# Thea Tolentino

Thea Loise Señerez Tolentino (born August 13, 1996) is a Filipino actress known for her role as Ashley Mercado Alcantara in the GMA Network television drama The Half Sisters. She started her career as one of the winners of the second season of Protégé, a talent-search reality show created by GMA Network. Since then, she became a contract artist of GMA and began appearing on various dramas such as Anna Karenina, Pyra: Babaeng Apoy, Hahamakin ang Lahat and Asawa Ko, Karibal Ko. She also gained public attention for playing the villain sorcereress in Haplos (2017), which is her most villainous role up to date. Recently, she portrayed an evil mother in Madrasta (2019).

## Early life

Thea Loise Señerez Tolentino was born and raised in Calamba, Laguna, Philippines. Tolentino has two younger brothers, Terrence Louie and Tobbie. Prior to joining Protégé, she stated that "she had never been separated from the family." Crazy Little Thing Called Love and Lie To Me are one of her favorite films and TV series respectively. She's a self-proclaimed Jpop fan, most especially by the Johnny's idol group Hey! Say! JUMP. She had said in interviews before that she went back to Japan just to watch their concert and to see her crush Ryosuke Yamada.
Tolentino graduated from the Trinity University of Asia, where she took up Business Administration major in Public Administration.

## Career

Tolentino auditioned in front of Gina Alajar who turned out as her mentor in the entire run of the show. She sang "Torete" by Moonstar88 while playing a guitar. Eventually, Tolentino and Mark Kenneth Banez was chosen as one of the official protégés for that season and one of the four protégés of Gina Alajar.
Tolentino said that she joined Protégé to hone her skills, to let the people know that she has a talent and to help her family.
Mentor Gina helped her all throughout the show and Tolentino's shyness was gradually fading as the competition became tougher. The improvements in her performances during gala night was seen by the judges.
Singing is considered as Tolentino's niche. Mikoy Morales, one of Jolina Magdangal's protégés, worked with Tolentino by composing a song entitled "Butterfly". Morales and Tolentino sang the song and Mark Escueta, husband of Jolina Magdangal and one of the members of Rivermaya, helped in creating the music video of "Butterfly".
At the end of the competition, Tolentino was announced as the "Ultimate Female Protégé" by the host, Dingdong Dantes. Tolentino's male counterpart in winning the competition is Jeric Gonzales, who is also from Calamba.
Weeks after winning the reality search, Tolentino, along with co-winner Jeric Gonzales, were cast in the TGIS' sequel Teen Gen. However, the series ended its run and Tolentino moved on to take part as the scheming "Angel" in the 2013 resurrection of the series Anna Karenina. In mid-2013, GMA Network announced that they have chosen her to play the lead in the new daytime drama Pyra: Ang Babaeng Apoy. In 2014, Tolentino landed the lead character of Ashley as one of the main characters in The Half Sisters, with Barbie Forteza and Andre Paras. This show garnered more extensions and positive ratings, even Tolentino's acting role as Ashley also gained praises as well.
She played as a villain in the drama Once Again, led by Aljur Abrenica and Janine Gutierrez. She also starred in various Maynila episodes. Finding her niche in portraying villain roles, Thea played the role of a Pheobe Ke in Hahamakin ang Lahat that ran from the last quarter of the year till the start of 2017.
Right after Hahamakin ang Lahat, she was cast in the primetime drama Destined to be Yours, which was the first TV drama of the Phenomenal Love Team AlDub. She then starred in Haplos where she plays a vengeful witch Lucille, opposite the "Healer" character Angela played by Sanya Lopez. Tolentino also played in the movie This Time I'll Be Sweeter with Barbie Forteza and Ken Chan, and also had appearances in the sitcom Inday Will Always Love You along with Forteza, one of the show's protagonist. One of her latest roles was a transgender antagonist named Venus Hermosa, who was played by Jason Abalos during his role as Nathan Bravante/Catriona in the afternoon series Asawa Ko, Karibal Ko. She has also appeared in numerous GMA television anthologies such as Maynila, Magpakailanman and Dear Uge, among others, due to her impressive versatility in portraying various roles and characters. Her new project was in another villain role, where she portrayed a psycho murderer and cunning mother in Madrasta.
In 2021, Tolentino returns to the afternoon series Las Hermanas who played Minnie Manansala, one of three protagonists, Manansala sisters. In 2022, she also appeared in the action primetime series Lolong as the minor character Celia and played one of the four lead roles, Dahlia Morales-Chua in Mano Po Legacy: The Flower Sisters. In 2024, Tolentino returns to the anti-heroine as Rosario 'Rose' Lirio / Terra who is the older half-sister of Amira (played by Elle Villanueva) in the afternoon drama revenge series Makiling. In 2025, she played another antagonist role as Angela Torres, the evil stepsister of Ikit (played by Herlene Budol) in the afternoon comedy-drama series Binibining Marikit.

