Maria Katrina Irene Grace Morales-Halili (born January 4, 1986) is a Filipino actress. She began her career after finishing as a finalist on the reality talent search StarStruck (2003). She was the first Filipina to be named by FHM Philippines as the world's sexiest woman twice, in 2006 and 2008. Her performances in Darna (2005 & 2009), Majika (2006), Marimar (2007), the International Emmy nominated Magdusa Ka (2008), Destiny Rose (2015), Sa Piling ni Nanay (2016), The Stepdaughters (2018), Prima Donnas (2019), Unica Hija (2022), and Mommy Dearest (2025) established her as one of the leading actresses in soap operas, mostly portraying antagonist roles. In 2024, Halili won Best Supporting Actress at the Emirates Film Festival for her role in AbeNida (2023).

Background

Katrina Halili is an alumna of the StarStruck talent search and the cover girl of magazines such as FHM and Maxim Philippines. She was voted as FHM Philippines' sexiest woman for the year 2006 and in 2007. She is the first StarStruck contestant to top the FHM Philippines' 100 Sexiest list and the first Filipina celebrity to have won the title twice in a row. She is a four-time FHM covergirl (2005, 2006, 2008 and 2015). With 123,000 votes, she placed 2nd in 2008.

She gave birth to her daughter named Katrence Lawrence Halili Cadevid by Kris Lawrence on September 18, 2012.

She is co-parenting Lawrence's second child Lyric Lawrence (with a non-showbiz girlfriend) born on October 4, 2019. Halili's non-showbiz partner Jeremy G. Guiab, former vice mayor of Wao, Lanao del Sur succumbed to a heart attack at age 53 on January 29, 2024.

Career

2003–2008: Career beginnings

Halili started her first soap drama way back 2004 (Forever in My Heart) where she played Janelle Bernabe, the antagonist to the character of Jennylyn Mercado. Since then she played supervillain roles in two famous GMA fantaserye, Darna and Majika. In April 2007, she was one of the main cast in Lupin, where she played a good character, Ashley Calibre. However the same year she was pulled out from the show to play the famous villainous role of Senyora Angelika Santibañez in the remake of Marimar, but the character was changed into a young who will compete with Marimar for Sergio's love and extremely ruthless character, this is also her first pure evil role as she killed many people in the series compared to her past roles as she only committed attempted murder. This made Katrina more famous as she was given her first lead role after Marimar this was the 2008 Magdusa Ka, she portrayed Christine, a headstrong waitress and prostitute who turns out to be a rich lass but was opposed by the evil Millet (played by Iwa Moto). Katrina said she was challenge for her new role because she always played heartless characters in the past.

In the same year, she was given another lead role in Gagambino. But in May 2009, she was involved in a controversy surrounding a leaked video of her then partner, forcing her to temporarily go on hiatus from the showbiz industry. In June 2009, she returns to acting to play the villain role of Fedra Perez in Rosalinda.

2009–2010: Darna, Langit sa Piling Mo, Beauty Queen

Halili performing at the Panagbenga Festival in 2009

In 2009, Halili was given another antagonist role in Darna, she played Serpina, a snake woman and one of the primary rival of Darna. Next is Langit sa Piling Mo, she played another main antagonist role as the scheming and manipulative Aurora. She later played an antagonist role in Beauty Queen. In Kaya ng Powers, she played an ex-syndicate member.

2011–2012: Continued success

In 2011, she rose to fame again as she played the role of Lynette in Munting Heredera, again she is the main antagonist of the series but later was killed. In 2012, she once again played a villain role as Emmie in My Beloved. She reunited with Marimar (2007) lead casts, Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes. Halili's character in this series is similar to her obsessed and murderous Angelika character in 2007 Marimar. However Halili and Rivera has another feud when Katrina started tweeting, she wanted to kill Emmie's character because someone is insecure and hateful to her. She said that this person also hated her five years ago.

2013–present: Villainous and protagonist roles

In 2013, Halili played two main antagonist roles in two TV series, in Indio, she played the goddess of greed who wanted to kill the protagonist of the series. Another series is Magkano Ba ang Pag-ibig?, she played Margot, the scheming and hard-hearted sister of Lualhati who killed her mother out of anger, she also hated Eloisa.

