrayed the main villain to the lead stars Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla.[30] In 2013, Barretto joined the cast of Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala at the request of the show's lead actress, Judy Ann Santos.[31] Two months later, Barretto debuted in her first Cinemalaya movie entry entitled The Diplomat Hotel.[32]

Personal life

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Barretto is the fifth out of seven children by Miguel Alvir Barretto and Estrella Castelo Barretto.[33] Her two younger siblings Marjorie Barretto, Claudine Barretto, and niece Julia Barretto are also actresses. Barretto has a daughter, Dominique with common-law partner and businessman Antonio "Tony Boy" Cojuangco Jr.[25] She graduated magna cum laude at Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and at Istituto Marangoni. Domnique married Michael Hearn on March 4, 2023 at San Agustin Church in Intramuros. The couple announced the name of their baby "Penelope Eloise."[34][35]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Note(s) Ref.
1984 Tender Age
14 Going Steady
1991 Tukso, Layuan Mo Ako! [36]
1992 Eh, Kasi Bata [37]
Jerry Marasigan, WPD [38]
Bakit Ako Mahihiya?
1993 Pulis Patola
1995 Costales Beth
2006 Matakot Ka sa Karma Aleli [39]
2013 The Diplomat Hotel Veronica
2014 The Trial Amanda Bien

Discography

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  • Unexpected (2008)
  • Complicated (2009)

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Network
1988 GMA Supershow Herself Co-host GMA Network
1994–1995 Show & Tell Herself Co-host
1996–2002 ASAP Herself Co-host ABS-CBN
1999–2000 Oki Doki Doc Greterella Cast Member
2004–2007 Lagot Ka, Isusumbong Kita Jejen 148 episodes (Lead role) replacing Gladys Guevarra GMA Network
2008 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Salamin Margarita 1 episode ABS-CBN
2010 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Larawan Maria 1 episode
Magkaribal Victoria Valera/Anna Abella Lead Role
2012–2013 Princess and I Ashi Behati Rinpoche Support Role / Antagonist
2013 Juan dela Cruz Helen Guest Role
The Buzz Herself/Guest Co-Host Occasionally replacing Charlene Gonzalez
Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala Atty. Eva Custodio Special Participation
2015 Nathaniel Amy Russo Guest Role

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Giving Body Category Nominated Work Results
2007 MYX Music Awards Favorite Guest Appearance in a Music Video "Minamahal Kita" by Ogie Alcasid Nominated[40]
2009 PMPC Star Awards for TV Best Single Performance by An Actress Maalaala Mo Kaya: Salamin Won
2010 PMPC Star Awards for TV Best Single Performance by An Actress Maalaala Mo Kaya: Larawan Won
2011 PMPC Star Awards for TV Best Drama Actress Magkaribal Won
2015 Gawad Tanglaw Best Supporting Actress The Trial Won

