Anna Marie Lukban

Janella Salvador’s TV acting journey from charming teen star to daring actress

Article (news)

Mary Ann Bardinas

<p>Over the years that she has been in the local entertainment scene, Janella Salvador has been able to prove that even though she can be considered a “nepo baby,” since both of her parents and several relatives are or used to be also in showbiz, she can step out of their shadows and make a name for herself.</p><p>Being under the spotlight ever since her teenage years, we’ve witnessed her growth as an individual and as an actress, who started out in teenybopper roles that made us adore her so much. And in recent years, we’ve watched her bloom into a good and versatile actress who can definitely take on a variety of characters—with her portrayal of Alice Quintana-Miller in the upcoming ABS-CBN Studios crime-drama series <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2025/10/12/watch-what-lies-beneath-official-trailer-0020"><strong><u>“What Lies Beneath”</u></strong></a> being the latest.</p><p>But before we get to see how she’s going to slay in her new character, let us first look back on Janella’s past remarkable TV acting projects in this Spotlight feature.</p><p>Those who have followed her career ever since the beginning surely know that she had her acting debut via the highly successful daytime drama <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/bcwmh/articles-photos/throwback-be-careful-with-my-heart-2012-14521"><strong><u>“Be Careful With My Heart”</u></strong></a> (2012-2014), in which she won our hearts as the charming yet quite bratty Nikki Grace Lim. Less than a year after her first official acting foray, she was launched as part of Star Magic Circle 2013.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="966" height="543" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m97AC3DLgCk" title="BCWMH Episode: No Quitting" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div> </div><p>She then had her first-ever <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/maalaala-mo-kaya"><strong><u>“Maalaala Mo Kaya”</u></strong></a> appearances in 2014 via the “Card” and “Selfie” episodes, through which she was able to further showcase her promising flair in drama.</p><p>In 2015, Janella scored her first-ever lead role when she was tapped to topbill the daytime teen inspirational series, <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2024/11/26/throwback-glam-shots-of-oh-my-g-cast-2015-0322"><strong><u>“Oh My G!” </u></strong></a>She portrayed the orphan Sophie Z. Cepeda, who was able to restore her faith in God through her personal interactions with Him. It was indeed a hectic year for her since she also starred in two “Wansapanataym” stories, namely, “Fat Patty” and “Christmas Witch,” as well as in the “Pink Dress” episode of “MMK” alongside Julia Barretto.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="966" height="543" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vAY-pmOoIfc" title="Oh My G!: &quot;They stole my house!&quot;" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>Not a lot of people may probably recall it, but she actually had a brief stint in the long-running primetime series “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” in 2016, wherein she played the role of Denise Paulino, who helped Cardo (Coco Martin) and his colleagues solve the case involving her brother and boyfriend. </p><p>In that same year, she headlined the musical drama “Born For You,” wherein she played the lead character, Sam Kazuko, an aspiring young Filipina singer who grew up in Japan. It was also that same year when she starred in the “Holly &amp; Mau” narrative of “Wansapanataym,” wherein she portrayed the titular character Holly, who was cursed by her father’s former lover to become a monster from sunset until daybreak.</p><div> </div><div><iframe width="966" height="543" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/h9RqfZoXkbI" title="Born For You: Sam and Kevin sing &quot;Ikaw&quot; | Episode 28" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div> </div><p>In 2017, she top-billed another “Wansapanataym” story titled “Jasmin’s Flower Power” alongside Heaven Peralejo, as well as appeared in two “MMK” episodes, namely, “Mangga” and “Cards” in 2018. The following year, she made an impressive depiction of Moira Dela Torre in the adaptation of the popular singer-songwriter&#x27;s life story in the “White Ribbon” episode of “MMK.”</p><p>Janella then had a notable teleserye comeback in 2019 via <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2025/9/18/is-joshnella-the-multo-that-keeps-haunting-your-fangirl-heart-see-throwback-pics-the-killer-bride-0921"><strong><u>“The Killer Bride,”</u></strong></a> wherein she astounded us with her exceptional performance as the mysterious Emma Bonaobra, whom the townspeople of Las Espadas thought was possessed by the ghost of the vengeful Camila Dela Torre (Maja Salvador). Eventually, it was discovered that Camila had been alive all along and that she was her long-lost daughter. </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="966" height="543" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/q2VdrWdu9Zo" title="Camila trains Emma in making her innocent act believable  | TKB (With Eng Subs)" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>As her onscreen team-up with Joshua Garcia was well-received by the audience, they were once again paired with each other in the “Tren” episode of “MMK” in 2020.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="966" height="543" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oNX7Qzluj2o" title="Regina transforms into Valentina in front of Darna | Darna (w/ English Sub)" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>Two years later, she completely stripped down her innocent image as she began to take on more mature roles, beginning with the gorgeous and fierce Regina Vanguardia, a.k.a. the legendary villainess Valentina in the television adaptation of “Mars Ravelo’s Darna” in 2022.</p><p>And this 2025, Janella is making a TV comeback through the upcoming ABS-CBN primetime drama <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2025/10/12/watch-what-lies-beneath-official-trailer-0020"><strong><u>“What Lies Beneath,”</u></strong></a> wherein she’s about to endear and impress us anew with her portrayal of one of the lead characters, Alice Quintana-Miller. Catch it beginning this October 17 on Netflix, October 18 on iWant, and October 20 on Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, and TV5.</p>

<p>As she’s about to endear and impress us anew with her portrayal in the upcoming series “What Lies Beneath”, let us first look back on Janella Salvador’s teleserye stints through the years in this Kapamilya Toplist feature.</p>

As she’s about to endear and impress us anew with her portrayal in the upcoming series “What Lies Beneath”, let us first look back on Janella Salvador’s teleserye stints through the years in this Kapamilya Toplist feature.