In 2014, she played a protagonist role, a good character role in Niño as Hannah. In 2015, she played a villain role in The Rich Man's Daughter. Later Katrina Halili played the main villain role as Jasmine in Destiny Rose, Jasmine is the evil cousin of Joey who made his life miserable as hell. In the finale episode Jasmine tried to kill Joey/Destiny Rose by burning him but failed.

Later in 2016, Halili played another main antagonist role in Sa Piling ni Nanay as Scarlet, the socialite evil mother of Katherine who tried to kill Ysabel and even her daughter as a revenge. Scarlet is the one who killed Matilda and many characters. She is also the source of Ysabel's misfortune. She is a wicked mother as she uses her daughter to usurp the Mercado family's wealth and never loved Katherine.

In 2017, Halili played another main antagonist role in D' Originals as Yvette, the social climber sexy-tary-turned-mistress of Lando who tried to kill Lando and Josie because of her vengeance. Although Yvette is the one who started the fight as she uses Lando to usurp his wealth and brutally confront the legal wife, Josie. Jaclyn Jose played protagonist Josie who also played the antagonist role of Senyõra Angelica Santibañez in the 2015 Marimar, which was originally played by Halili in 2007.

In February 2018, Halili played the main villain role of Isabelle in The Stepdaughters, Isabelle hates Mayumi from the start and does many evil things to her including her loved ones. Isabelle also killed her unborn half-sister and tried to kill her own father and orchestrated kidnappings and serial murders in the series. In the end she kidnaps Mayumi and tries to kill her by burning her face but failed.

In November 2018, Halili joined the series Pamilya Roces, she played Maisa, the villainous daughter of Virgil, a seductive and ruthless serial killer who wants revenge for her mother's death.

In 2019, she played her first anti-hero role in TODA One I Love where she played Georgina, a mysterious rich character who hates the evil Mayora Dyna and plotted to kill her husband. Georgina firstly appeared as a cold-hearted and seductive woman but in reality she is kind and was a victim of the latter's cruelty as Dyna and the Generoso's killed her father. Now she helps Gelay to stop Mayora's evil things and expose her secrets. She later played another protagonist role in Prima Donnas as Lillian Madreal, the surrogate mother of the triplets, Mayi, Ella, and Lenlen. Late 2022, she portrayed Diane Sebastian, the doting mother of Bianca and Hope Sebastian, in the series Unica Hija.

In February 2025, Halili played as Emma Joseco the good-hearted mother of Mookie Caparas, in the series Mommy Dearest.

