Bela Padilla

In 2022, she made her directorial debut with the film 366, which she also starred in alongside Zanjoe Marudo and JC Santos, produced by Viva Films. Additionally, she wrote the screenplay for Joyce Bernal's film Last Night (2017).

• Name — Bela Padilla • Birth Name — Krista Elyse Hidalgo Sullivan • Born — 3 May 1991 • Birthplace — Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines • Citizenship — * Philippines • United Kingdom • Other Names — * Krista Valle • Krista Sullivan • Occupation — * Actress • television host • singer • director • writer • Years Active — 2007–present • Agent — * Star Magic (2007–2010; 2025–present) Sparkle (2010–2015) • Viva Artists Agency (2015–2025) • Family — Padilla family

Krista Elyse Hidalgo Sullivan was born to a British father, Cornelius Gary Sullivan, and a Filipina mother, Margarette "Meg" Cariño Hidalgo. Her father was divorced from his first wife. She has three elder half-siblings in England from her father's first marriage, as well as an older brother from both of her parents. She first attended a Montessori-style international school in Forbes Park, Makati, before attending the foreigners' class at Colegio San Agustin – Makati. Padilla took up journalism as an elective in senior high school. Padilla was a classmate of fellow actress Lovi Poe. Padilla's maternal grandmother is the sister of Eva Cariño-Padilla, wife of actor-director and former Camarines Norte governor Roy Padilla Sr. She is the niece, by second-degree consanguinity, of actors Rommel Padilla, Robin Padilla, and BB Gandanghari, and second cousin to RJ and Daniel Padilla (sons of Rommel), as well as Queenie and Kylie Padilla (daughters of Robin). She is a practicing Jehovah's Witness. Padilla's father, Cornelius, died in August 2023.

Padilla was discovered by ABS-CBN talent scout Jet Valle during one of his field trips. Valle introduced her to ABS-CBN, where she joined Star Magic Batch 15 and adopted the stage name "Krista Valle." Her debut television role came in 2007 in the teen drama series Star Magic Presents: Abt Ur Luv Ur Lyf 2. She later changed her stage name to "Krista Sullivan" when she transitioned to a freelance acting career. In 2009, she appeared in a minor role in the TV series Totoy Bato, and shortly after, she became a regular cast member of Lokomoko High on TV5. In 2010, Padilla left Star Magic, signed with manager Claire dela Fuente, and moved to GMA. With this move, she also adopted the name "Bela Padilla." She starred in the 2011 fantasy series Machete alongside Aljur Abrenica. That same year, she won the Miss Friendship and Media's Darling awards at the 2011 Asian Super Model Contest, held in Guilin and Nanning in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China. Padilla made headlines in 2012 when her FHM Philippines magazine cover for the March issue was pulled due to accusations of racism. Later that year, she starred in the titular role in the afternoon drama series Magdalena: Anghel sa Putikan. In 2013, she starred opposite Richard Gutierrez in the primetime series Love & Lies. After a return to ABS-CBN in 2015, Padilla joined the action-packed series FPJ's Ang Probinsyano alongside Coco Martin. Two years later, in 2017, she headlined the drama series My Dear Heart and starred in the romantic film 100 Tula Para Kay Stella, which became the highest-grossing film at the first Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino. She made her debut as a screenwriter in the film Last Night, which premiered on September 27, 2017, through Star Cinema. Padilla took the lead role in the 2019 crime drama series Sino ang Maysala?: Mea Culpa. She also starred in the Philippine adaptation of the Korean film Miracle in Cell No. 7, which was an official entry to the 2019 Metro Manila Film Festival. The film went on to earn ₱543 million at the box office, making it one of the highest-grossing Filipino films of all time. Padilla made her directorial debut with the drama film 366, which premiered on April 13, 2022, on Vivamax. Padilla also starred in the film opposite Zanjoe Marudo. In 2024, Padilla returned to television as a guest host on the noontime variety show It's Showtime. In October 2024, Padilla was confirmed to reprise her role in a sequel of 100 Tula Para Kay Stella, which was titled 100 Awit Para Kay Stella. The film premiered in September 2025.

In 2020, Padilla is a co-owner of the Seoul-based skincare company, Britory, with business partners DongWoo Kang and WonYoung Ryu. She launched her beauty business, BELA by Bela, which sells beauty products including lip tints, cheeks tints and lip balms in 2024.

