Bela Padilla

Early life and education

Krista Elyse Hidalgo Sullivan was born to British father Cornelius Gary Sullivan and Filipina mother Margarette Cariño Hidalgo ("Meg"). 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 Lovi Poe.

Padilla's maternal grandmother (mother of Meg) 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.

Career

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 starred in the film alongside Zanjoe Marudo.

In 2024, Padilla made her return to television as a guest host on the noontime variety show It's Showtime. In November that same year, she launched her personal beauty brand Bela by Bela. In October 2024, Padilla was confirmed to reprise her role in a sequel of 100 Tula Para Kay Stella, which would be titled 100 Awit Para Kay Stella. The film will premiere in September 2025.

Business

In 2020, Padilla is a co-owner of Seoul based skincare company, Britory with business partners DongWoo Kang and WonYoung Ryu which opened in South Korea.

She launched her beauty business, BELA by Bela with beauty products including lip tints, cheeks tints and lip balm in 2024.

Personal life

On November 24, 2021, Padilla 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. Additionally, she also held dual Filipino and British citizenship, and had several paternal relatives based in London. She 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 but broke up with him after she decided to return to the Philippines. 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 and "temporarily closing" her "chapter" in London 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 nineteen years old.

Filmography

Television

Film===

Music video appearances

Awards and nominations

References

References

1. (2019-09-29). "'So exhilarating!' Bela Padilla is back in school". ABS-CBN News.
2. (April 12, 2016). "Why Bela Padilla doesn't celebrate her birthday". ABS-CBN News.
3. (August 29, 2023). "Bela Padilla's father passes away".
4. Carvajal, Dolly Anne. (October 3, 2017). "Bela on suicide: Be more discerning when it's time to help our troubled loved ones".
5. Corp, ABS-CBN. "PHOTOS: Bela Padilla as Juris in Sino Ang Maysala? Mea Culpa". ABS-CBN Entertainment.
6. (April 3, 2022). "Bela Padilla debuts as director with '366'".
7. (June 17, 2024). "'It's Showtime' surprises viewers with sudden broadcast on AllTV".
8. (November 8, 2024). "Bela Padilla shares how she ventured into the beauty business".
9. Evangelista, Jessica Ann. (October 8, 2024). "Bela Padilla, JC Santos to reunite for '100 Awit Para Kay Stella'".
10. Mallorca, Hannah. (August 7, 2025). "Bela Padilla was almost replaced in '100 Tula Para Kay Stella' sequel".
11. (23 September 2020). "Bela Padilla now co-owns Korean skin-care brand; wants to send products to this actor".
12. (8 November 2024). "Bela Padilla shares how she ventured into the beauty business".
13. (November 24, 2021). "Bela Padilla reveals she officially moved to London".
14. (December 16, 2021). "Bela Padilla explains why she really moved to London".
15. Policarpio, Allan. (July 3, 2023). "Bela Padilla on putting down roots in London".
16. (March 3, 2023). "Bela Padilla answers: 'Is Norman The One?'".
17. C, Toff. (September 12, 2025). "Bela Padilla reveals reason behind breakup with Swiss boyfriend Norman Bay".
18. Geli, Bianca. (September 29, 2023). "Bela Padilla goes back to school in London".
19. C., Toff. (January 27, 2025). "Bela Padilla 'temporarily closing' London chapter as she returns to working full-time".
20. Purnell, Kristofer. (August 7, 2025). "Bela Padilla confirms 'amicable split' with Swiss-Italian Norman Bay".
21. Sarmiento, Kate. (November 29, 2024). "Bela Padilla Shares Her Struggles With PCOS And Hypothyroidism".