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRole
2003StarStruckHerself / Hopeful
2004–2009Bitoy's Funniest VideosHerself / J4K Host
2004–2005JoyrideVicki
Forever in My HeartJanelle Bernabe
2005Mars Ravelo's DarnaCarol / Black Darna
Now and Forever: GantiAlexa
2006MajikaJuno
2006–2007AtlantikaPrincesa Ruana / Helena
2007Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang: Ang Prinsipeng UnggoyPrincess Ameris
LupinVeronica Arkanghel a.k.a. Ashley Calibre
MagpakailanmanElaine
2007–2008MarimarSenyora Angelika Santibañez / Angelika Aldama
2008MariMar: Rewind (Filipino Version)Angélica de Santibañez (voice only)
Sine Novela: Pablo S. Gomez' Magdusa KaChristine Salvador Doliente-Henson
Obra: Katrina HaliliVarious roles
2008–2009Carlo J. Caparas' GagambinoLucy Gutierrez / Lady Mantisa
2009Dear Friend: MagkaribalKim
RosalindaFedra Perez
2009–2010Mars Ravelo's DarnaSerpina / Babaeng Anakonda / Valentina
2010Carlo J. Caparas' Panday KidsAmazona Wenoa
Langit sa Piling MoAurora Ty
Kaya ng PowersCarlotta
2010—2011Beauty QueenDorcas Rivas
2010—2012Party PilipinasHerself / Co-host / Performer
2011Spooky Nights: Ang Manananggala: Battle of the Half-SistersStella
Munting HerederaLynette Sarmiento-Montereal
Spooky Nights: KaLAbitIya
2012Spooky Valentine: MasahistaNoemi / Melissa
My BelovedEmilia "Emmie" Montecastro
2013IndioBurigadang Pada Sinaklang Bulawan
One Day Isang ArawYaya Maxima
Sunday All StarsHerself / Performer
2013–2014Magkano Ba ang Pag-ibig?Margarita "Margot" Cruz
2014NiñoHannah Sagrado-Ibarra
2015Maynila: Totoy's True LabLeslie
The Rich Man's DaughterMaria Louella "Wila" Mateo
2015–2016Destiny RoseJasmine Flores
2016–2017Sa Piling ni NanayScarlet Morato-Mercado
2017Wagas: Ang Babaeng May Kambal AhasConchita
D' OriginalsYvette Benitez
Road TripHerself / Guest
Wagas: Drug RunnerTintin
Tadhana: Third WifeLaisa
Wagas: One Life to GiveImelda Papin
Dear Uge: Mr. + Mrs. + ExMayette
Kambal, KaribalNida Generoso
2018The StepdaughtersIsabelle Salvador
ImbestigadorMargie
Inday Will Always Love YouHerself
Dear Uge: Basta Dubber, Sweet LoverGloria
Imbestigador: Teacher MhaiMylene "Teacher Mhai" Durante
Pamilya RocesMaria Eloisa "Maisa" Renacia Quirante / Maisa Sampaguita
2019TODA One I LoveGeorgina Ferreira / Gregoria "Oriang"
Magpakailanman: Mahal Ko ang Asawa ng Ama KoMikaela
Wagas: Ang Lihim ni IsadoraMaya
Tadhana: Akin ang Anak KoSusan
2019–2022Prima DonnasLilian Madreal-Claveria
2020Magpakailanman: Husband for SaleRochelle
2021Dear Uge: GangstaSistahRed Pepper
Magpakailanman: Asawa at Kabit sa Isang BubongLeah
2022Tadhana: Hanggang KailanVictoria Terra-Dorata
2022–2023Unica HijaDiane Sebastian
2023Wish Ko Lang: PaluwaganSara
Magpakailanman: The Power of LoveBaby
2023–2024Black RiderRona Marie Ana "Romana" Nadela-Tolentino
2023Magpakailanman: Save my ChildrenQuirly Galache
2024Recipes of Love: Tortang Talong with TunaGemmalyn
Lilet Matias: Attorney-at-LawLydia Soriano
2025Mommy DearestEmma Espiritu-Joseco
It's ShowtimeHerself
2025–2026Sanggang-Dikit FRLt. Charlie Samson
2025Magpakailanman: Karibal noon, Beshie ngayonMarie
2026Magpakailanman: Amo ko, mahal ko!Juliet
KamaoDiana

Film

YearTitleRole
2004Kilig... Pintig... Yanig
2005Sablay Ka na Pasaway Ka PaRaven
2006GigilChynna
Super NoypiAnnys
2007Shake Rattle and Roll 9Engkanto
2008Romantic Island(Korean Movie)cameo
One Night OnlyJasmine
2009SundoKristina
DalawDaisy
2011My Neighbor's WifeCameo
2015Child HausRose
2016HigantiDolly
2018Mga Anak ng KamoteIyong
2019KontrAdiksyonYvonne Acosta
2023AbeNidaNida/Cecile

Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations received by Katrina Halili
AwardYearNominated workCategoryResultRef.
Emirates Film Festival2024AbeNidaBest Supporting ActressWon
Best EnsembleNominated
Star Awards for Television2018The StepdaughtersBest Drama ActressNominated
ToFarm Film Festival2018Mga Anak ng KamoteBest ActressNominated

Listicles

Name of publisher, name of listicle, year(s) listed, and placement result
PublisherListicleYear(s)ResultRef.
FHM100 Sexiest Women in the World2004No. 8
2005No. 14
2006No. 1
2007
2008No. 2
2009No. 5
2010No. 6
2011
2012No. 16
2013No. 27
2014No. 31
2015No. 15
Top 25 Sexiest Women of the Decade2000-2009Placed
Yes! Magazine100 Most Beautiful Stars2010Placed

Notes

External links

  • Media related to Katrina Halili at Wikimedia Commons
  • at IMDb