Eugene Domingo

Eugena Roxas Domingo (born July 23, 1971), popularly known as Eugene Domingo, is a Filipino actress, comedienne and host. She has performed in lead and supporting roles in various genres of the Philippine film industry. She is popularly known as the "Comedy Star for All Seasons" and was a sidekick of Ai-Ai delas Alas in the '' Ang Tanging Ina'' series (20032010), until her very first lead film role in '' Kimmy Dora'' in 2009.

Domingo's other notable films include ''Bahay Kubo'' (2007) for which she received her first Best Supporting Actress award. Her most successful film to date is the Cinemalaya entry, '' Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank'' (2011), which is the highest-grossing independent film in Philippine history. The film was an official entry for various international film festivals in Vancouver, South Korea, Hawaii, Japan, and Italy. The film was also chosen by the Film Academy of the Philippines to represent the Philippines in the Best Foreign Language Film category of the 84th Academy Awards. Domingo achieved "Best Actress" awards, at the Cinemalaya (2011) and 10th Gawad Tanglaw for Films (2012). She also received the "People's Choice Award for Best Actress" at the 6th Asian Film Awards (2012) in Hong Kong and "Best Actress" award at the 3rd Pau International Film Festival in France.

Domingo is the only actress in the Philippine entertainment history to have participated in six films ('' Working Girls'', ''Here Comes the Bride'', '' Mamarazzi'', '' Petrang Kabayo'', '' RPG: Metanoia'', '' Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last na 'To!)'') produced by eight major Filipino production companies ( GMA Films, Regal Films, Unitel Productions, OctoArts Films, Quantum Films, VIVA Films, Ambient Media, and Star Cinema) within a year (in 2010). Domingo holds the record of being the first lead actress in Philippine cinema to star in the most films — seven — in a year. Since 2008, she has been a contract artist of GMA Network, appearing on various comedy shows like '' Jejemom'' (2010), drama shows like '' Ako si Kim Sam Soon'' (2008), '' Ang Babaeng Hinugot Sa Aking Tadyang'' (2008) and '' First Time'' (2010). She also hosted '' Cool Center'' (2009) and ''Comedy Bar'' (2010).

Apart from her television and mainstream appearance, she also headlined theater show in ''Bona'' produced by the Philippine Educational Theater Association in 2012. She was nominated as "Best Actress in a Play award" for her role at the International Theater Award and eventually hailed as "Best Actress in Theater role" for ''Bona'' at the 25th Aliw Awards.

Life and career

1971-2003: Early life and career beginnings

Domingo was born at 1:00 AM on July 23, 1971 in Malate, Manila to Reynaldo Aguinaldo Domingo and Cecilia Atad Roxas. According to her, she was fond of copying her teachers and other people during her childhood life. She became interested in acting when she witnessed a musical held at the CCP Complex. She studied Theatre Arts at the University of the Philippines Diliman, apprenticing as an actress and production staff under the university's theatre company, Dulaang UP. As a theatre major, she went through selling tickets, inviting students to attend their play, begging professors to require students to watch, ushering the audience in and out of the auditorium, rehearsing all night, and learning from the not-so-conventional styles of the most diva directors. Domingo started her minor acting career through the movie, "Emma Salazar Case" produced by Regal Entertainment in 1991. It was then followed by a biographical movie "Maricris Sioson" in 1993 and as condominium maid in "Sa Ngalan ng Pag-ibig" in 1995. She was launched in television as Dolores in a series, Valiente run by ABS-CBN and GMA Network in 1992 to 1997. In 1998, she appeared in a three films produced by Viva Films, ''Pagdating Ng Panahon'', ''Ikaw Pa Rin Ang Iibigin'' and ''Pusong Mamon''. She also appeared on the Book 1 of a GMA Network's series, '' Kirara, Ano Ang Kulay ng Pag-ibig?'' in 1999. She had her first hosting role through " D-Day with Ms. Dina Bonnevie" in 1999. But, there was a time, when, out of sheer frustration, she stopped acting for the TV-film cameras because of bit player roles. Domingo went back to school and finished her undergraduate thesis, performing the play 'night, Mother opposite Harlene Bautista. After finishing her degree, she continued to perform in several stage productions. Until a friend, now television director Andoy Ranay, insisted that she give TV acting a second chance. She was immediately cast on ABS-CBN show, '' Sa Dulo Ng Walang Hanggan'' in 2002. According to her, ''"acting for TV was really sweeter the second time around, because i found companions who are, with utmost respect to craft, knowing they also came from theater..."''. Following that, she was cast as Rowena in a launching television series of now Philippines Queen of Comedy Ai-Ai delas Alas, Ang Tanging Ina produced by ABS-CBN in 2003. In the same year, she reprised her role at the show's movie version produced by Star Cinema. She became famous in television through her role as crazy woman named "Lorelie" in a fantasy series, ''Marina'' starring Claudine Barretto. She was also cast in films such as '' Lastikman'' and ''Malikmata''.

2004-09: ''Kimmy Dora'' and numerous films and awards

Domingo became known as a sidekick of the Philippines' Queen of Comedy, Ai-Ai Delas Alas appearing again on the latter's film, Volta in 2004. The next year, she appeared on three films, as Tacing in Star Cinema's Can This Be Love, VIVA Films' ''Purita'' and on a cameo role in Seiko Films' ''Bikini Open''. She was cast as Sister Clara, a nun in an adapted series Kampanerang Kuba and also joined Eula Valdez and Jean Garcia on hosting a reality cooking show, ''Makuha Ka sa Tikim'' in 2005. Domingo achieved breakthrough in 2006 starring on six films from different production outfits. She appeared as Tina on a film '' D' Lucky Ones'', and as Dora on You Are The One both produced by Star Cinema. She also had major roles on Regal Films's ''Kapag Tumibok ang Puso'' and on the "LRT" episode of her first Metro Manila Film Festival film, '' Shake, Rattle and Roll 8''. She also starred on a horror film, '' TxT'' as Aling Kuring. Domingo became an award-winning actress in 2007 winning "Best Supporting Actress" at the 33rd Metro Manila Film Festival through her role in Bahay Kubo: A Pinoy Mano Po! starring the Philippines Diamond Star, Maricel Soriano. She starred on a total of 10 films in 2007, including her Cinemalaya entry "Pisay" and Seiko Films' "Foster Child" which gave Domingo two Best Supporting Actress awards at the 6th Gawad Tanglaw in 2008. She also appeared on comedy films, including her reunion with Ai-Ai Delas Alas in ''Pasukob'' and '' Ang Cute Ng Ina Mo''. Some of her films in 2007 also include '' Apat Dapat, Dapat Apat'' with three other comedians, Candy Pangilinan, Pokwang and Rufa Mae Quinto