# Metro Manila Film Festival Award for Best Actress

The Metro Manila Film Festival Award for Best Actress is an award presented annually by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). It was first awarded at the 1st Metro Manila Film Festival ceremony, held in 1975; Charito Solis received the award for her role in Araw-Araw, Gabi-Gabi and it is given in honor of an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role while working within the film industry. Currently, nominees and winners are determined by Executive Committees, headed by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman and key members of the film industry.

## Winners and nominees

| Key | Explanation |
| ‡ | Indicates the winning actress |

### 1970s

| Year | Actress | Film | Role |
| 1975 (1st) | Charito Solis‡ | Araw-Araw, Gabi-Gabi | |
| 1976 (2nd) | Hilda Koronel‡ | Insiang | Insiang |
| 1976 (2nd) | Nora Aunor | Minsa'y isang Gamu-gamo | Corazon de la Cruz |
| 1977 (3rd) | Vilma Santos‡ | Burlesk Queen | Chato |
| 1977 (3rd) | Nora Aunor | Bakya Mo Neneng | Neneng |
| 1978 (4th) | Nora Aunor‡ | Atsay | Nelia de Leon |
| 1979 (5th) | Nora Aunor and Lolita Rodriguez‡ | Ina Ka ng Anak Mo | Esther and Renata |

### 1980s

| Year | Actress | Film | Role |
| 1980 (6th) | Amy Austria‡ | Brutal | Cynthia |
| 1980 (6th) | Nora Aunor | Bona | Bona |
| 1980 (6th) | Nora Aunor | Kung Ako'y Iiwan Mo | Beatrice Alcala |
| 1981 (7th) | Vilma Santos‡ | Karma | Sara |
| 1981 (7th) | Nora Aunor | Rock n' Roll | |
| 1982 (8th) | Nora Aunor‡ | Himala | Elsa |
| 1983 (9th) | Coney Reyes-Mumar‡ | Bago Kumalat ang Kamandag | |
| 1984 (10th) | Nora Aunor‡ | Bulaklak sa City Jail | Angela Aguilar |
| 1985 (11th) | Vivian Velez‡ | Paradise Inn | Daria |
| 1985 (11th) | Nora Aunor | I Can't Stop Loving You | Amy Mercado |
| 1986 (12th) | Liza Lorena‡ | Halimaw sa Banga | Margarita |
| 1987 (13th) | Melanie Marquez‡ | The Untold Story of Melanie Marquez | Melanie Marquez |
| 1988 (14th) | Amy Austria‡ | Celestina Sanchez, Alyas Bubbles/ Enforcer: Ativan Gang | Bubbles Sanchez |
| 1989 (15th) | Vilma Santos‡ | Imortal | Natalia Avila |

### 1990s

| Year | Actress | Film | Role |
| 1990 (16th) | Nora Aunor‡ | Andrea, Paano Ba ang Maging Isang Ina? | Andrea |
| 1991 (17th) | Nora Aunor‡ | Ang Totoong Buhay ni Pacita M. | Pacita |
| 1992 (18th) | Gina Alajar‡ | Shake, Rattle & Roll IV | Puri |
| 1993 (19th) | Dawn Zulueta‡ | Kung Mawawala Ka Pa | Marissa Palma |
| 1993 (19th) | Nora Aunor | Inay | Sally |
| 1994 (20th) | Kimberly Diaz‡ | Kanto Boy: Anak ni Toto Gwapo | Michelle |
| 1995 (21st) | Nora Aunor‡ | Muling Umawit ang Puso | Loida Veranno |
| 1996 (22nd) | Amy Austria‡ | Trudis Liit | Magna |
| 1997 (23rd) | Maricel Soriano‡ | Nasaan ang Puso? | Joy |
| 1998 (24th) | Alice Dixson‡ | Sambahin ang Ngalan Mo | Blanca |
| 1999 (25th) | Elizabeth Oropesa‡ | Bulaklak ng Maynila | Azon |