## Filmography
### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Network |
| 2012 | Protégé: The Battle for the Big Artista Break | Herself/Contestant | GMA Network |
| 2012–2013 | Teen Gen | Angela "Angge" Parahinog | GMA Network |
| 2013 | Love & Lies | Marissa Rivero | GMA Network |
| 2013 | Anna Karenina | Anna Karenina "Angel" Dela Cruz | GMA Network |
| 2013 | Maynila: Bad Boy, Good Heart | Rejji | GMA Network |
| 2013 | Maynila: Moving On with Your Heart | Rica | GMA Network |
| 2013 | Magpakailanman: Flowers of Hope - The Rolando Niagar Story | Teenage Sheryl | GMA Network |
| 2013 | Pyra: Babaeng Apoy | Pyra Lucente / Pyra Del Fierro | GMA Network |
| 2014 | Kambal Sirena | Gindara | GMA Network |
| 2014 | Maynila: Love Promises | Melinda | GMA Network |
| 2014 | Maynila: Luv U Still | Alyssa | GMA Network |
| 2014 | Maynila: Misyon ng Puso | Morgan | GMA Network |
| 2014 | Maynila: When Love Take a U-Turn | Jessica | GMA Network |
| 2014–2016 | The Half Sisters | Ashley "Ash" M. Alcantara | GMA Network |
| 2014 | Maynila: Y.O.L.O (You Only Love Once) | Lyra | GMA Network |
| 2014 | Maynila: My Sister's Lover | Jasmine | GMA Network |
| 2015 | Maynila: My Rebel Heart | Trina | GMA Network |
| 2015 | Magpakailanman: Ang Masuwerteng Pinay sa Brunei | Young Kathy | GMA Network |
| 2015 | Maynila: Hugot Pa More! | Nicole | GMA Network |
| 2015 | Love Hotline: Magpinsan... Makasalanan | Isabel Phajador | GMA Network |
| 2015 | Maynila: Ganti ng Api | Ella | GMA Network |
| 2015 | Wagas: Camille Prats and VJ Yambao Love Story | Camille Prats | GMA News TV |
| 2016 | Love Hotline: My Mystery Girl | Jen | GMA Network |
| 2016 | Magpakailanman: The Rape Video Scandal | Ivy | GMA Network |
| 2016 | Once Again | Celeste L. Carbonnel-Sanchez | GMA Network |
| 2016 | Pepito Manaloto | Amanda "Mandy" Ramos | GMA Network |
| 2016 | Wish Ko Lang: Mag-ate | Carmina | GMA Network |
| 2016 | Maynila: Single Dad | Erin | GMA Network |
| 2016 | Karelasyon: Mama Beth | Anna | GMA Network |
| 2016 | Dear Uge: I Love You, Mars! | Samantha | GMA Network |
| 2016 | Maynila: Karugtong ng Kahapon | Cherry | GMA Network |
| 2016 | Magpakailanman: Fight for Love | Herself | GMA Network |
| 2016 | Wish Ko Lang: Pangalawang Buhay | Mae | GMA Network |
| 2016–2017 | Hahamakin ang Lahat | Phoebe Ke | GMA Network |
| 2016 | Dear Uge: Paano Mapansin ni Crush? | Candy | GMA Network |
| 2016 | Magpakailanman: May Forever sa Bahay Pag-ibig | Young Tess Suarez | GMA Network |
| 2017 | Maynila: New Beginnings | Lana | GMA Network |
| 2017 | Imbestigador: Nagbigti o Binigti? | Angelique Bulatao | GMA Network |
| 2017 | Destined to be Yours | Patricia "Trish" Villanueva | GMA Network |
| 2017 | Imbestigador: Cum Laude | Donna Pascual | GMA Network |
| 2017 | Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko: The Adventures of Chuck the Tailor | Maya | GMA Network |
| 2017 | Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko: Tatay Pitong at Pilyong Nokyo | Maya | GMA Network |
| 2017 | Maynila: Love is Not Blind | Josefina Olorocisimo | GMA Network |
