Biography
Rivera was born in Madrid, Spain. Her father is a Spaniard named Francisco Javier Alonso Gracia and her mother is a Filipina named Amalia Rivera. When her parents separated 2 years after her birth, Rivera and her mom left Spain and flew back to her mother's hometown in the Philippines.However, her mother had to leave to continue her work commitment abroad that she was sent to her maternal grandmother, Francisca Rivera in Bacoor, Cavite.

Rivera attended local private schools in Cavite including Saint Francis of Assisi College System where she spent her Elementary and High School years and De La Salle University-Dasmariñas for college. She had a 3-month practicum at the National Mental Hospital, after which she graduated with a degree in B.S. Psychology.


Acting career
Rivera left her hometown to pursue a career as a ramp and commercial model. Not long after, she landed an appearance on TV advertisements for Skin White Lotion and Sky Flakes crackers where she was seen by TAPE Inc.'s executive producer, Tony Tuviera. From then on, she starred in a series of afternoon soap operas for TAPE Inc. and GMA Network such as Kung Mamahalin Mo Lang Ako, Agawin Mo Man Ang Lahat and Pinakamamahal along with Oyo Boy Sotto as her main leading man. GMA Network then cast her into mother roles for the afternoon Philippine-Malaysian drama Muli with Alfred Vargas and Super Twins.


 MariMar
Rivera rose to fame when she won an audition for the title role of MariMar, the remake of the Mexican telenovela which starred Thalía. Before the auditions, Rivera knew little about the character as she was only 11 years old when the original soap opera aired on Philippine TV. Rivera then took the time out to do a research about the role over the internet.[8] Other actresses who took part on the auditions were Nadine Samonte, Katrina Halili, Jennylyn Mercado, Karylle, Jewel Mische, and Bianca King.

MariMar premiered on August 13, 2007 with a 36.6% rating. Her participation in the show led her to becoming a household name among the Filipino audiences that some would refer to her as Marimar/Bella even when she's out of her character, and with critics from the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation, Inc. honoring her as Phenomenal TV Star in the 38th Box-Office Entertainment Awards.

After MariMar, Rivera plays the role of Dyesebel. Dingdong Dantes, who was her leading man in MariMar, pairs up with Rivera as Fredo. Marian Rivera plays as a beautiful young mermaid under the ocean. It aired on April 28, 2008.

Rivera will star Carlo J. Caparas' Ang Babaing Hinugot Sa Aking Tadyang to be shown on 2009 on GMA Network.


 Film career
In 2006, Rivera signed a contract for Regal Films that she was casted in the horror movie, Pamahiin along with Dennis Trillo and Iya Villania. The following year, she starred in two MMFF movie entries such as Bahay Kubo and Desperadas. In 2008, Rivera's starred her first leading lady movie with Richard Gutierrez in the hit blockbuster romantic-comedy My Best Friend's Girlfriend.

Marian is now set to do a movie with Dingdong Dantes and Iza Calzado, which is One True Love.

Controversy
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Rivera evolved from a YouTube video tagged "Marian Scandal". It was allegedly about the actress 'slapping' and shouting at a man in an incident during one of her shootings. Apparently, an unidentified man was apprehended by the actress for recording a video through a phone camera while at the set, resulting to a heated argument. In an interview about the said video, Rivera defended herself, to quote "Kahit payat at maliit ako, hindi ako papayag apihin. Caviteña ako, lalaban ako! Walang nang-aapi sa akin!" ("Even I'm slim and petite, I will not be oppressed. I'm a Caviteña, I will fight! No one can oppress me!"). Rivera claimed that the man had rudely responded to her with a raised voice when she initially 'teased' him to stop as recording was prohibited on the set, provoking her to defend herself. She denied that she was snobbish to him and no evidence on the said unedited video showed that she said any vulgar words or slapped the man.

Television
Year Title                                                                       Role                              Network
2005 Kung Mamahalin Mo Lang Ako                      Clarisse Galang         GMA Network
2006 Agawin Mo Man Ang Lahat                              Almira Alejandro         GMA Network
2006 Pinakamamahal                                               Carissa Crismundo   GMA Network
2007 Muli                                                                      Racquel Estadilla       GMA Network
2007 Super Twins                                                      Ester Paredes             GMA Network
2007 MariMar MariMar Perez/Bella Aldama/Marimar Aldama-Santibanez GMA Network
2008 Mars Ravelo's Dyesebel                  Dyesebel/Isabel, Cassandra  GMA Network
2009 Ang Babaing Hinugot sa aking Tadyang     Proserphine                 GMA Network
2009 Full House (Philippine TV Series)                Jessie                            GMA Network


Movies
Year      Title                                          Role
2005 Enteng Kabisote 2                    Alyssa
2006 Pamahiin                                    Becca
2007 Bahay Kubo                                Lily
2008 Desperadas                              Courtney
2008 My Best Friend's Girlfriend      Grace
2008 One True Love                           Joy
2008 Desperadas 2                           Courtney
2008 Shake Rattle & Roll X               Nieves


Discography

Dance album
Year        Album                                 Sales                                  Certification
2008 Marian Rivera Dance Hits    60,000                                 Double Platinum


Awards
Year           Award                                                     Category                                            Result
2006     20th PMPC Star Awards for Television  Best New Female TV Personality   Won
2006     FHM Philippines                 FHM Philippines Sexiest Women Ranked            38
2007 FHM Philippines FHM Philippines Sexiest Women Rank                                   24
2008 1st Annual Fil-Am Visionary Awards Favorite Television Actress Won
2008 4th USTV Students' Choice Awards Most Popular Actress in a Drama/Miniseries Won[
2008 38th Box-Office Entertainment Awards Most Promising Female Star Won
2008 38th Box-Office Entertainment Awards Phenomenal TV Star Won
2008 Maxim Magazine Hottest 100 Women Rank 2
2008 FHM Philippines FHM Philippines Sexiest Woman (Rank #1) Won
2008 Uno Magazine Awards Real Hottest Women Rank 7