References

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  1. ^ "GOING STEADY – Gretchen Barretto". June 17, 2011. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2015 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ "80s Music: 80's disco song, Going Steady, Gretchen". En.allexperts.com. October 20, 2008. Archived from the original on September 26, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  3. ^ "14 Going Steady (1984), a film by Joey Gosiengfiao -Theiapolis". Cinema.theiapolis.com. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  4. ^ [1] Archived June 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "Tonyboy Cojuangco asks Lolit Solis a big favor". Philippine Entertainment Portal. January 24, 2007. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  6. ^ Salanga, Elyas Isabelo (June 2, 2009). "Looking Back: Showbiz scandals that raised public outcry". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  7. ^ "Lolit Solis to Gabby Concepcion: "Welcome home."". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  8. ^ "Take It! Take It! The Metro Manila Film Fest Scandal in 1994". Secrets and Scandals. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  9. ^ "Ruffa's friend, ex-Ms. Mauritius, commits suicide". June 26, 2010. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2015 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ Sallan, Edwin P. (June 5, 2013). "Rocky Gutierrez, girlfriend to be charged with vandalizing vehicle of tech journalists | Entertainment News –". Interaksyon.com. Archived from the original on August 27, 2015. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  11. ^ "Filipino Actress Steals The Show – tribunedigital-chicagotribune". Chicago Tribune. June 27, 1994. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  12. ^ "Philippine Daily Inquirer - Google News Archive Search".
  13. ^ "Gabby Concepcion on seeing Lolit Solis again: "Time has its way of curing and healing."". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  14. ^ "Tirad Pass: The Story of Gen. Gregorio del Pilar (1997)". HistoryandMovies.com. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  15. ^ "Gretchen and Dawn's Bad-hair Day". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  16. ^ "Dawn Zulueta admits that she's still not on speaking terms with Gretchen Barretto – Push.com.ph". Push.abs-cbn.com. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  17. ^ "Dawn Zulueta peeved by Gretchen Barretto's prima donna ways?". Philippine Entertainment Portal. November 23, 2006. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  18. ^ "Direk Joey Reyes defends Gretchen Barretto". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  19. ^ "Gretchen Barretto answers new issues about her | PEP.ph Mobile: The Number One Site for Philippine Showbiz". Philippine Entertainment Portal. January 4, 2007. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  20. ^ "Balik-pelikula si Gretchen Barretto". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  21. ^ "Bong Revilla appeals to ABS-CBN and GMA-7: "Please stop!"". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  22. ^ "On the set of 'Kapag Tumibok Ang Puso'". Archived from the original on August 29, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  23. ^ "Gretchen Barreto's Latest Statement on picture with John Estrada". Financemanila.advfn.com. June 18, 2007. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  24. ^ "Gretchen Barretto plays mistress in MMK". The Philippine Star. July 18, 2008. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  25. ^ a b "Is the Gretchen Barretto-Dody Puno romance really over?". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  26. ^ "PEP: Gretchen Barretto, Pops Fernandez subjects of threatening text messages". GMA News. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  27. ^ "Gretchen Barretto makes a comeback on MMK". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  28. ^ "Gretchen launches perfume, has new teleserye". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  29. ^ "Gretchen Barretto admits she got really disappointed when 'Alta' got shelved – Push.com.ph". Push.abs-cbn.com. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  30. ^ "Gretchen Barretto, doing what she does best". Philippine Daily Inquirer. March 29, 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  31. ^ "La Greta debuts on 'Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala'". ABS-CBN News. July 30, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  32. ^ "Gretchen Barretto initially turned down role in The Diplomat Hotel; cast and crew report unexplainable phenomena while shooting in Baguio". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  33. ^ "Gretchen's US-Based Sister Tells Her 'Enough Is Enough!'". Pinoystop. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  34. ^ Tsao, Kimberly (March 5, 2023). "Gretchen Barretto's daughter Dominique Cojuangco is now married to Michael Hearn". GMA Integrated News. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  35. ^ Acar, Aedrianne (May 30, 2024). "Dominique Cojuangco is now a mom". GMA Integrated News. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  36. ^ Torre, Noelani (September 8, 2001). "Music world's fascination with revivals recalled". Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. D2. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  37. ^ V., Nena (June 6, 1992). "From selling shampoo to the movies". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corp. p. 20. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  38. ^ Dormiendo, Justino (July 13, 1992). "Cops in, cops out". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corp. p. 19. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  39. ^ Torre, Nestor U. (January 15, 2007). "Tale of the MMFF box office: 'Kasal' edges out 'Enteng'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. p. E6. Retrieved June 27, 2023. 'Karma's' P23 million wasn't bad, but it suggested that Gretchen Barretto's big-screen comeback didn't excite viewers as much as expected.
  40. ^ Jocelyn Dimaculangan (March 15, 2007). "2nd MYX Music Awards to take place tonight, March 15". PEP. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
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