Cecilia Rodriguez (born June 21, 1938) is a multi-awarded Filipino actress. She has since been referred to as "The Original Glamorous Movie Star" for her acting prowess and longevity.[1]
She appeared in more than 130 movies and television shows. She won four FAMAS Awards in the films Kulay Dugo ang Gabi, The Passionate Strangers, Lilet and Magnifico. She also received an award for Best Supporting Actress in the Metro Manila Film Festival for the movie Bulaklak sa City Jail. She is referred to as the industry's "fashion maverick."[2]
Cecilia "Celia" Rodriguez was born in Bulan, Sorsogon to a Spanish-Filipino father, Angel Rodriguez, who has roots in Barcelona and a mestiza mother, Perla Obsum. She was raised in their hacienda as the youngest among eight daughters. The sisters attended Colegio de la Milagrosa, a local convent school. After high school, her father sold his abaca and copra business and the family relocated to Legazpi, Albay. Rodriguez graduated at Centro Escolar University in Manila with a secretarial degree. During this time, she resided in the Santa Mesa district.[3]
Rodriguez's acting skills were discovered by Adela Santiago, the head of Premiere Productions.[1] She subsequently joined the movie industry in the late 1950s, appearing in Sa Ngalan ng Espada (1958) and Shirley, My Darling (1958). She performed in movies such as Lilet, released in 1971, Super Gee (1973), Kampanerang Kuba (1974) and Mrs. Eva Fonda, 16 (1976). Other film credits include Zoom, Zoom Superman (1973), Ang Boyfriend Kong Baduy (1975), Elektrika, Kasi Eh (1976), Star (1979), Katorse (1980), Anak (1981), Angkinin Mo Ako (1983), Ang Boyfriend Kong Kano (1983), Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin (1984), Room 69 (1984) and Bulaklak ng City Jail (1984). She was known as the antagonist Valentina in Darna movies.
Rodriguez went on an acting hiatus twice, first in the 1960s, when she worked as a fashion model in Europe,[4] and in the 1980s and 1990s, when she resettled in the United States and at one point, took on two jobs simultaneously.[5]
In 1999-2001 she starred in an afternoon drama called “May Bukas Pa” which aired on RPN 9 and IBC-13 and 2002-2003 played Cherie Gils mother again in “Bituin” as Dona Virginia Gaston. Since 2004, she has starred in numerous television shows for GMA-7s and in two more incarnations of Darnas as the main villain. She was included in the GMA Network TV sitcom Who's Your Daddy Now? (2007) and the romantic-comedy series I Heart You, Pare! (2011) starring Dingdong Dantes and Regine Velasquez. In 2013 she returned to Afternoon television in the highly acclaimed Magkano Ba Ang Pagibig with Maryo J Delos Reyes at the helm.
Rodriguez is unmarried but has three children from previous relationships, one of whom, Jackie, was her daughter with a doctor and died from an aneurysm in 1995. She describes herself as a born-again Christian since 1995.[1][5]
[6]