# Celia Rodriguez

Cecilia Rodriguez (born June 21, 1938) is a Filipino actress. She has since been referred to as "The Original Glamorous Movie Star" for her acting prowess and longevity.
She appeared in more than 130 movies and television shows. She won four FAMAS Awards in the films Kulay Dugo ang Gabi, The Passionate Strangers, Lilet and Magnifico. She also received an award for Best Supporting Actress in the Metro Manila Film Festival for the movie Bulaklak sa City Jail. She is referred to as the industry's "fashion maverick."

## Early life

Cecilia "Celia" Rodriguez was born in Bulan, Sorsogon to a Spanish-Filipino father, Angel Rodriguez, who had roots in Barcelona and a mestiza mother, Perla Obsum. She was raised in their hacienda as the youngest among eight daughters. The sisters attended Colegio de la Milagrosa, a local convent school. After high school, her father sold his abaca and copra business and the family relocated to Legazpi, Albay. Rodriguez graduated at Centro Escolar University in Manila with a secretarial degree. During this time, she resided in the Santa Mesa district.

## Career

Rodriguez's acting skills were discovered by Adela Santiago, the head of Premiere Productions. She subsequently joined the movie industry in the late 1950s, appearing in Sa Ngalan ng Espada (1958) and Shirley, My Darling (1958). She performed in movies such as Lilet, released in 1971, Super Gee (1973), Kampanerang Kuba (1974) and Mrs. Eva Fonda, 16 (1976). Other film credits include Zoom, Zoom Superman (1973), Ang Boyfriend Kong Baduy (1975), Elektrika, Kasi Eh (1976), Star (1979), Katorse (1980), Anak (1981), Angkinin Mo Ako (1983), Ang Boyfriend Kong Kano (1983), Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin (1984), Room 69 (1984) and Bulaklak ng City Jail (1984). She was known as the antagonist Valentina in Darna movies.
Rodriguez went on an acting hiatus twice, first in the 1960s, when she worked as a fashion model in Europe, and in the 1980s and 1990s, when she resettled in the United States and at one point, took on two jobs simultaneously.
In 1999-2001 she starred in an afternoon drama called May Bukas Pa which aired on RPN 9 and IBC-13 and 2002-2003 played Cherie Gil's mother again in Bituin as Dona Virginia Gaston. Since 2004, she has starred in numerous television shows for GMA-7's and in two more incarnations of Darnas as the main villain. She was included in the GMA Network TV sitcom Who's Your Daddy Now? (2007) and the romantic-comedy series I Heart You, Pare! (2011) starring Dingdong Dantes and Regine Velasquez. In 2013, she returned to afternoon television in the highly acclaimed Magkano Ba ang Pag-ibig? with Maryo J. de los Reyes at the helm.

## Personal life

Rodriguez is unmarried but has three children from previous relationships, one of whom, Jackie, was her daughter with a doctor and died from an aneurysm in 1995. She describes herself as a born-again Christian since 1995.

## Awards and nominations

FAMAS (Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Awards) :
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
| 2004 | Magnifico | Best Supporting Actress | Won |
| 1984 | Ang Boyfriend kong Kano | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated |
| 1972 | Lilet | Best Actress | Won |
| 1967 | The Passionate Strangers | Best Supporting Actress | Won |
| 1965 | Blood Is The Color Of Night | Best Supporting Actress | Won |
Gawad Urian :
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
| 2005 | Magnifico | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated |
| 1985 | Bulaklak sa City Jail | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated |
Luna Awards :
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
| 2007 | Ligalig | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated |
Metro Manila Film Festival :
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
| 2006 | Magnifico | Best Actress | Nominated |
| 1984 | Bulaklak sa City Jail | Best Supporting Actress | Won |