Padilla holds dual Filipino and British citizenship, and has several paternal relatives based in London. On November 2021, she revealed that she had relocated to London. She attributed her move to be more productive during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to find a sense of security following the nonrenewal of ABS-CBN's franchise. Padilla was in a relationship with Swiss national Norman Bay. She first introduced him to the public in October 2020 through an Instagram post, in which she captioned, "the one I met in St. Gallen," in reference to her previous movie Meet Me in St. Gallen. In November 2023, she enrolled in an acting course in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. In January 2025, Padilla announced that she had moved back to the Philippines to resume working full-time as an actress, as well as resume scriptwriting. She later shared in August that she and Bay had mutually broken up, largely due to their long-distance relationship and her return to the Philippines; the two remained friends and Bay visited Padilla during the filming of 100 Awit Para Kay Stella. In November 2024, Padilla revealed that she has polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and hypothyroidism, having been diagnosed when she was 19 years old.

Key • Denotes shows that have not yet been aired Bela Padilla's television credits with year of release, title(s) and role • Year — Title — Role — Notes — Ref. Reference • 2008 — Star Magic Presents: Abt Ur Luv Ur Lyf 2 — Jo — Credited as "Krista Valle" • 2009 — Tayong Dalawa — Bar Girl • Carlo J. Caparas' Totoy Bato — Rain • Midnight DJ — Guest, Episode: "Higanti ng Kamatayan" • New Pangarap Kong Jackpot — Episode: "Sa Mundo ng Kahapon" Credited as "Krista Sullivan" • Lokomoko High — Herself / Various roles / Betty La Panget • Maalaala Mo Kaya — Pinky (teenage years) — Episode: "Kalapati" • Pinky (teenage) — Episode: "Makinilya" • Maynila — Isa — Episode: "Makinig Ka, Puso" • 2010 — Endless Love — Mayumi 'Yumi' Ramirez • 2011 — Pablo S. Gomez's Machete — Aginaya / Rosella • Maynila — Lea — Episode: "Love's Priority" • Sisid — Monique • 2012 — Hiram na Puso — Vanessa Saavedra / Kara Banaag • Bubble Gang — Herself - Various roles • Makapiling Kang Muli — Amber • 2012–2013 — Magdalena: Anghel sa Putikan — Magdalena "Lena" Fuentebella / Angela Natividad • 2013 — Love and Lies — Denise Salvador-Galvez • 2014 — Point of Entry — Analyn Ocampo • Sa Puso ni Dok — Dr. Gabrielle "Gab" Estrella • Magpakailanman — Andrea — Episode: "Nakakulong Ang Puso" • Mae — Episode: "Asawa Mo, Hiniram Ko" • Jessa — Episode: "Ang Nurse Na May Ikatlong Mata" • 2015–2016 — FPJ's Ang Probinsyano — Carmen Guzman-de Leon • 2016 — Ipaglaban Mo — Flora — Episode: "Sanggol" • Home Sweetie Home — Criselda — Guest • 2017 — My Dear Heart — Clara Estanislao-de Jesus • Maalaala Mo Kaya — Melanie — Episode: "Ice Candy" • 2018 — Karla — Episode: "Fireworks" • 2019 — Sino ang Maysala?: Mea Culpa — Julie Iris Miranda / Atty. Juris Agoncillo-Montelibano • 2023; 2024–present — It's Showtime — Herself / Host • 2024 — Pamilya Sagrado — Cristine Malonzo — Special Participation • 2025 — Maalaala Mo Kaya — Nadia — Episode: "Sim Card" • Episode: "Bintana" • 2026 — Blood vs Duty — Lara Angeles • Everybody, Sing! season 4 — Guest player

• Year — Title — Performer — Director — Ref. References • 2021 — Magpahinga — Ben&Ben — Jorel Lising

• Year — Work — Award — Category — Result — Ref. Reference(s) • 2013 — 10,000 Hours — Metro Manila Film Festival — Best Actress • 2014 — 12th Gawad Tanglaw — Best Supporting Actress • 30th PMPC Star Awards for Movies — Movie Supporting Actress of the Year • FAMAS Award — Best Supporting Actress • 2016 — Felix Manalo — 32nd PMPC Star Awards for Movies — Movie Supporting Actress of the Year • Female Face of the Night • FAMAS Award — Best Actress • FPJ's Ang Probinsyano — 6th EdukCircle Awards — Best Drama Actress of the Year (tied with Kim Chiu) • 2018 — 100 Tula Para Kay Stella — 5th Paragala: Central Luzon Media Awards — Best Actress in Film • 34th PMPC Star Awards for Movies — Movie Actress of the Year • 41st Gawad Urian — Best Actress • 2019 — Meet Me in St. Gallen — 42nd Gawad Urian — Best Actress • Sino ang Maysala?: Mea Culpa — 33rd PMPC Star Awards for TV — Best Drama Actress • 2020 — Seoul International Drama Awards (SDA) 2020 — Best Actress • Mañanita — 43rd Gawad Urian — Best Actress • Miracle in Cell No. 7 — Box Office Entertainment Awards — Movie Supporting Actress of the Year • 2021 — On Vodka, Beers and Regrets — 44th Gawad Urian — Best Actress