Kathryn Bernardo

Kathryn Chandria Manuel Bernardo (born March 26, 1996) is a Filipino actress. Known for her work in mainstream productions, she has starred in three of the highest-grossing Filipino films of all time; The Hows of Us, Hello, Love, Goodbye (2019), and Hello, Love, Again (2024). Her accolades include a Seoul International Drama Award, an Asian World Film Festival Award, two FAMAS Awards, and 14 Box Office Entertainment Awards.

Born in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, Bernardo began her career as a child actress in the 2000s and rose to prominence for her role as one of the title characters in Mara Clara (2010). She gained wider audience for her portrayal of a lost princess in the romantic drama Princess and I (2012), the first of several collaborations with actor Daniel Padilla. Later that year, she played a young embalmer in the supernatural horror Pagpag: Siyam na Buhay, earning a nomination for the Metro Manila Film Festival Award for Best Actress. Bernardo achieved further commercial success through a series of romantic films, including The Hows of Us (2018), for which she won the Star Award for Movie Actress of the Year.

For her portrayal of a struggling domestic worker in the romantic drama Hello, Love, Goodbye (2019), she received nominations for the Luna Award and Gawad Urian for Best Actress. She later explored roles in other genres, starring opposite Dolly de Leon in the black comedy A Very Good Girl (2023), which earned her the FAMAS Award for Best Actress. Forbes Asia named her one of the most influential people in Asia-Pacific.

Early life and education Kathryn Chandria Manuel Bernardo was born on March 26, 1996 in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. She is the youngest of four siblings and was raised by her parents, Luzviminda and Teodore Bernardo.

Before her acting debut in 2003, Bernardo attended Flowerlane Montessori Children's House in Cabanatuan and later OB Montessori Center in Quezon City. Due to her busy schedule, she joined UST Angelicum College's homeschooling program in 2011. While pursuing a marketing degree at Enderun Colleges, she had to pause her studies because of scheduling conflicts with her television series Got to Believe. As of 2021, she expressed her desire to earn a college degree in marketing or communication arts.

Career 2003–2011: Early career and breakthrough Bernardo began acting in 2003, she appeared as the young Cielo in ABS-CBN's It Might Be You. In 2006, she had her first main role in the TV series Super Inggo, playing Maya, the love interest of the main character. Afterwards, she appeared in various ABS-CBN shows, including Krystala and Vietnam Rose, before joining the children sketch comedy show Goin' Bulilit.

As a child actress, Bernardo played the roles of young Victoria in ABS-CBN's Magkaribal and young Jenny in GMA's Endless Love, and both shows premiered on June 28, 2010.

Her breakthrough role came when she bagged the leading role of Mara David in the remake of 1992 drama series Mara Clara. The series was a smashing hit and solidified her reputation as a rising actress. Following the success of Mara Clara series, Bernardo starred in the teen-oriented show Growing Up, where she played Ella, a 15-year-old girl living with her single mother.

Bernardo's film career started in 2003 appearing in a cameo role as young lupe in the movie Lupe: A Seaman's Wife. The following year, she was cast in the superhero comedy film Gagamboy and played the role of Tsoknat, directed by Erik Matti. However, she gained wider prominence in the family drama movie Way Back Home directed by Jerry Lopez Sineneng which she starred alongside Mara Clara co-star Julia Montes in 2011. In the same year, she joined the cast in the horror film Shake, Rattle & Roll 13, her performance in the movie was received with positive reviews from critics.

2012–2023: Partnership with Daniel Padilla

After the success of Mara Clara, Bernardo further rose to prominence in the top-rating primetime drama series Princess and I, co-starred alongside Daniel Padilla and Enrique Gil. In the series, she played the titular role of Mikay/Princess Areeyah. The show was notable for being the first Philippine series filmed in Bhutan, earning acclaimed for its grand production. Later that year, Bernardo and Padilla joined the ensemble cast of the romantic-comedy film 24/7 in Love and the comedy-parody film Sisterakas alongside Vice Ganda which was an official entry to 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival.

Dubbed as KathNiel, their first starring film as a tandem was in the coming-of-age romantic comedy film Must Be... Love, which was released in March 2013. In August of that year, they paired up in the television series Got to Believe, which sustained high ratings in its entire run. In December 2013, they starred in the horror film Pagpag which was an entry to the 39th Metro Manila Film Festival. Their collaboration continued with the successful film adaptation of She's Dating the Gangster in July 2014, which was one of the highest-grossing films of the year. Bernardo and Padilla received stars on the Eastwood Walk of Fame in Quezon City, a recognition of their contributions to Philippine entertainment industry in December 2014.

Over the years, Bernardo and Padilla collaborated on several successful films and television series. They teamed up in the 2015 film Crazy Beautiful You, followed by the 2016 film Barcelona: A Love Untold, which became the second highest-grossing film of that year. For the first time, Bernardo received her Box Office Queen title in Barcelona: A Love Untold at the 48th Box Office Entertainment Awards in 2017. Their partnership continued in Can't Help Falling in Love in 2017. All of these films achieved significant box office success.

