From younger counterpart to leading lady: Belle Mariano’s magnificent evolution as an actress

Mary Ann Bardinas

Just like many of the actresses that we admire at present, Belle Mariano also started out in the local entertainment scene as a child star. While it was quite easy for other to shoot up to stardom, she had to wait for almost a decade before she’s able to make it to where she is now – as one of the most promising leading ladies of her generation.As we’re all looking forward to see her on her first-ever teleserye in a lead role, <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/cantbuymelove">Can’t Buy Me Love</a>, let’s look back first at Belle Mariano’s acting stints through the years that indeed helped her develop her versatility and continuously hone her acting chops in this Kapamilya Spotlight feature!After getting rejected a number of times in the auditions that she went through and appearing in a couple of television commercials, Belle finally scored a regular TV gig when she was nine years old. It’s none other than the long-running kiddie gag show <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/goinbulilit">Goin’ Bulilit</a>, in which she was a part of from 2012 to 2015.Her adorable beauty and notable acting skills immediately got noticed, paving the way for her to get three more TV stints just on the year of her debut. She appeared in <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/articles-photos/53091317-throwback-princess-and-i-2012-15796">Princess and I</a> and in the “Kabibe” episode of <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/maalaalamokaya">Maalaala Mo Kaya</a>, as well as became the onscreen partner of Zaijian Jaranilla in Lorenzo’s Time. In 2013, more gigs came to her, which included <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/articles-photos/03120917-throwback-muling-buksan-ang-puso-2013-14687?Image=97584">Muling Buksan Ang Puso</a>, <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/articles-photos/throwback-the-stars-of-maria-mercedes-2013-15203">Maria Mercedes</a>, <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/wansapanataym">Wansapanataym Presents Give Gloves on Christmas Day</a>, <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/articles-photos/01100517-throwback-juan-dela-cruz-2012-13295">Juan Dela Cruz</a>, and three episodes of MMK. The following year, she played the young Iza Calzado in the depiction of the actress’ story in the MMK episode titled “Pagkain”, then became a supporting cast member in the family drama <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/articles-photos/throwback-2014s-hawak-kamay-14687">Hawak Kamay</a>. The year 2015 was quite a busy one for her as she landed a role in not just one, but four teleseryes. She portrayed significant flashback characters in <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/nathaniel">Nathaniel</a>, <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/onthewingsoflove">On the Wings of Love</a>, and <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/youremyhome">You’re My Home</a>, then as the innocent Rachel Tuazon, the younger sister of infamous kontrabida Joaquin Tuazon (Arjo Atayde) in the now-iconic <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/angprobinsyano">FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano</a>. She also appeared in the “Sapatos” episode of MMK.Belle went on to play the younger counterpart of former Vice President of the Philippines Leni Robredo in the “Toothbrush” episode of MMK in 2016, which was succeeded by her stint in the afternoon soap opera <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/pasiondeamor">Pasion de Amor</a> as the young Norma (Arci Muñoz).In 2017, she appeared in two episodes of MMK entitled “Cellphone” and “Tulay”, then in the fantasy-action drama <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/lalunasangre">La Luna Sangre</a> as one of the Moonchasers named Jan-Jan. The following year, she became the young Gloria (Dimples Romana) in <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/bagani">Bagani</a> and got cast as Ja in the daytime series <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/playhouse">Playhouse</a>. She also appeared in the “Kalabaw” episode of MMK.She then amused us with her portrayal of the teenage version of Dudz Ibañez, the lesbian partner of Pinoy Big Brother Otso alumna Mitch Talao, when their lovestory got featured in MMK in 2019, tagged as “Pregnancy Test”. It was succeeded by her brief stint in <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/kadenangginto">Kadenang Ginto</a> as Catherine Herrera, the daughter of Richard Yap’s character Leon.We may not have seen Belle the whole 2020, considering that there was a pandemic, but she came back really strong in the succeeding year. She started off 2021 by appearing in the “Singsing” episode of MMK, wherein she played the teenage version of letter sender Vagelyn (Angel Aquino)And, after years of taking on roles of the younger counterpart of significant female characters in teleseryes, she finally snagged her first-ever lead role in a series through the teen romance drama <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/hesintoher">He’s Into Her</a>, in which she played the role of Maxpein Del Valle Luna. Due to its success, its sequel He&#x27;s Into Her: Season 2 was released the following year.This 2023, the adoring fans of the young actress, along with those who were able to witness her showbiz journey through the years, are all waiting to see her in her first-ever primetime series in a lead role via the newest ABS-CBN offering <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/cantbuymelove">Can’t Buy Me Love</a>, in which she will play the fierce and rebellious Caroline Tiu.It might have taken her a long time to get to where she is at present, but it was definitely all worth it as all her experiences have contributed to the promising actress that she is right now.Show your love and support to Belle by watching <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/cantbuymelove">Can’t Buy Me Love</a>, which will be broadcast on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, Jeepney TV, TFC, and A2Z beginning October 16.

Let’s look back first on Belle Mariano’s acting journey through the years in this Kapamilya Spotlight feature.

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From younger counterpart to leading lady: Belle Mariano’s magnificent evolution as an actress

From younger counterpart to leading lady: Belle Mariano’s magnificent evolution as an actress

Mary Ann Bardinas

Published Oct 13, 2023 11:35 PM PHT

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Updated Oct 14, 2023 08:44 AM PHT

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belle mariano

kapamilya spotlight

cant buy me love

goin bulilit

hes into her

maalaala mo kaya

la luna sangre

kadenang ginto

fpjs ang probinsyano

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