| 2017 | Magpakailanman: May Forever - The Ariel Cruz and Julieta Manuel Story | Mila | GMA Network |
| 2017–2018 | Haplos | Lucille Bermudez / Rosella "Sella" | GMA Network |
| 2018 | Maynila: Tapsilove | Simang | GMA Network |
| 2018 | Magpakailanman: Wife for Hire | Alma Bulawan | GMA Network |
| 2018 | Elehiya | Regina | GMA Network |
| 2018 | Dear Uge: Ang Sakit Pala Matanggihan! | Amy | GMA Network |
| 2018 | Wish Ko Lang: Payaso | Joey | GMA Network |
| 2018 | Inday Will Always Love You | Ruby | GMA Network |
| 2018 | Maynila: My Girlfriend Is a Gangster | Grace | GMA Network |
| 2018 | Stories for the Soul: The Better Sister | Shane | GMA Network |
| 2018 | Dear Uge: Isang Takong, Isang Tanong | Loida Fernandez | GMA Network |
| 2018–2019 | Asawa Ko, Karibal Ko | Venus Hermosa / Nathan Bravante / Catriona | GMA Network |
| 2019 | Magpakailanman: Tatlong Henerasyon ng Sipag at Tiyaga | Teenage Cynthia Villar | GMA Network |
| 2019 | Wish Ko Lang: Anak (A Reunion Story) | Luna | GMA Network |
| 2019 | Imbestigador: Christine Silawan Murder Case | Christine Lee Silawan | GMA Network |
| 2019 | Wish Ko Lang: Taxi Driver | Jenny | GMA Network |
| 2019 | Maynila: Bad Mom | Paula | GMA Network |
| 2019 | Magpakailanman: Yanig ng Buhay - The Pampanga Earthquake Victims Story | Lourdes "Des" Pinaglabanan | GMA Network |
| 2019 | Dear Uge: It's Complicated! | Maru | GMA Network |
| 2019 | Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko: Squad Goals | Fairy Mona | GMA Network |
| 2019 | Daddy's Gurl | Caitlyn | GMA Network |
| 2019 | Tadhana: Obsession | Karen | GMA Network |
| 2019–2020 | Madrasta | Katharine Viduya-Ledesma / Kara Santos / Sylvia | GMA Network |
| 2019 | Maynila: Unexpected Blessing | Carla | GMA Network |
| 2019 | Dear Uge: Ayoko Ne Seyo | Jheng Landicho | GMA Network |
| 2020 | Imbestigador: Abuso | Jocelyn Lopez | GMA Network |
| 2020 | Magpakailanman: The Sign Language of Love | Beth Rivas | GMA Network |
| 2021 | The Lost Recipe | Ginger Romano | GMA News TV |
| 2021 | Tadhana: Sa Ngalan ng Ama | Tracy | GMA Network |
| 2021–2022 | Las Hermanas | Minerva "Minnie" Manansala | GMA Network |
| 2022 | Lolong | Celia | GMA Network |
| 2022–2023 | Mano Po Legacy: The Flower Sisters | Dahlia Morales Chua | GMA Network |
| 2023 | Tadhana: Penintensya | Faith | GMA Network |
| 2023 | Regal Studios Presents: Romy and Julie | Julie | GMA Network |
| 2023 | Regal Studio Presents: Time Out | Gels | GMA Network |
| 2024 | Makiling | Rosario "Rose" Lirio / Rose Terra | GMA Network |
| 2024 | Wish Ko Lang!: Sayang na Ganda | Ruby | GMA Network |
| 2025 | Binibining Marikit | Angela Torres- Caringal | GMA Network |

### Film

| Year | Film | Role | Producer |
| 2017 | This Time I'll Be Sweeter | Kimberly | Regal Films & GMA Films |
| 2021 | Lost Stars Within Us | Danica | The GWard Inc & GMA Films |
| 2023 | The Cheating Game | Natalie | GMA Films |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Association | Award Giving Body | Category | Result |
| 2013 | Philippine Movie and Television Press Club | 27th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best New Female TV Personality for Teen Gen | Nominated |