Charito Solis

• Name — Charito Solís • Birth Name — Rosario Violeta Solís Hernández • Born — 6 October 1935 • Birthplace — Tondo, Manila, Philippine Islands • Died — 9 January 1998 • Place of death — Calamba, Laguna, Philippines • Resting Place — Manila Memorial Park, Parañaque, Metro Manila • Occupation — Actress • Years Active — 1955–1998 Charito Solís (born Rosario Violeta Hernández Solís; October 6, 1935 – January 9, 1998) was a Filipino actress whose career spanned over four decades. She was a top-billed actress for over two and a half decades, becoming the leading dramatic actress of the 1960s and the 1970s. Her accolades includes an Asian Film Festival Award, seven FAMAS Awards, three Gawad Urian, a Luna Award, and three Metro Manila Film Festival Awards.

Rosario Violeta Solís Hernández was born in Manila. At age 19, she was introduced by her uncle, the film director F. H. Constantino to Doña Narcisa de León, the head of LVN Pictures, who cast her to star in her initial film Niña Bonita, an adaptation of Frank Capra's It Happened One Night. The film was a success, and marked the beginning of Solís' 43-year career in film, lasting until her death. Solís died on January 9, 1998, in Calamba from cardiac arrest. She was buried at Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque.

Solis first appeared in the romantic comedy Niña Bonita (1955), an adaptation of Frank Capra's It Happened One Night, opposite Jaime de la Rosa. Shot on location at the campus of University of the Philippines, she next starred opposite Leroy Salvador in the romantic musical Charito, I Love You (1956). The following year, Solis starred in Krisalis which became a box-office success. The same year, she received her first FAMAS Award for Best Actress nomination for her role in the romantic drama Ulilang Bituin opposite Mario Montenegro. In 1958, Solis next appeared in the family drama Malvarosa. The film competed at the Asian Film Festival, earning her international acclaim after receiving a nomination for Best Actress. She appeared in two more motion pictures later that year, Villa Milagrosa and Rose Tattoo ng Buhay Ko. The next two years were banners ones for Solis, winning the FAMAS Award for Best Actress for her roles in Kundiman ng Lahi and Emily. During this period, she also began appearing in several international productions. Solis starred as the wife of Gautama Buddha in the Japanese historical epic, Buddha (1961). The following year, she starred in another Japanese film The Princess and I opposite Kojiro Hongo.

Following the closure of LVN Pictures, Solis became a freelancer and starred in numerous films for other major film outfits. In 1962, she next starred opposite Pancho Magalona in the period drama El Filibusterismo, based on the 1891 novel of the same name, by José Rizal. The following year, Solis starred in two major productions. She was handpicked to star as the titular role in the romantic drama Angustia. Later that year, she played three leading identical characters, each as wife, hostess, and nympho, in the drama Tatlong Mukha ni Pandora. For her performance, she received two FAMAS Award for Best Actress nominations for her roles in each of the films, winning one for Angustia. Solis next starred opposite three leading men, Vic Vargas, Edgar Salcedo, and Ramil Rodriguez in the romantic drama Mga Pag-ibig ni Christine. She also appeared in three more productions later that year, Ang Tao ay Makasalanan, Kapag Langit ang Umusig and Claudia. Also in 1966, Solis ventured television through the self-titled drama anthology The Charito Solis Show under ABS-CBN.

Solis reportedly signed a million-peso five year contract with Nepomuceno Productions. She starred opposite Ric Rodrigo in the romantic drama Dahil sa Isang Bulaklak in 1967 under Nepomuceno Productions. The film was a commercial success and was shown at the Manila Grand Opera House for several months, marking the revival of the production company. The film was reportedly produced for ₱500,000 and has earned Solis critical acclaim, with Los Angeles Times calling her the "number one star of the Philippine cinema". The film was also selected as the country’s official entry at the 40th Academy Awards, but fell short of being nominated. Despite this, Solis and Luis Nepomuceno were invited at the ceremony, becoming the first Filipino artists to attend the award ceremony. The following year, Solis starred opposite American actors James Shigeta, Alex Nicol, and John Ashley in the war film Manila, Open City. She next starred as an Igorot maiden in Igorota. The film gave Solis her fourth FAMAS Award for Best Actress win. In 1969, she starred in the melodrama Ang Pulubi, which was competed at the Manila Film Festival, earning her another best actress win. The following year, Solis played the innocent turned bandit leader in the action drama The Hunted.