### 2000s

| Year | Actress | Film | Role |
| 2000 (26th) | Gloria Romero‡ | Tanging Yaman | Lola Loleng |
| 2001 (27th) | Assunta de Rossi‡ | Hubog | Vanessa |
| 2002 (28th) | Ara Mina‡ | Mano Po | Richelle Go-Bala |
| 2002 (28th) | Maricel Soriano | Mano Po | Vera Go |
| 2002 (28th) | Joyce Jimenez | Lapu-Lapu | Bulakna |
| 2002 (28th) | Donita Rose | Lastikman | Linda |
| 2002 (28th) | Vilma Santos | Dekada '70 | Amanda Bartolome |
| 2002 (28th) | Rufa Mae Quinto | Hula Mo, Huli Ko | Paula |
| 2002 (28th) | Zsa Zsa Padilla | Home Along da Riber | Sandra |
| 2002 (28th) | Ina Raymundo | Ang Alamat ng Lawin | Camila |
| 2003 (29th) | Maricel Soriano‡ | Filipinas | Yolanda Filipinas |
| 2004 (30th) | Vilma Santos‡ | Mano Po 3: My Love | Lilia |
| 2004 (30th) | Judy Ann Santos | Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita | Inya Marasingan Manalang/ Kapitan Berto |
| 2005 (31st) | Zsa Zsa Padilla‡ | Mano Po 4: Ako Legal Wife | Chona Gao-Chiong |
| 2006 (32nd) | Judy Ann Santos‡ | Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo | Angelita "Angie" |
| 2007 (33rd) | Maricel Soriano‡ | Bahay Kubo, The Pinoy Mano Po | Eden |
| 2008 (34th) | Anne Curtis‡ | Baler | Feliza Reyes |
| 2008 (34th) | Dawn Zulueta | Magkaibigan | Tere |
| 2008 (34th) | Maricel Laxa | Magkaibigan | Eden |
| 2008 (34th) | Ai-Ai delas Alas | Ang Tanging Ina N'yong Lahat | Ina |
| 2009 (35th) | Sharon Cuneta‡ | Mano Po 6: A Mother's Love | Melinda Tan Uy |
| 2009 (35th) | Angelica Panganiban | I Love You, Goodbye | Lizelle Jimenez |
| 2009 (35th) | Cristine Reyes | Ang Darling Kong Aswang | Eliza Santos |
| 2009 (35th) | Iza Calzado | Ang Panday | Maria |

### 2010s

| Year | Actress | Film | Role |
| 2010 (36th) | Ai Ai delas Alas‡ | Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last na 'To!) | Ina Montecillo |
| 2010 (36th) | Carla Abellana | Shake, Rattle and Roll 12 | Dianne |
| 2010 (36th) | Marian Rivera | Super Inday and the Golden Bibe | Inday (Super Inday) |
| 2011 (37th) | Maricel Soriano‡ | Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow | Mariel |
| 2011 (37th) | Judy Ann Santos | My Househusband (Ikaw Na!) | Mia |
| 2011 (37th) | Ai-Ai delas Alas | Enteng ng Ina Mo | Ina Montecillo |
| 2011 (37th) | Maricar Reyes | Shake, Rattle & Roll 13 | Isay |
| 2011 (37th) | Eugene Domingo | Shake, Rattle & Roll 13 | Cynthia Gomez |
| 2012 (38th) | Nora Aunor‡ | Thy Womb | Shaleha |
| 2012 (38th) | Angelica Panganiban | One More Try | Jacqueline |
| 2012 (38th) | Angel Locsin | One More Try | Grace |
| 2012 (38th) | Judy Ann Santos | Si Agimat, si Enteng Kabisote at si Ako | Angelina Kalinisan-Orteza (Ako) |
| 2012 (38th) | Janice de Belen | Shake, Rattle and Roll Fourteen: The Invasion | Myra |
| 2013 (39th) | Maricel Soriano‡ | Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy | Pia Jackstone |
| 2013 (39th) | KC Concepcion | Boy Golden: Shoot to Kill | Marla "Marla Dy" De Guzman |
| 2013 (39th) | Eugene Domingo | Kimmy Dora: Ang Kiyemeng Prequel | Kimmy and Dora Go Dong Hae |
| 2013 (39th) | Kathryn Bernardo | Pagpag: Siyam na Buhay | Leni |
| 2013 (39th) | Bela Padilla | 10,000 Hours | Maya Limchauco |
| 2014 (40th) | Jennylyn Mercado‡ | English Only, Please | Tere Madlansacay |
| 2014 (40th) | Vina Morales | Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo | Gregoria de Jesus / Oriang |
| 2014 (40th) | Erich Gonzales | Shake, Rattle & Roll XV | Sarah/Sandra |
| 2014 (40th) | Carla Abellana | Shake, Rattle & Roll XV | Aimee |
| 2015 (41st) | Jennylyn Mercado‡ | Walang Forever | Mia Nolasco |
| 2015 (41st) | Ai-Ai delas Alas | My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore | Corazon Tala-tala |
| 2015 (41st) | Meryll Soriano | Honor Thy Father | Kaye |
| 2015 (41st) | Jodi Sta. Maria | All You Need Is Pag-Ibig | Mel |
| 2016 (42nd) | Irma Adlawan‡ | Oro | Kapitana |
| 2016 (42nd) | Eugene Domingo | Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2: #ForeverIsNotEnough | Romina/Eugene Domingo |
| 2016 (42nd) | Nora Aunor | Kabisera | |
| 2016 (42nd) | Rhed Bustamante | Seklusyon | Anghela Sta. Ana/NgaHela |
| 2017 (43rd) | Joanna Ampil‡ | Ang Larawan | Candida Marasigan |
| 2017 (43rd) | Jennylyn Mercado | All of You | Gabby |
| 2017 (43rd) | Dawn Zulueta | Meant to Beh | Andrea Balatbat |
| 2017 (43rd) | Erich Gonzales | Siargao | Laura |
| 2018 (44th) | Gloria Romero‡ | Rainbow's Sunset | Sylvia Estrella |
| 2018 (44th) | Kim Chiu | One Great Love | Zyra Paez |
| 2018 (44th) | Anne Curtis | Aurora | Leana |
| 2019 (45th) | Judy Ann Santos‡ | Mindanao | Saima Datupalo |
| 2019 (45th) | Carmina Villarroel | Sunod | Olivia |
| 2019 (45th) | Miles Ocampo | Write About Love | Female Writer |

