# Matet de Leon

Matet de Léon-Estrada (born October 4, 1983 as Maria Nora Ana Theresa Villamayor) is a Filipino actress who began her career as a child star. She then transitioned to a supporting actress, often taking roles as the best friend of the main characters, giving her the nickname "Best Friend ng Bayan". She is an adopted daughter of Christopher de Leon and Nora Aunor.

## Early life

De Leon was adopted by actors Christopher de Leon and Nora Aunor. She also has an adopted sister Lotlot, and two adopted brothers Kiko and Kenneth. Their eldest brother, Ian, is the only biological child in the family.

## Career
### 1980s–1990s

De Leon's first film was I Love You, Ma, I Love You, Pa in 1986, which was also the film debut of her siblings Lotlot and Ian. She then appeared in several horror films. Her acting performance was noticed in the movie Bunsong Kerubin in which she played the lead role. This earned her a Best Child Actress nomination from the 1988 FAMAS Awards. Also in 1988, she got to act alongside Fernando Poe Jr. in the film One Day Isang Araw. From there she was able to get more film roles in a five-year span. In 1997, De Leon starred together with her mother Aunor in the film Mama Dito Sa Aking Puso and also appeared in the horror film Shake, Rattle & Roll VI.

### 2000s–2010s

In 2001, De Leon took on her first television role in the drama Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan. She then appeared in more ABS-CBN teleseryes such as Tabing Ilog, the television remake of Bunsong Kerubin, and many more. She then took on roles as the best friend of the main characters in films such as Till There Was You and Till My Heartaches End. From the late 2000s to the early 2010s, she played Zoila in the romantic film trilogy A Very Special Love. She also took a supporting role in the series The Legal Wife as Rowena, Maja Salvador's confidante, and played Tracy Buenaventura in the romantic series A Love to Last. In 2015, she played Maris Racal's mother in the film Stars Versus Me, with her performance praised as one of the few positives from that film.
Beginning in 2015, De Leon did several GMA teleseryes such as InstaDad and That's My Amboy.

### 2020s

In 2022, De Leon played Belle Mariano's mother in the film An Inconvenient Love. Her performance in that film led to her being nominated as Best Supporting Actress for the 2023 EDDYs. In 2023, she joined the casts of Unspoken Letters and Love Before Sunrise. She and her family also competed on Family Feud, where they won P200,000. In 2024, she joined the cast of Black Rider.

## Personal life

Since 2004, De Leon has been married to former NU Bulldogs basketball player-turned chef Mickey Estrada. They renewed their vows on their 18th wedding anniversary. They have three daughters: Mishka, Mikaela, and Mia. Mishka is currently a volleyball player for the Adamson Soaring Falcons. She had a son, Juan Miguel, who died after having been born prematurely at eight months and two weeks.
Aside from her parents, other members of De Leon's family also became actors with her siblings Ian and Lotlot pursuing acting careers. Lotlot's daughter Janine (her niece) also became an actress in her teen years. Her grandparents on her father's side, Gil de León and Lilia Dizon, were both also actors.
De Leon is diagnosed with general anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder. She revealed her diagnoses to the public in 2022.
De Leon owns a small business 'Casita Estrada,' which sells gourmet tuyo and tinapa. However, this caused tension between her and her mother as Aunor as Aunor asked her to promote a product directly competing with hers. They reconciled several weeks later.

## Awards

| Year | Work | Award | Category | Result |
| 1988 | Bunsong Kerubin | Best Child Actress | FAMAS Awards | Nominated |
| 1989 | One Day Isang Araw | Best Child Actress | FAMAS Awards | Won |
| 1990 | Magic to Love | Best Child Actress | FAMAS Awards | Nominated |
| 1998 | Mama Dito Sa Aking Puso | Best Child Actress | FAMAS Awards | Nominated |
| 2023 | An Inconvenient Love | Best Supporting Actress | The EDDYs | Nominated |