On television, they starred together in the 2015 remake of Pangako Sa 'Yo. They continued their partnership on the small screen in the fantasy series La Luna Sangre in 2017.

In 2018, Bernardo made history as the first Filipino actress to reach the local box office of pesos mark in The Hows of Us alongside Padilla. For her performance, she won her first Best Actress award at the 35th PMPC Star Awards for Movies and at the 2019 EDDYS Award. The next year, she achieved this box office milestone again in Hello, Love, Goodbye, with GMA actor Alden Richards. The film was commercially successful as it grossed worldwide; breaking box office records in the Philippines and overseas. The movie held the record of being the highest-grossing Filipino film of all time for more than four years (2019–2024). In these two successful movies, Bernardo received the Phenomenal Box Office Star awards twice at the Box Office Entertainment Awards for two consecutive years (2019-2020) and she also won Film Actress of the Year award in 2020.

In 2022, Bernardo reunited with Padilla in the television series 2 Good 2 Be True, marking their final project together before their eventual break-up in 2023. She was hailed as the Outstanding Asian Star at the 18th Seoul International Drama Awards.

2023–present: Critical acclaim and continued success In 2023, Bernardo starred in A Very Good Girl, her first solo film in several years, alongside Dolly de Leon. For her performance, she earned her first Best Actress Award at the 72nd FAMAS Awards in 2024. Internationally, she also won the National Winner Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Asian Academy Creative Awards. In that same year, she regained the Box Office Queen title for the second time in the 52nd GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Awards.

After five years, Bernardo reunited with Alden Richards in Hello, Love, Again, the sequel of their 2019 film Hello, Love, Goodbye. The film was commercially successful worldwide becoming the first Filipino film to gross over . She was honored with the Star Rising Leopard Award at the 10th Asian World Film Festival in November 2024.

In 2025, she returned to television as one of the judges for the seventh season of Pilipinas Got Talent.

In August 2025, Bernardo was announced to star in a new television project under Dreamscape Entertainment. She would be working with James Reid for the very first time. Someone, Someday is a romantic drama series that premiered in July 2026. Bernardo plays the lead character Billy Cariño, a young businesswoman serving as the chief executive officer (CEO) of a fictional dating app.

Personal life Bernardo was raised as a member of Iglesia ni Cristo. In 2016, she reportedly became a born-again Christian.

In 2018, Bernardo confirmed her long-term relationship with actor Daniel Padilla, which began on May 25, 2012. On November 30, 2023, the pair announced the end of their relationship.

Since April 2024, she has owned a house in Antipolo.

Business ventures In 2017, Bernardo launched her nail salon business, KathNails by KCMB, which has eight branches across the Philippines.

In 2019, Bernardo and her partner at the time, Daniel Padilla, opened their first business venture together, a barbershop named the Barbero Blues, located in front of Kathnails by KCMB, Bernardo's nail salon.

In 2020, Bernardo, a self-proclaimed foodie, tried her luck in the food business by starting a rice meal take-out franchise, Rice in a Box, which has over 100 franchises across the Philippines under the Binondo Food Group, owned by Lester Pimentel, the action movie director that Bernardo had worked with during her La Luna Sangre series.

In 2022, she opened another nail salon, The Glow Up Lounge, which has five branches nationwide.

She co-founded a boutique hotel, Isla Amara, in El Nido, Palawan in 2022, alongside actor Piolo Pascual and other partners.

In September 2025, together with her family, Bernardo launched a new business venture, EMPOLO MNL, a fashion sanitary ware brand from Germany. The company recently celebrated the grand opening of its new branch in Greenhills, San Juan, with Bernardo and her family in attendance. The brand focuses on precision, purity, and design for modern living spaces.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2003 Lupe: A Seamans Wife young Lupe 2004 Gagamboy Tsoknat 2005 Nasaan Ka Man young Pilar 2006 Tatlong Baraha Inah Valiente 2008 Supahpapalicious Athena Cameo 2011 Way Back Home Joanna Santiago / Ana Bartolome Shake, Rattle & Roll 13 Lucy Segment: "Parola" 2012 24/7 in Love Jane Dela Cuesta Sisterakas Katherine "Kathy" Maningas 2013 Must Be... Love Patricia "Patchot" Espinosa Pagpag: Siyam na Buhay Leni dela Torre 2014 She's Dating the Gangster Athena Dizon / Kelay Dizon 2015 Crazy Beautiful You Jacqueline "Jackie" Serrano 2016 Barcelona: A Love Untold Mia Angela Dela Torre / Celine Antipala 2017 Can't Help Falling in Love Gabriela "Gab" Benedictos Dela Cuesta Gandarrapiddo: The Revenger Squad Chino's love interest Cameo 2018 The Hows of Us Georgina "George" Reyes Fourth Highest Grossing Filipino Film of All Time Three Words to Forever Tin Andrada 2019 Hello, Love, Goodbye Joy Marie Fabregas Third Highest Grossing Filipino Film of All Time 2023 A Very Good Girl Philomena "Philo" Angeles / Mercy Novela 2024 Hello, Love, Again Joy Marie Fabregas Sequel to Hello, Love, Goodbye Highest Grossing Filipino Film of All Time

