Erich Gonzales

Erika Chryselle Gonzales Gancayco-Lorenzo (born September 20, 1990), better known by her stage name Erich Gonzales (; ), is a Filipino actress. She is a contract artist of ABS-CBN's Star Magic. She started her showbiz career at the age of 14, as a contestant of the reality talent search Star Circle Quest. She came to prominence in her lead role Katorse.

After winning Star Circle Quest, she changed her last name from Gancayco to Gonzales, her mother's maiden name. Due to the start of her entertainment career, Erich completed her high school years at the ABS-CBN Distance Learning Center and attended college at the Trinity University of Asia, where she majored in mass communication.

Early life The youngest of three siblings, Gonzales was born in Cebu City and raised in Davao City.

Career 2004–2008: Star Circle Quest and supporting roles Her career began when she won as Grand Questor in the second season of the reality talent search Star Circle Quest in 2005, and later becoming a part of ABS-CBN's home-based training and management program, Star Magic after her win. Erich became a familiar face as she appeared in numerous shows and dramas as a supporting actress, such as Dorina in the hit phenomenon TV series Mga Anghel na Walang Langit. She also starred in the teen-oriented show Abt Ur Luv as Waling-Waling and as Ella in the drama series Pieta. She then showed her versatility in acting when she played Camille in the drama series Sana Maulit Muli opposite to Gerald Anderson with Kim Chiu as the supporting cast and antagonist later in the end became kind throughout every episode.

2009: Katorse Gonzales rose to fame in 2009 when she played the protagonist, a teenage mother in the TV adaptation of the 1980 film Katorse, alongside Enchong Dee, Ejay Falcon, and Xian Lim. The series became a top rater and was critically acclaimed, catapulting Erich to stardom, earning her the title Breakthrough Star of 2009 by the Sunday entertainment talk show, The Buzz.

In the same year, she made her film debut in her first digital movie (Indie film) Paano Ko Sasabihin? with her perennial partner, Enchong Dee. The film became an official entry to the 2009 Cinema One Originals Film Festival and was a recipient of several awards in the festival.

2010–2011: Career expansion In 2010, following the success of Katorse, she landed her second lead role in the TV series Tanging Yaman alongside her Katorse co-stars Enchong Dee and Ejay Falcon. The series was one of ABS-CBN's offerings for the 60th Celebration of Filipino Soap Operas. While the series was still airing, Erich had begun working for her third series project, Magkaribal. The show was highly acclaimed and is now regarded as Philippines' First Fashionserye (first fashion TV series).

After an impressive back-to-back hit TV series, Gonzales signed an exclusive two-year contract with Star Cinema, poising her to prove her box-office draw. Later that year, the hit love team of Erich and Enchong starred in their first mainstream movie, I Do under Star Cinema. She also became the lead cast of the indie film Noy with Coco Martin, which became the Philippines' entry in the 83rd Academy Awards in Best Foreign Language Film category.

In the same year, Gonzales was also given the opportunity to be one of the main hosts in the youth variety show, Shoutout!, which featured teen stars.

The Filipino adaptation of Maria la del Barrio was the highlight for Erich in 2011. The series became a Twitter trending royalty as it trended locally and worldwide on and off throughout its run. It was also extended twice as its ratings remained consistently high.

In December 2011, her indie film, Pinta*Kasi was finally screened in theaters as part of the 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival. The film won Best Picture in the New Wave Section and Best Actor (same category) for co-star, JM de Guzman. The said film was also invited to Beijing and Hawaiian film festivals for its "strength of word of mouth buzz and its hip hop elements."

In October 2011, she starred with Thai actor Mario Maurer in the film Suddenly It's Magic.

In March 2017, Gonzales was welcomed as the newest brand ambassador for MySlim, a popular slimming drink in the Philippines.

2012–present: Successful movies and Juan dela Cruz As Maria la del Barrio ended with a high note in March 2012, Erich's other indie movie was released. She starred in a horror movie alongside Derek Ramsay, titled Corazon: Ang Unang Aswang and opened to a very warm audience reception. Earning seven million pesos on its first day, the movie became the Highest Grossing Digital Film. As a result, Star Cinema crowned Erich with the title Philippine Box Office Queen for Digital Independent Film.

In May 2012, Gonzales began working on her biggest project of the year, Suddenly It's Magic, a film with Thai actor Mario Maurer under Star Cinema. With the collaboration of Filipino and Thai production teams, actors, and actresses, the film is the first Filipino-Thai movie created between the two countries. The official movie was released on October 31, 2012, in the Philippines, March 14, 2013, in Thailand, and March 28, 2013, in Cambodia.

The latter part of 2012 was a hectic one for Erich. She made her debut appearance in Canada as part of the TFC Liga Kapamilya Basketball Finals at the end of August. She wowed the crowds in Oshawa, Ontario and Burnaby, British Columbia. Then, on November 3, she entertained Kapamilyas in Los Angeles for the Star Magic 20 Tour. Erich capped her year with the release of her fourth indie film, Mariposa: Sa Hawla ng Gabi with director Richard V. Somes.

After having a successful love team with Enchong Dee and team-up with Mario Maurer, she appears once again in the weeknight primetime slot, as she becomes part of the biggest television series of ABS-CBN for 2013. Titled Juan dela Cruz, she is paired up once again with Noy co-star and Prince of Teleserye Coco Martin as his leading lady. The show immediately became number one in national TV ratings during its pilot episode and is expected to continue throughout its run.

