Snooky Serna Biography: Ethnicity, Awards, Net Worth, Age, Height, Movies, Real Name, Instagram, Husband

Maria Milagros Sumayao Serna, professionally known as Snooky Serna, is a multi-awarded Filipino actress who has been active in Philippine show business for over five decades.

Discovered as a child star at age six, she rose to prominence in the 1980s as one of the country’s most bankable leading ladies and earned the moniker “Brooke Shields of the Philippines” for her delicate beauty.

Profile

• Full Name: Maria Milagros Sumayao Serna
• Stage Name: Snooky Serna
• Born: 4, April 1966
• Age: 59 years old
• Birthplace: Manila, Philippines
• Nationality: Filipino
• Occupation: Actress
• Height: 1.63 m
• Parents: Von Serna and Mila Ocampo
• Siblings: Anton Serna
• Spouse: Ricardo Cepeda (m. 1992–2006), Nino Mendoza (m. 2006)
• Children: Sachi Cepeda, Samantha Cepeda
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $8 million to $10 million

Early Life and Education

Maria Milagros Sumayao Serna was born on April 4, 1966, in Manila, Philippines, to actor-producer Von Serna and former actress Mila Ocampo, who was part of the first batch of Sampaguita Pictures stars.

She has one brother, actor Anton Serna. Snooky grew up in the entertainment industry, entering show business at age six. She studied at St. Joseph’s College of Quezon City and later took up Mass Communications at the University of the Philippines Open University. She is of Filipino ethnicity with Spanish and Chinese ancestry and was raised Roman Catholic.

Career

Snooky Serna began her career as a child actress in 1972, appearing in films such as Wanted: Wives and Maalaala Mo Kaya: Part 2. She became a household name in the early 1980s through a string of blockbuster hits opposite leading men like Gabby Concepcion, William Martinez, and Albert Martinez. Her iconic fantasy films, including Underage (1980), Bata Pa si Sabel (1981), Summer Love (1982), and Captain Barbell (1986), made her the undisputed queen of the genre.

She earned her first FAMAS Best Actress award for the dramatic film Bata Pa si Sabel at just 15 years old, becoming one of the youngest recipients in FAMAS history.

Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, Snooky proved her dramatic range in critically acclaimed films such as Mother Dear (1982), To Love Again (1983), Daddy’s Little Darling (1984), and Hihintayin Kita sa Langit (1991), earning multiple FAMAS, FAP, and Gawad Urian nominations and wins.

After a brief hiatus in the early 2000s, she made a strong comeback on television via ABS-CBN and GMA Network, appearing in top-rating dramas such as Sa Puso Ko Iingatan Ka, Habang May Buhay, Kung Mahawi Man ang Ulap, and Marimar.

Snooky Serna remains active in the industry, regularly appearing in television series and independent films while being honored with lifetime achievement awards from various award-giving bodies. With over 150 film credits and countless television appearances, she is widely regarded as one of the finest actresses of her generation and a true icon of Philippine cinema.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @snookyserna
• Facebook Handle: Snooky Serna

Personal Life

Snooky Serna was married to actor Ricardo Cepeda from 1992 to 2006; they have two daughters, Sachi and Samantha. She married businessman Nino Mendoza in 2006 and the couple has kept a low-profile but stable marriage.

Known for her graceful demeanor and strong family values, Snooky has often spoken about overcoming personal challenges, including financial difficulties in the past, through faith and hard work.

Filmography

• Bata Pa si Sabel (1981)
• To Love Again (1983)
• Daddy’s Little Darling (1984)
• Captain Barbell (1986)
• Hihintayin Kita sa Langit (1991)
• Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow (1992)
• Mumbaki (1996)
• Sa Pusod ng Dagat (1998)
• Bata, Bata… Paano Ka Ginawa? (1998)
• Nasaan Ka Maruja? (2000)
• Matahar (2013)
• Coming Home (2021)

Net Worth

Snooky Serna has an estimated net worth of $8 million to $10 million. Her wealth comes from decades of top-billed film and television projects, endorsements during her peak years as one of the country’s most popular actresses, real-estate investments, and income from her family-owned businesses in Quezon City.