## Filmography
### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Network |
| 1996–1997 | Familia Zaragoza | Doña Elvira | ABS-CBN |
| 1997 | Wansapanataym: Andi-Patika, Sulp-Anita, Mal-Ditas | Episode guest | ABS-CBN |
| 1998 | !Oka Tokat: Death Wish | Episode guest | ABS-CBN |
| 1998–1999 | Halik sa Apoy | Doña Tuding | GMA Network |
| 1999 | Pwedeng Pwede | Pearl | ABS-CBN |
| 1999–2001 | Rio Del Mar | Candida | GMA Network |
| 2000–2001 | May Bukas Pa | Conchita Suarez | IBC |
| 2001–2002 | Biglang Sibol, Bayang Impasibol | Nena | GMA Network |
| 2002–2003 | Bituin | Doña Virginia Gaston | ABS-CBN |
| 2005 | Ganda ng Lola Ko | Laura | Q |
| 2005 | Mars Ravelo's Darna | Braguda | GMA Network |
| 2005–2006 | Daisy Siete: Ang Pitong Maria | Doña Asuncion Santiago | GMA Network |
| 2006 | Noel | | Q |
| 2006 | Atlantika | Doña Segunda | GMA Network |
| 2006–2007 | Makita Ka Lang Muli | Olympia Van Helden | GMA Network |
| 2007 | Who's Your Daddy Now? | Mamu Candy | GMA Network |
| 2007 | Mga Mata ni Anghelita | Leticia Manresa / Rasfelina / Corazon | GMA Network |
| 2009 | Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang | Madam Laurenna Alcaraz | GMA Network |
| 2009 | All About Eve | Doña Concepcion Gonzales | GMA Network |
| 2009 | Mars Ravelo's Darna | Perfecta | GMA Network |
| 2010 | Sine Novela: Basahang Ginto | Doña Marina Vergara | GMA Network |
| 2010 | Claudine: Fraternity | | GMA Network |
| 2011 | I Heart You, Pare! | Marita Castillo | GMA Network |
| 2011 | Spooky Nights: Snow White Lady & the Seven Ghosts | Basya | GMA Network |
| 2011 | Iglot | Lola Idang Salvador | GMA Network |
| 2012 | Broken Vow | Doña Ofelia "Amorcita" Rastro | GMA Network |
| 2012 | Coffee Prince | Mamita Ochoa | GMA Network |
| 2013 | Home Sweet Home | Madame Pandora | GMA Network |
| 2013 | Magkano Ba ang Pag-ibig? | Doña Hilaria Buenaventura | GMA Network |
| 2015 | 2½ Daddies | Mommy Vi | TV5 |
| 2015 | Kalyeserye | Doña Celia Rodriguez viuda de Ungasis | GMA Network |
| 2015–2016 | Because of You | Feliza Salcedo | GMA Network |
| 2017–2018 | Haplos | Bettina "Lola Biring / Inang" Alonzo | GMA Network |
| 2018 | Dear Uge | Lola Florencia | GMA Network |
| 2020 | Anak ni Waray vs. Anak ni Biday | Zenaida Agpangan | GMA Network |
| 2020 | Dear Uge | Ima | GMA Network |
| 2023–2024 | Stolen Life | Corazon "Azon/Mamita" Rigor | GMA Network |
| 2025 | Batang Quiapo | Pilar Guerrero | Kapamilya Channel |

### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Film production |
| 1958 | Shirley, My Darling | | |
| 1958 | Sa Ngalan ng Espada | | |
| 1960 | Hong Kong Honeymoon | | |
| 1961 | Konsiyerto ng Kamatayan | | |
| 1964 | Lagalag | | |
| 1965 | Hong Kong 999 | | |
| 1966 | Wanted: Johnny L | | |
| 1971 | Lilet | | |
| 1973 | Zoom, Zoom, Superman! | The Spiderwoman | |
| 1974 | Huwag Tularan: Pito ang Asawa Ko | | |
| 1974 | Biktima | Monica Valdez | Tagalog Ilang-Ilang Productions |
| 1975 | Lulubog Lilitaw sa Ilalim ng Tulay | | |
| 1976 | Mga Rosas sa Putikan | | |
| 1977 | Maligno | | |
| 1978 | Bomba Star | Estrella Montana | Regal Films |
| 1979 | Roberta | | |
| 1980 | Aguila | Margo Cepeda | Bancom Audiovision |
| 1980 | Katorse | Doña Margarita Arkanghel | Regal Films |
| 1980 | Angela Markado | Rona | Four-Seasons Films International, Inc. |
| 1981 | Kapitan Kidlat | | |
| 1981 | Bakit Ba Ganyan? | Mrs. del Oro | Regal Films |
| 1982 | Mother Dear | Nilda | |
| 1982 | Palengke Queen | Doña Carmela | JoyVee Film Productions |
| 1982 | Diary of Cristina Gaston | Donya Madonna | Regal Films |
| 1983 | Angkinin Mo Ako | | |
| 1984 | Bagets | Adie's mother | |
| 1984 | Bulaklak sa City Jail | Luna | |
| 1985 | Sanay | Elisa | |
| 1996 | Tukso Layuan Mo Ako 2 | | |
| 1997 | Lihim Ni Madonna | Viring | |
| 1997 | Ikaw Pala ang Mahal Ko | Corinne Balmaceda | |
| 1998 | Kahit Saan... Kung Puwede | | |
| 1999 | Bullet | Flor | |
| 2003 | Magnifico | Ka Doring | Violett Films |
| 2004 | Naglalayag | Mrs. Roces | |
| 2006 | Ligalig | Martha | |
| 2009 | Tarot | Lola Nena | |
| 2009 | Fuchsia | Priscilla | |
| 2010 | I'll Be There | Madam Conching Collins | |
| 2011 | Shake, Rattle & Roll 13 | Aling Epang | |
| 2012 | Thy Womb | | |
| 2012 | My Kontrabida Girl | | |