22. (August 7, 2024). "Bela Padilla returns to 'Showtime'".
23. "Wish You Were the One (2023) - IMDb".
24. Cruz, Dana. (24 May 2021). "WATCH: Ben&Ben releases 'Magpahinga' video starring Joel Torre, Bela Padilla". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
25. Dimaculangan, Jocelyn. (July 14, 2014). "KC Concepcion and ER Ejercito win top acting honors in 62nd FAMAS Awards". GMA News Online.
26. "FULL LIST: Gawad Urian 2018 nominees". Rappler.
27. "Presenting the 42nd Gawad Urian nominees". BusinessMirror.
28. Biong, Ian. (2020-08-07). "Bela Padilla nominated Best Actress in 15th Seoul Int'l Drama Awards".
29. "I America". Cinemalaya Institute.
30. "'Bela Padilla opens up about longstanding friendship with Lovi Poe'". ABS-CBN News.
31. Hawson, Fred. "Movie review: 'On Vodka, Beers and Regrets' is anti-rom-com and that's good". ABS-CBN News.
32. "Bela Padilla to replace Nadine Lustre as lead in 'Miracle in Cell No. 7' remake — MMFF spox". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
33. Gonzales, Rommel. (31 July 2009). "Krista Sullivan is willing to go topless to play a mermaid". Philippine Entertainment Portal.
34. (12 September 2010). "Face of Allure: Bela Padilla". The Philippine Star.
35. (14 March 2012). "Bela Padilla - FHM Cover Girl March 2012". [[Summit Media.
36. (7 March 2016). "Full List: Winners, PMPC Star Awards for Movies 2016". Rappler.
37. (11 September 2010). "FIRST READ ON PEP: Eva Cariño-Padilla tells Marian Rivera to apologize to her granddaughter Bela Padilla". Philippine Entertainment Portal.
38. (13 August 2010). "Bela Padilla reveals advantage of being related to Robin Padilla". Philippine Entertainment Portal.
39. (13 December 2015). "Kapamilya Tree: The Padilla Family". [[ABS-CBN Corporation]].
40. (22 April 2014). "Bela Padilla on boyfriend Neil Arce: 'I hope kami na nga ang magkatuluyan'". [[GMA Network Inc.]].
41. (20 May 2015). "Bela Padilla returns to ABS-CBN; wants to seal her place as a Kapamilya". Philippine Entertainment Portal.
42. Erece, Dino. (10 January 2008). "ABS-CBN airs new youth-oriented series "Astigs" starting January 12". Philippine Entertainment Portal.
43. (11 April 2015). "Bela Padilla is New San Mig Light Endorser". The Philippine Star.
44. (7 April 2016). "Bela Padilla, Nagpaliwanag Kasunod ng Pagkamatay ni Carmen sa "Ang Probinsyano"". ABS-CBN.
45. (28 February 2012). "FHM Philippines Scraps Cover in Racism Storm". BBC News.
46. (29 February 2012). "Bela Tells BBC: No Regrets About FHM Cover". ABS-CBN News.
47. FRJ. (14 September 2011). "Bela Padilla Wins Two Awards at the Asian Super Model in China". GMA News.
48. (23 January 2010). "Ninoy and Cory Aquino's love story unfolds". Maalaala Mo Kaya.
49. Tangcawan, Alan. (14 June 2016). "Bela Padilla sa Bantayan". SuperBalita Cebu.
50. (10 July 2016). "'Tomodachi' Bags Two Prizes in Madrid Festival". InterAksyon.
51. (26 July 2016). "Two PH Films Win in Madrid". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
52. Mendoza, Ruel. (11 July 2016). "Tomodachi, Starring Jacky Woo and Bela Padilla Wins in 2016 Madrid Film Fest". Philippine Entertainment Portal.
53. "Madrid IFF 2016 Full Winners List". Film Fest International.
54. "About the Film". Viva Films.
55. Alpad, Christina. (23 August 2016). "A dramedy to empower brokenhearted women". The Manila Times.
56. "Bela Padilla about her role on Love and Lies: 'I get to be the girl Robin Padilla in this show'". GMA News.
57. (18 November 2016). "Bela, Zanjoe + Loisa set to star in a new teleserye". [[Star Cinema]].
58. (30 September 2012). "Bela Padilla is Magdalena". Manila Standard.
59. "Bela Padilla explains sexy see through dress at Hiram na Puso presscon". Philippine Entertainment Portal.
60. "Bela Padilla signs with Star Magic". Daily Tribune.