Best performances by actresses

(Conclusion)

This country has a lot of fine acting talents and I wish I could enumerate here all the acting greats of cinema and their works, except that we don’t have the space for that. Below, however, I will still try to accommodate the names of some more actresses and their best works.

Sharon Cuneta

Tayong Dalawa – The Megastar goes daring in this movie and does bed scenes with, well, her ex-husband and father of her first child. But those are not the high points of this movie, but the fine acting job Sharon delivers here.

Madrasta – A movie that seals her reputation as an outstanding actress. Finally, she wins a series of acting trophies and grand-slam at that.

Nang Iniwan Mo Ako – I’ve always maintained that this is the best performance of her career.

Crying Ladies – Even the jurors at the Brussels International Film Festival agreed that she delivers a superb performance in this movie and named her Best Actress.

Cherie Gil

City After Dark (Manila by Night) – As the dyke Kano, she is marvelous. If you hadn’t known she is the glamorous Cherie Gil who is always in the best-dressed list, you would have really thought she is an out-and-out lesbian.

Bituing Walang Ningning – Even if this is komiks material, I have to cite this because in this movie, she set the trend for young contravidas. Everyone followed her style after that.

Ang Bukas ay Akin – She was migrating abroad that time and I was so happy that as a going-away present, she won an award for this film.

Sugatang Puso – As the irresponsible mother of Patrick Garcia, she played the part so realistically that you can almost smell her (she is the loose, vagabond type in the film).

Alma Moreno

City After Dark (Manila by Night) – It’s a pity that Alma has remained without an acting award to this day – although I think she has developed as a performer through the years. In City After Dark, I would say that she gave a good performance as a prostitute masquerading as a nurse.

Makati Ave. (Office Girls) – Her best performance to date. In this film, she gets rid of all her acting mannerisms and is very believable as a harassed wife doing a balancing act between home and work.

Elizabeth Oropesa

Lumapit, Lumayo ang Umaga – She wins a FAMAS for this in a year (1975) when the organization invited outsiders (a lot of them future Manunuri members) to do the judging.

Milagros – There are mother roles and there are mother roles. Oropesa’s portrayal of a mother (to Sharmaine Arnaiz) in this movie, however, stands apart from the rest.

Bulaklak ng Maynila – She is simply amazing in this movie that won for her a grand-slam that year.

Laman – Her presence here made it bearable for me to sit through the movie. Despite the film’s faults, she rises above the material and wins the third of her three Urian acting trophies.

Amy Austria

Jaguar – So young and yet so talented. The Manunuri rewarded her with a Best Supporting Actress for this early film of hers.

Brutal – She becomes the toast of cinema in 1980 for her gripping performance as an abused wife in this movie.

Hinugot sa Langit – Her breakdown scene here is one of the most memorable in local cinema.

Narito ang Puso Ko – A great acting comeback for her. She wins another Urian for this film.

Rosanna Roces

Ligaya ang Itawag Mo sa Akin – I’ve always known her to be a good actress even when she was doing those trashy movies for Seiko Films and I was so happy when Armida Siguion-Reyna gave her the chance to finally shine in this box-office hit of a film.

Ang Lalaki sa Buhay ni Selya – A good follow-up to Ligaya. She gives an even better performance in this film.

Curacha – She is outstanding again in this movie and it is generally acknowledged that she has already evolved into a reputable performer.

La Vida Rosa – A tailor-made role for her. She finally wins an acting award – as Best Actress in the Gawad Urian.

Cherry Pie Picache

Narito ang Puso Ko – As a neurotic witness to a crime, I was immediately impressed by this then newcomer.

Bridal Shower – Fantastic is the only word I can use to describe her performance in this film.

Bikini Open – Cherry Pie, Alfred Vargas and Diana Zubiri are the only saving grace of this movie.

Kaleldo – You shouldn’t miss this film when it is exhibited. Playing a butch, she is a shoo-in for another acting award next year.