In 2014, Gonzales and Enchong Dee had a reunion movie project with JC de Vera in Once a Princess directed by Laurice Guillen. She played her most challenging role to show her versatility as the second wife in the upcoming Primetime teleserye hit Koreanovela-remake series Two Wives, opposite to Jason Abalos, alongside Kaye Abad, Patrick Garcia and Rayver Cruz. After the movie Once a Princess, she rejoined JC de Vera in MMFF's Shake, Rattle & Roll XV: "Ahas", playing a twin-snake in a mall.

In 2015, Gonzales had a special role on the TV series, Forevermore as Alexandra "Alex" Pante.

In 2016, Gonzales starred in the daytime series Be My Lady opposite Daniel Matsunaga. In 2018, she led the cast of the TV series The Blood Sisters where she played three different characters, triplets in the show.

Gonzales returned to television in 2021 in the revenge drama TV series La Vida Lena.

Personal life Gonzales previously dated actor and Be My Lady co-star Daniel Matsunaga in 2015. The couple broke up after less than two years.

She married long-time boyfriend, businessman Mateo Lorenzo in March 2022.

Filmography Film

Television Year Title Role Notes Source 2004 Star Circle National Teen Quest Herself 2004 Ok Fine 'To Ang Gusto Nyo Erich 2005 ASAP Fanatic Herself/Performer 2005 Mga Anghel na Walang Langit Dorina Rodriguez 2005 M.R.S. Herself/hostess/Presenter 2005–2006 Carlo J. Caparas' Ang Panday Present Violeta Golda 2006 Maalaala Mo Kaya Con-con Hernandez Episode: "Regalo" 2006 Calla Lily Diday Ramirez 2007 Sana Maulit Muli Camille Soriano Supporting Role / Antagonist 2007 Star Magic Presents: Abt Ur Luv, Lyf 2 Malory "Waling-Waling" Aguilar 2007 Maalaala Mo Kaya Suzette Episode: "Feeding Bottle" 2007 Super Inggo 1.5: Ang Bagong Bangis Maeboo / Mariang Buhay 2007 Komiks Presents: Pedro Penduko at ang mga Engkantao Marlene 2008 Your Song Mia Episode: "Bakit Labis Kitang Minahal"2008 Your Song Elizabeth Episode: "Muntik Na Kitang Minahal" 2008 Kung Fu Kids Nicole "Nick" Magalang 2008 Maalaala Mo Kaya Nelyia Episode: "Flowers" 2008 Ligaw na Bulaklak Fatima 2008–2009 Carlo J. Caparas' Pieta Ella Torres 2009–2018 ASAP Herself/hostess/Performer 2009 Maynila Sara Episode: "Sweet Melody" First GMA Network appearance 2009 Midnight DJ Chicklet Season 3 First TV5 appearance 2009 Maalaala Mo Kaya May Anne Episode: "Pansit" 2009 Agimat: Ang Mga Alamat ni Ramon Revilla Presents: Tiagong Akyat Cornelia Verde 2009–2010 Katorse Elena "Nene" Reyes Lead Role / Protagonist 2010 Your Song Nurse Episode: "Love Me, Love You" 2010 Tanging Yaman Josefina "Fina" Policarpio Lead Role / Protagonist 2010 Maalaala Mo Kaya Vangie Episode: "Gitara" 2010 Magkaribal Chloe Abella Main Role 2010 Wansapanataym Venus Episode: "Bandanang Itim" 2010 Shoutout! Herself/hostess 2011 Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin Young Lora Sebastiano Special Participation 2011 Maalaala Mo Kaya Grace Episode: "Toga" 2011–2015 Kris TV Herself/co-hostess 2011–2012 Maria la del Barrio Maria Hernandez Lead Role / Protagonist 2012 Maalaala Mo Kaya Merlie Episode: "Apoy" 2012 TodaMax Herself 2012 Wansapanataym Jingle Cristobal Episode: "Jingle's Bell" 2013 Maalaala Mo Kaya Grace Poe-Llamanzares Episode: "Sanggol" 2013 Juan dela Cruz Rosario Galang-Dela Cruz Rosario Guerrero Lead Role / Protagonist 2014 Maalaala Mo Kaya Jessica Espiritu Episode: "Baston" 2014–2015 Two Wives Janine Arguello-Guevarra / Janine Arguello-Celdran Main Role / Antagonist 2015 Forevermore Alexandra "Alex" Pante Finale Special Participation 2015 Ipaglaban Mo! Christine Episode: "Nakaw na Sandali" 2016 Be My Lady Filipina "Pinang" Crisostomo-Oliviera Lead Role / Protagonist 2017 Ipaglaban Mo!PO3 Pia CapiliEpisode: "Espiya" 2017 Maalaala Mo Kaya Mae Episode: "Singsing" 2017 Maalaala Mo Kaya Vin-zel Episode: "Stroller Bag" 2018 FPJ's Ang Probinsyano Princess Eliza 2018 The Blood Sisters Erika Castillo / Erika Bermudez Almeda/ Almira / Erika Magtibay Almeda Dra. Carrie Ann Bermudez Almeda / Agnes / Carrie Ann Almeda-Alipio Agatha Magtibay Almeda / Agatha Bermudez Almeda Lead Triple Role 2020–2022 La Vida Lena Magdalena "Magda / Lena" Narciso-Cabrera Lead Role / Main Villainous Protagonist

Awards and nominations