Ara Christine Pascual Klenk (born February 5, 1989), better known as Cristine Reyes,[1] is a Filipina actress, model, dancer and endorser. She has been dubbed as the "Ultimate Star" by the local media for her acting prowess and popularity.[2] Her films have collectively earned ₱1.05 billion, making her one of the highest grossing Filipino box office stars this century.[3]
Described as one of the "New Drama Royalty" of her generation,[4] Reyes won the highly coveted "Box Office Queen" award with Anne Curtis at the 43rd GMMSF Box Office Entertainment Awards.[5] She is also a four-time FAMAS Award nominee (including 3 Best Actress nods).[6] In 2020, she won "Best Actress" at the 40th Oporto International Film Festival for her performance in the 2019 thriller 'Untrue'.[7]
Reyes is recognized as a sex symbol,[8] with FHM Philippines crowning her as 2009's sexiest woman in the world, winning against Marian Rivera, Katrina Halili & Angel Locsin.[9] The same year, she was also listed as one of the Top 25 sexiest women of the decade.[10]
Reyes starred in numerous films that were commercially successful, including No Other Woman (₱278 million),[11] Seven Sundays (₱271 million),[12] Bromance: My Brother's Romance (₱163 million),[13] The Gifted (₱110 million) and Ang Darling Kong Aswang (₱100 million).
Reyes was a finalist in GMA Network's highly-acclaimed reality show, StarStruck (season 1). She went on to play minor roles in hit TV shows like Mulawin (2004), Darna (2005), and Marimar (2007).[14] In 2008, she transferred to the rival ABS-CBN network.[15] Reyes played daring roles in TV shows such as Eva Fonda (2008) and Tubig at Langis (2016).
In 2009, Viva Films founder Vic del Rosario intended to cast Reyes in a raunchy horror film titled Patient X, but stopped short of making the film sexually explicit in order for it to be allowed exhibition in the cinemas of SM Supermalls.[16]
She made her breakthrough as a scorned wife in her lead film, No Other Woman (2011), co-starring Anne Curtis and Derek Ramsay. It was one of the highest-grossing film in the Philippines in 2011. Her film career is currently managed by the film company Viva Films.
In 2020, Reyes appeared once again on GMA-7 after 12 years following the shutdown of ABS-CBN broadcasting.[17] Since then, she has been doing projects for TV5 following the latter's renewal of its partnership with Viva.
In 2022, Reyes was cast in the lead role of Imee Marcos in the period film Maid in Malacañang, about the last days of the Marcos presidential family in Malacañang Palace in 1986. She later reprised her role in the 2023 sequel Martyr or Murderer.
On March 20, 2024, Reyes told Karen Davila of her adoptive family's support. "My mom, she was going through a phase in her life where she had to go to the States, leave all her kids, all of us to somebody else."[18]
Reyes and Dennis Trillo began dating in 2007 and later broke up in May 2009. Reyes and Rayver Cruz began their romance in 2011 when Rayver allegedly left his ex-girlfriend Sarah Geronimo. Reyes and Cruz separated ways in 2012. Reyes also had a brief one month romance with Derek Ramsay in August 2013. Cristine had also been linked to Joross Gamboa, Keempee de Leon, and Mark Herras.[19]
Reyes gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Amarah, with her boyfriend Ali Khatibi, a mixed martial artist, on February 8, 2015. She got engaged to Khatibi on September 14, 2015.[20] The couple married in a private ceremony on January 27, 2016, in Balesin Island, Polillo, Quezon.[21]
In 2019, she confirmed her separation from Khatibi.[22] On May 31, 2024, Amarah and ex-husband Ali Khatibi attended Amarah's Graduation.[23]
Reyes revealed to Karen Davila of her relationship with her biological father, a Muslim from Tawi-Tawi. Before he died in 2022 at Zamboanga, she did hug him, cried and apologized.[24]
Reyes and Marco Gumabao confirmed their love story began in January, 2023. “Of course, we’ve been talking about our future together.” said Marco.[25]
Track Listing Composer: Tootsie Guevara 2012 Dahil sa Pag-Ibig – "Nang Dahil sa Pag-ibig"
"Boss Vic has great faith in Cristine Reyes becoming popular because she's already beautiful, already sexy, yet she can act well too. He intends to give a sexy-horror project to her, not a bold movie because it won't be shown in SM Cinemas.