### 2020s

| Year | Actress | Film | Role |
| 2020 (46th) | Charlie Dizon‡ | Fan Girl | Jane |
| 2020 (46th) | Nora Aunor | Isa Pang Bahaghari | Lumen |
| 2020 (46th) | Iza Calzado | Tagpuan | Agnes |
| 2020 (46th) | Sylvia Sanchez | Coming Home | Salve Librada |
| 2020 (46th) | Ritz Azul | The Missing | Iris |
| 2021 (47th) | Charo Santos-Concio‡ | Kun Maupay Man it Panahon | Norma |
| 2021 (47th) | Daniela Stranner | Love at First Stream | Vilma |
| 2021 (47th) | Alex Gonzaga | The Exorsis | Dani |
| 2021 (47th) | Elizabeth Oropesa | Huwag Kang Lalabas | Fides |
| 2022 (48th) | Nadine Lustre‡ | Deleter | Lyra |
| 2022 (48th) | Ivana Alawi | Partners in Crime | Barbara |
| 2022 (48th) | Heaven Peralejo | Nanahimik ang Gabi | Me-Ann |
| 2022 (48th) | Toni Gonzaga | My Teacher | Emma |
| 2023 (49th) | Vilma Santos-Recto‡ | When I Met You in Tokyo | Azon |
| 2023 (49th) | Eugene Domingo | Becky and Badette | Becky Naman |
| 2023 (49th) | Pokwang | Becky and Badette | Badette Imaculada |
| 2023 (49th) | Sharon Cuneta | Family of Two | Maricar |
| 2023 (49th) | Beauty Gonzalez | Kampon | Eileen |
| 2023 (49th) | Marian Rivera | Rewind | Mary |
| 2024 (50th) | Judy Ann Santos‡ | Espantaho | |
| 2024 (50th) | Aicelle Santos | Isang Himala | Elsa |
| 2024 (50th) | Francine Diaz | My Future You | Karen |
| 2024 (50th) | Jane de Leon | Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital | |
| 2024 (50th) | Julia Montes | Topakk | Weng Diwata |
| 2024 (50th) | Vilma Santos | Uninvited | Lilia Capistrano / Eva Candelaria |

## Multiple awards for Best Actress

Throughout the history of Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), there have been actresses who received multiple Awards for Best Actress. As of 2019 (45th MMFF), 7 actresses have received two or more Best Actress awards.
| Actress | Record Set | First year awarded | Recent year awarded |
| Nora Aunor | 8 | 1978 | 2012 |
| Maricel Soriano | 5 | 1997 | 2013 |
| Vilma Santos | 5 | 1977 | 2023 |
| Judy Ann Santos | 3 | 2006 | 2024 |
| Amy Austria | 3 | 1980 | 1996 |
| Jennylyn Mercado | 2 | 2014 | 2015 |
| Gloria Romero | 2 | 2000 | 2018 |