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Producer |
| 1986 | I Love You Mama, I Love You Papa | Matet | Regal Films |
| 1986 | Inday Inday sa Balitaw | Tiyanak | Regal Films |
| 1987 | Bunsong Kerubin | Angelita | Regal Films |
| 1987 | Tatlong Ina, Isang Anak | | NCV Films |
| 1987 | Takbo, Bilis... Takboooo! | | Golden Lion Films |
| 1987 | Takot Ako, Eh! | | NCV Films |
| 1987 | 1 + 1 = 12 (+ 1): One Plus One Equals Twelve (Cheaper by the Dozen) | | Regal Films |
| 1988 | Bobo Cop | | Regal Films |
| 1988 | One Day, Isang Araw | Precious / Purunggay | Regal Films |
| 1988 | Kumander Bawang: Kalaban ng Mga Aswang | Luningning | Viva Films |
| 1989 | Magic to Love | Twinkle | Regal Films |
| 1991 | Dr. Potpot Travels to the Moon | Louise | - |
| 1997 | Mama Dito sa Aking Puso | | MAQ Productions |
| 1997 | Shake, Rattle & Roll VI | Marice | Regal Films |
| 2000 | Pangarap ng Puso | Nena | Regal Films |
| 2001 | Abakada... Ina | Gina | Viva Films |
| 2002 | May Pag-ibig Na Kaya? | Tere | Starlight Films |
| 2003 | Cass & Cary: Who Wants to Be a Billionaire? | Carol | Violett Films Production |
| 2003 | Till There Was You | Jean | Star Cinema |
| 2008 | A Very Special Love | Zoila | Star Cinema Viva Films |
| 2009 | You Changed My Life | Zoila | Star Cinema Viva Films |
| 2009 | Hellphone | | Bluemoon Productions |
| 2009 | I Love You, Goodbye | Melai | Star Cinema |
| 2010 | Fling | Lanie | MSG Productions Piperstorm Pictures |
| 2010 | Dampi | | Indie Film |
| 2010 | Till My Heartaches End | Gemma | Star Cinema |
| 2011 | Rakenrol | Herself | |
| 2011 | Forever and a Day | Cam | Star Cinema |
| 2012 | 24/7 in Love | | Star Cinema |
| 2013 | It Takes a Man and a Woman | Zoila | Star Cinema Viva Films |
| 2013 | My Lady Boss | Ruby | GMA Films Regal Films |
| 2013 | Pagpag: Siyam na Buhay | Eva | Star Cinema Regal Films |
| 2014 | Da Possessed | Marie | Star Cinema Regal Films |
| 2015 | Stars Versus Me | Elena's mother | Tandem Entertainment |
| 2015 | WalangForever | Director | Quantum Films |
| 2016 | The Third Party | Lila | Star Cinema |
| 2016 | The Super Parental Guardians | Sarah Nabati | Star Cinema |
| 2018 | The Significant Other | | Cineko Productions Star Cinema |
| 2018 | Da One That Ghost Away | Halak | Star Cinema |
| 2021 | Love or Money | Mima | Star Cinema |
| 2022 | An Inconvenient Love | Terry | Star Cinema |

### Television / Digital Series

| Year | Title | Role | Network |
| 2001 | Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan | Lucila "Lucy" Ilagan-Cristobal | ABS-CBN |
| 2003 | Tabing Ilog | Honey | ABS-CBN |
| 2006 | Komiks Presents: Bunsong Kerubin | Ellen | ABS-CBN |
| 2009 | May Bukas Pa | Kim | ABS-CBN |
| 2009 | Maalaala Mo Kaya: Diary | Babette | ABS-CBN |
| 2010 | Maalaala Mo Kaya: Kuliglig | Merlinda | ABS-CBN |
| 2010 | Habang May Buhay | Yolly | ABS-CBN |
| 2010 | Elena M. Patron's Momay | Rose | ABS-CBN |
| 2010 | Maalaala Mo Kaya: Plane Ticket | Mercy | ABS-CBN |
| 2011 | Munting Heredera | Belen | GMA Network |
| 2011 | Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin | Ising Somera | GMA Network |
| 2012 | Broken Vow | Amy | GMA Network |
| 2012 | Wansapanataym: Plastik Pantastik | Marita | ABS-CBN |
| 2013 | My Little Juan | Irma | ABS-CBN |
| 2013 | Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala | Nancy | ABS-CBN |
| 2014 | The Legal Wife | Rowena | ABS-CBN |
| 2014 | Ipaglaban Mo: Lalaban ang Tatay Para sa 'Yo | Elise | ABS-CBN |
| 2014 | Maalaala Mo Kaya: Jeep | Tess | ABS-CBN |
| 2014 | Wansapanataym: Perfecto | Glenda Delgado | ABS-CBN |
| 2015 | InstaDad | Gracia | GMA Network |
| 2015 | Pangako sa 'Yo | Chef Sam | ABS-CBN |
| 2016 | Wansapanataym: Susi ni Sisay | Jhonaluz | ABS-CBN |
| 2016 | Dear Uge | Bekbek Balbacua | GMA Network |
| 2016 | Juan Happy Love Story | Didith Dimanlinlang | GMA Network |
| 2016 | Hay, Bahay! | Eba | GMA Network |
| 2016 | That's My Amboy | Yolly | GMA Network |
| 2016 | Maalaala Mo Kaya: Sulat | Cynthia | ABS-CBN |
| 2017 | Ipaglaban Mo: Buy-Bust | — | ABS-CBN |
| 2017 | A Love to Last | Tracy Buenaventura | ABS-CBN |
| 2017 | Wansapanataym: My Hair Lady | Cristy Agustin | ABS-CBN |
| 2017 | The Lolas' Beautiful Show | Guest | GMA Network |
| 2018 | FPJ's Ang Probinsyano | Menchu Versoza | ABS-CBN |
| 2018 | Tadhana: Dalawang Ina | Andrea | GMA Network |
| 2019 | Nang Ngumiti ang Langit | Ruth Estacio-Dimagmaliw | ABS-CBN |
| 2020; 2023 | Daddy's Gurl | Sharon / Ursula | GMA Network |
| 2021 | Huwag Kang Mangamba | Rebecca Estopacio | Kapamilya Channel / A2Z / TV5 |
| 2022 | Suntok sa Buwan | Nesthy | TV5 |
| 2022 | Niña Niño | Evelyn | TV5 |
| 2023 | Love Before Sunrise | Daisy Lacson-Pagdilao | GMA Network |
| 2023 | Open 24/7 | Mia | GMA Network |
| 2024 | Black Rider | Belen | GMA Network |
| 2024 | Lilet Matias: Attorney-at-Law | Ella | GMA Network |