# Vivian Velez

Vivian Zapata Rodriguez, known professionally as 'Vivian Velez' (born May 21, 1960) is a Filipino actress who previously served as Director General of Film Academy of the Philippines. As one of the radio host of the 8TriMedia's weekly program called Double V and a DZRJ 810am's program called Chit Chat with Double V. She was known as the "Ms. Body Beautiful" of Philippine movies in the 1980s. She won the Film Academy of the Philippines FAP Award for Best Actress in Pieta (1983) and FAMAS Award and Metro Manila Film Festival for Best Actress in Paradise Inn (1985).

## Career

Vivian Velez started her career in show business in 1976 when she was only 16 years old. She won the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) Award for Best Actress for Pieta (1983) and won two Best Actress Awards for her 1985 film Paradise Inn; one from FAMAS Awards and another from the Metro Manila Film Festival.
She performed her own stunts in Ang Babaing Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang (1981), directed by Carlo J. Caparas. In 1983, she appeared in Pieta with Ace Vergel and Charito Solis. In 1985, she finished four movies: Paradise Inn with Michael de Mesa, Ben Tumbling with Lito Lapid, Order To Kill with the former President Joseph Estrada, and Riot 1950 with Rudy Fernandez.
Her notable film Ang Babaing Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang (1981) has been remade as a GMA-7 TV series, starring Marian Rivera. She starred in the 2010 TV series Imortal (starring John Lloyd Cruz and Angel Locsin), and in the 2013 TV remake of Maria Mercedes (starring Jessy Mendiola), both shown on ABS-CBN.
Velez has appeared in more than 60 movies and television shows.
Velez publicly announced in March 2016 through her Facebook account, that she has irrevocably resigned from her show, Tubig at Langis due to the alleged rudeness and humiliation by her co-star Cristine Reyes against Velez during several tapings of the drama series.

## Politics

Velez was known as a supporter of then-President Rodrigo Duterte since 2016, and she still supported him even after leaving power.
During the heights of the COVID-19 pandemic, she lashed out at then Vice-President Leni Robredo for a supposed political stunt, going as far as calling Mrs. Robredo, "boba" (stupid). This garnered backlash from people on the Internet, taunting her "betamax" celebrity sex tape from the 1980s.
She was also one of the personalities who pushed the Isko–Sara tandem in 2022, after she mainly supported then-Manila Mayor Isko Moreno's presidential campaign.
She took oath as member of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino in 2024. She was also appointed as one of the party's vice president. On January 13, 2025, she attended the National Rally for Peace organized by Iglesia ni Cristo at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila; although the event was staged in support of President Bongbong Marcos, Velez expressed to SMNI's Newsblast her desire for Marcos to resign.

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Category | Award | Movie | Result |
| 1982 | Best Actress | FAMAS Award | Ang Babaing Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang (1981) | Nominated |
| 1983 | Best Actress | FAP Award | Pieta (1983) | Won |
| 1985 | Best Actress | FAMAS Award | Paradise Inn (1985) | Won |
| 1985 | Best Actress | MMFF | Paradise Inn (1985) | Won |
| 1985 | Best Actress | FAMAS Award | Pieta: Ikalawang Aklat (1984) | Nominated |
| 1991 | Best Actress | FAMAS Award | Kasalanan Bang Sambahin Ka? (1990) | Nominated |
| 1991 | Best Actress | Gawad Urian Award | Kasalanan Bang Sambahin Ka? (1990) | Nominated |

## Selected filmography
### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Network |
| 1999–2001 | Rio Del Mar | Bianca | GMA Network |
| 2010–2011 | Imortal | Lucille Zaragoza | ABS-CBN |
| 2011 | Maalaala Mo Kaya: Susi | (Mommy ni Louie) | ABS-CBN |
| 2013 | Misibis Bay | Miranda Cadiz | TV5 |
| 2013–2014 | Maria Mercedes | Malvina Sancuevas | ABS-CBN |
| 2016 | Tubig at Langis | Conchita "Conching" Beltran-Villadolid† | ABS-CBN |
| 2016 | Encantadia | Carmen | GMA Network |

### Radio

* Double V (DZRJ-AM/8TriMedia) (2017)
* Chit Chat with Double V (DZRJ-AM Radyo Bandido TV) (2021)

### Film

| Title | Year | Role |
| Black Mamba | (1974) | |
| Boss, Basta Ikaw (Wa 'Na 'Kong Sey) | (1976) | |
| Bata Pa si Sabel | (1976) | |
| Bago Lumamig ang Sabaw | (1976) | |
| *Bertong Suklob | (1976) | |
| Inday Garutay | (1976) | |
| Ligaw-tingin, Halik-hangin | (1976) | |
| BongBong | (1976) | |
| Escolta: Mayo 13... Biyernes ng Hapon | (1976) | |
| Andalucia | (1976) | |
| Puwede Ako, Puwede Ka Pa Ba? | (1976) | |
| Mag-ingat Ka... Ikaw ang Susunod! | (1977) | |
| Valentin Labrador: Muntinlupa Riot May 26, 1950 | (1977) | |
| Alas Tres ng Hapon... Lumuhod ang Maton! | (1977) | |
| Sila... sa Bawa't Bangketa | (1977) | |
| Mariposang Dagat | (1977) | Mariposang Dagat |
| Beerhouse | (1977) | |
| Gameng | (1977) | |
| Babae... Ngayon at Kailanman | (1977) | |
| Blood Run | (1978) | |
| *Basta Kabit May Sabit | (1978) | |
| *Mula Ulo Hanggang Paa... Putik | (1978) | |
| *Sari-saring Ibong Kulasisi | (1978) | |
| *Batang City Jail | (1978) | |
| *Ex-Convict (Naligaw Na Landas) | (1978) | |
| *Ang Babaing Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang | (1981) | |
| *Kahit Ako Ay Lupa | (1981) | |
| *Ermitanyo | (1981) | |
| *Pieta | (1983) | |
| *Kumusta ka Hudas | (1983) | |
| *Apoy sa Iyong Kandungan | (1984) | |
| *Sampung Ahas ni Eva | (1984) | |
| *Ben Tumbling | (1985) | |
| *Paradise Inn | (1985) | |
| *Kasalanan Bang Sambahin Ka? | (1990) | |
| *Bikining Itim | (1990) | |
| *Kailan Ka Magiging Akin | (1991) | |
| *Kill Zone | (1993) | |
| *Forever and a Day | (2011) | |
| *On the Job | (2013) | |