Maricel Soriano Biography: Husband, Ethnicity, Awards, Net Worth, Movies, Parents, Religion, Height, Tv Shows

Maria Cecilia Dador Soriano, universally known as Maricel Soriano, is a Filipino actress, television host, and producer who has reigned as one of the country’s most enduring and versatile entertainers for over five decades.

Dubbed the “Diamond Star” by the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences and “Taray Queen” for her sharp comic timing and dramatic intensity, she rose from child wonder to box-office queen in the 1980s and 1990s and remains a beloved icon across generations for her memorable performances in film, television, and theater.

Profile

• Full Name: Maria Cecilia Dador Soriano
• Stage Name: Maricel Soriano
• Born: 25, February 1965
• Age: 60 years old
• Birthplace: Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines
• Nationality: Filipino
• Occupation: Actress, Television Host, Producer, Entrepreneur
• Height: 1.63 m
• Parents: Victor Soriano and Rosalinda Dador Martinez
• Siblings: Bec-Bec Soriano, Mel Martinez, Mykee Martinez
• Spouse: Edu Manzano (m. 1989–1991)
• Children: Marron Soriano, Tien Manzano Soriano
• Relationship: Divorced
• Net Worth: $12 million

Early Life and Education

Maria Cecilia Dador Soriano was born on February 25, 1965, in Pasay City, the second of four children of Victor Soriano, a driver, and Rosalinda Dador Martinez, a housewife. She grew up in modest circumstances in Manila and was discovered at age six while accompanying her older brother Bec-Bec to an audition.

She began acting professionally at seven under Regal Films matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde and quickly became one of the busiest child stars of the 1970s. Soriano attended Trinity University of Asia for college but left early to focus on her booming career. She is of pure Filipino ethnicity and a practicing Roman Catholic.

Career

Maricel Soriano started as a child actress in the early 1970s, appearing in countless dramas and comedies under Regal Films, often paired with fellow child stars William Martinez and Alfie Anido. By her teens she had transitioned into lead roles, earning her first acting award at the 1974 Bacolod City Film Festival.

Her breakthrough as a dramatic actress came with the 1983 film Underage opposite Snooky Serna, followed by a string of blockbuster comedies and melodramas throughout the 1980s with top leading men such as William Martinez, Gabby Concepcion, and Rene Requintas. She dominated the box-office and became the first Filipino actress to reach 100 films before age 30.

The 1990s and 2000s saw Soriano evolve into one of the country’s most awarded performers, winning Best Actress honors from FAMAS, Gawad Urian, Luna, and the Asian Film Awards for intense roles in films like Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin (1993), Separada (1994), Dahas (1995), and Inagaw Mo ang Lahat sa Akin (1995).

She also ruled television, hosting variety shows and starring in landmark drama series such as Kaya ni Mister, Kaya ni Misis, Vietnam Rose, and Florinda.

After a brief hiatus in the early 2000s, she made a triumphant comeback with ABS-CBN’s Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real (2014) and Inang Yaya (2006), and later moved to GMA Network for successful primetime shows such as Ang Probinsyano (guest role) and TODA One I Love (2019).

Maricel Soriano continues to be one of the most respected and bankable talents in Philippine show business. She has received lifetime achievement awards from FAMAS, PMPC, Gawad Urian, and the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, and was honored as one of the “15 Best Actresses of All Time” by YES! magazine.

Beyond acting, she runs a successful production company (Excellent Productions), owns several real estate properties, and is active in charity work through the Diamond Star Foundation.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @maria.celiasoriano
• Facebook Handle: Maricel Soriano

Personal Life

Maricel Soriano was married to actor Edu Manzano from 1989 to 1991; their son, Tien Manzano Soriano, was born in 1989. She also adopted a son, Marron Soriano, in 1992. She has remained single since the annulment and has spoken openly about choosing motherhood and career over remarriage.

Known for her fierce protectiveness of her children’s privacy, she raised both sons away from the spotlight. Her niece Meryll Soriano, daughter of her brother Bec-Bec, is also a well-known actress.

Despite her glamorous image, Soriano is known among peers for her straightforward personality, generosity, and deep loyalty to family and longtime staff.

Filmography

• Underage (1983)
• Inday Bote (1985)
• The Graduates (1986)
• Taray at Teroy (1988)
• Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin (1993)
• Separada (1994)
• Dahas (1995)
• Inagaw Mo ang Lahat sa Akin (1995)
• Abandonada (2000)
• Soltera (1999)
• Mila (2001)
• Inang Yaya (2006)
• A Love Untold (2016)
• My 2 Mommies (2018)
• Revirginized (2021)
• In His Mother’s Eyes (2023)

Net Worth

Maricel Soriano has an estimated net worth of $12 million, built from decades of blockbuster films, high-rated television shows, lucrative endorsement deals, real estate investments in Metro Manila and provinces, and income from her production company. She is widely regarded as one of the wealthiest and most financially savvy actresses in the Philippines.