Television Year Title Role Notes 2003 It Might Be You young Cielo San Carlos Special participation Sana'y Wala Nang Wakas young Shane Diwata 2004 SCQ Reload Ok-Ako JobelleMagpakailanmanyoung GraceEpisode: "Tagumpay sa Kabila ng Lahat" (The Grace Padaca Story) Krystala Bulinggit 2005 Vietnam Rose young Carina Mojica dela Cerna Maalaala Mo Kaya Episode: "Fried Chicken" 2005–2008 Goin' Bulilit Herself 2006 Gulong ng Palad young Mimi Sandoval Extended cast Komiks Presents: Agua Bendita young Agua Cristi / Bendita Cristi Komiks Presents: Bandanang Itim Juliana Super Inggo Maya Guevarra Maalaala Mo Kaya young Mayor Lina Bagasina Episode: "Palaisdaan" 2007 Pangarap na Bituin young Chorva Ayala Gomez Prinsesa ng Banyera young Mayumi Burgos Special participation Maalaala Mo Kaya Episode: "Banyera" young Chippy Impreso Episode: "Airport" 2008 Zorayda Episode: "Bracelet" 2009 Your Song Presents: You Know It's Christmas Stephanie Maalaala Mo Kaya Nympha Episode: "Blusa" Episode: "Karnabal" Super Inggo at ang Super Tropa Maya Guevarra Voice only 2010 Shout Out! Herself Co-host Endless Love young Jenny Dizon / Jenny Cruz Special participation Magkaribal young Victoria / Anna Special participation Mara Clara Mara del Valle Lead role 2011 Wansapanataym: Apir Disapir Jenny Growing Up Mikaella "Ella" Dimalanta Lead role 2012 Maalaala Mo Kaya Dang Episode: "Ensaymada" 2012–2013 Princess and I Maria Mikaela "Mikay" dela Rosa / Princess Areeyah Rinpoche Lead role 2013–2014 Got to Believe Cristina Carlotta "Chichay" Tampipi Lead role 2014 Be Careful with My Heart young Felicidad Special participation Wansapanataym: Puppy ko si Papi Iris 2015 Maalaala Mo Kaya Daisy May Ravelo Torres Episode: "Parol" 2015–2016 Pangako Sa 'Yo Yna Macaspac / Maria Amor de Jesus Lead role 2017–2018 La Luna Sangre Malia Rodriguez Lead role 2022 2 Good 2 Be True Alisson "Ali" Fajardo Lead role 2025 Pilipinas Got Talent Herself Judge (season 7)2026 Someone, Someday Benilda "Billy" Cariño Lead role

Web series Year Title Role 2020 The House Arrest of Us Queencess "Q" Capili

Dubbing Title Role Dubbing actor Enchanted Giselle Amy Adams

Discography Album Year Album Title Details Certification 2014 Kathryn Release date: November 26, 2014 Producer: Roque Balaoro Santos Record label: Star Music PARI: Platinum

Singles Year Track Album Details 2012 "Mula Noon Hanggang Ngayon" Love Songs from Princess and I Original artist: Lea Salonga Related work: Princess and I Release date: June 15, 2012 Label: Star Music 2013 "Pagdating ng Panahon"Got to Believe (The Official Soundtrack) Related work: Got to Believe Release date: December 10, 2013 Label: Star Music "Got to Believe in Magic"(with Daniel Padilla)2014 "PinaSmile"(with Daniel Padilla) ABS-CBN Summer Station ID Directed by: Peewee Gonzales and Paolo Ramos Producer: Christian Faustino Studio: ABS-CBN "You Don't Know Me"Kathryn Words & Music by: Marion Aunor Release date: December 24, 2014 Studio: Star Music "Ikaw Na Nga Yata" Related work: Bel Ami Studio: ABS-CBN "Mr. DJ" Release date: March 8, 2015 Studio: Star Music 2017 "Share The Love"(with Daniel Padilla, Janella Salvador and Elmo Magalona) Written by: Robert Labayen, Angela Suarez Music by: Lloyd Oliver "Tiny" Corpuz Produced by: Raizo Chabeldin

Music video appearances Year Title Performer Director 2020 Sa Susunod Na Habang Buhay Ben&Ben Jorel Lising

Awards and nominations

In December 2014, Kathryn Bernardo along with 23 other actors, was given her star at the Eastwood City Walk of Fame, the Philippine version of Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In October 2025, Madame Tussauds Hong Kong revealed in a social media post that Bernardo will be having her wax figure in their museum. It was launched on July 9, 2026.