Solis returned to television through the weekly drama anthology Obra Maestra. She worked closely with the director of the series, Nick Lizaso and went through each of the sequence of the script. She next starred in the drama film Araw-araw, Gabi-gabi, which was competed at the first ever Metro Manila Film Festival, where she won Best Actress. Solis appeared in two drama productions the following year. She starred opposite Christopher de Leon in the romantic drama Mrs. Teresa Abad Ako Po si Bing, and in the drama Hindi Kami Damong Ligaw. Solis next starred in the romantic drama Walang Katapusang Tag-araw, alongside Eddie Garcia and Mat Ranillo III. Under the direction of Ishmael Bernal, the film was competed at the third Metro Manila Film Festival. In 1979, Lino Brocka cast Solis as Paula in the staging of Larawan, which was based on Nick Joaquin’s A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino. Held at the Dulaang Raha Sulayman, Fort Santiago, she was joined by Lolita Rodriguez and Philip Salvador. Brocka cast both Solis and Rodriguez later that year in the family drama Ina, Kapatid, Anak. For her performance, Solis won the Gawad Urian for Best Actress. For the first time since she began her acting career, Solis was cast in a secondary role in the psychological horror Kisapmata. For her performance, she won Best Supporting Actress at the Gawad Urian and Metro Manila Film Festival, her second trophies in each of the award-giving bodies.

Solis played Ina Magenta, the queen of the world of enkantasya, in the fantasy sitcom series Okay Ka, Fairy Ko!, which also stars Vic Sotto. In 1988, Solis appeared in six film productions. She starred with Mat Ranillo III, who plays the titular role, in the religious biographical film Lorenzo Ruiz... The Saint... A Filipino! In the early 1990s, Solis reprised her role as Ina Magenta in the film sequels Okay Ka, Fairy Ko!: The Movie (1991) and Okay Ka, Fairy Ko! Part 2 (1992).

• Illustration — Solis's grave at Manila Memorial Park – Sucat. In January 9, 1998, Solis died of cardiac arrest. She was 62.

• Year — Title — Role — Remarks • 1987–1989 — Coney Reyes on Camera — Episode: "May Langit Din ang Inaapi" • 1987 — Trianggulo — Film on television • 1987–1989 — Okay Ka, Fairy Ko! — Ina Magenta • 1989–1995 • 1995–1997 • 1990–1996 — Lovingly Yours, Helen • 1991 — Maalaala Mo Kaya — Episode: "Trahedya"; first MMK appearance • 1992–1997 — The Maricel Drama Special — Various • 1996–1999 — Tierra Sangre • 1996 — Calvento Files — Various — Episode 31: "You Are Never Safe" • Episode 40: "Madam Auring: Misfortunes of a Fortune Teller" • 1997 — Maalaala Mo Kaya — Episode: "Bituin" • 1997 — Maalaala Mo Kaya — Episode: "Visa" • 1997–1998 — Mula sa Puso — Last teleserye appearance • 1998 — GMA Telecine Specials — Episode: "Iguhit Mo sa Alaala"; last television film appearance

• Illustration — Portraits and accolades of Solis displayed at the Mowelfund museum. Awards and nominations received by Charito Solis • Organizations — Year — Recipient(s) — Category — Result — Ref. References • Asian Film Festival Awards — 1958 — Malvarosa — Best Actress • 1967 — Dahil sa Isang Bulaklak • Eastwood City Walk of Fame — 2006 — Charito Solis — Inductee • FAMAS Awards — 1957 — Ulilang Bituin — Best Actress • 1958 — Krisalis • 1960 — Kundiman ng Lahi • 1961 — Emily • 1963 — El Filibusterismo • 1964 — Angustia • Tatlong Mukha ni Pandora • 1965 — Lagablab sa Maribojoc • 1967 — Claudia • 1968 — Dahil sa Isang Bulaklak • 1969 — Igorota • Charito Solis — Ciriaco Santiago Memorial Award • 1970 — Ang Pulubi — Best Actress • 1976 — Araw-araw, Gabi-gabi • 1978 — Ina, Kapatid, Anak • 1982 — Kisapmata — Best Supporting Actress • 1984 — Don't Cry for Me, Papa — Best Actress • 1985 — Charito Solis — Hall of Fame for Best Actress • 1986 — Moises Padilla Story: The Missing Chapter — Best Supporting Actress • Gawad Urian — 1980 — Ina, Kapatid, Anak — Best Actress • 1982 — Playgirl • Kisapmata — Best Supporting Actress • 1984 — Karnal • 1986 — Hinugot sa Langit • Luna Awards — 1984 — Karnal — Best Supporting Actress • Manila Film Festival — 1969 — Ang Pulubi — Best Actress • Metro Manila Film Festival — 1975 — Araw-araw, Gabi-gabi — Best Actress • 1981 — Kisapmata — Best Supporting Actress • 1997 — Charito Solis — Cinema's Living Treasures • Star Awards for Movies — 1997 — Charito Solis — Ulirang Artista Award