Maja Salvador

Maja Salvador
Salvador as photographed by Glenn Orion
Born	Maja Ross Andres Salvador (1988-10-05) October 5, 1988 Aparri, Cagayan, Philippines
Occupation	Actress dancer recording artist
Years active	2003–present
Agent	Star Magic
Parent(s)	Ross Rival (father) Thelma Andres (mother)
Family	Jon Hernandez (half-brother)
Musical career

Maja Ross Andres Salvador (born October 5, 1988) is a Filipina singer, actress, dancer, model, and producer. She is currently under the management of ABS-CBN's Star Magic and is regarded as the "Dance Princess of the Philippines".^[1] In 2011, Salvador co-produced and portrayed the title role in the film Thelma, which earned her the Gawad Urian Award and the Film Academy of the Philippines Award for best actress.^[2][3]

Career

Salvador started her acting career as a short supporting character in the 2003 TV series It Might Be You^[4] which was then top-billed by John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo. She was later on cast as one of the lead characters in Spirits^[5] the following year and has appeared in several episodes of Maalaala Mo Kaya.

In 2006, Salvador made her film debut as one of the supporting characters in the horror movie Sukob^[6] wherein she portrayed the role of a clairvoyant young girl. This earned her several accolades including the Star Award for Movies for New Movie Actress of the Year and the Golden Screen Award for Breakthrough Performance by an Actress, as well as a nomination at the FAMAS Awards for Best Supporting Actress. That same year, she also starred as a social climber teenage girl in the film First Day High^[7] and was also critically acclaimed for her portrayal as a teenager suffering from cerebral palsy in the "Regalo" episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya.^[8] For the latter, Salvador earned a nomination for Best Single Performance by an Actress at the Star Awards for Television^[9] but lost to co-star Vilma Santos, who played as her mother in the said episode.^[10]

Salvador reunited with John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo in the 2007 box-office movie One More Chance.^[11] Her portrayal in the film was highly regarded by movie buffs, describing her "perfect" and "luminous".^[12] The role gained her a Star Award for Movies nomination for Movie Supporting Actress of the Year. During this year, she was also cast as one of the three leads in the TV series Pangarap na Bituin along with Sarah Geronimo and Rica Peralejo.^[9]

In 2009, she top-billed the afternoon drama series Nagsimula sa Puso,^[9] a remake of the 1990 film of the same title, in addition to appearing as one of the principal characters in the primetime drama May Bukas Pa.^[13] Salvador also starred in films such as Villa Estrella^[14] and Shake Rattle and Roll XI^[15] which was an entry to the 2009 Metro Manila Film Festival. She later on starred in the television series Impostor in 2010 and in the horror film Cinco.^[16][17]

Salvador, in 2011, was cast as one of the main characters in the critically acclaimed family-military drama series Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin.^[18] That same year, she also co-produced the independent film Thelma,^[19] with which she also starred in the title role. Her performance in the film was praised by Philippine Entertainment Portal's Bong Godinez, stating in his review that Salvador gives an "impressive performance" and that she "brandished her depth as an actress without going overboard".^[20] He also added that she "[dishes] out the emotions in an understated manner". However, Tessa Guazon of the Young Critics Circle - Film Desk criticized Salvador's performance by saying that there are failures in "conflict and depth".^[21] Furthermore, she mentioned that Salvador was out of track in the movie and that she "missed [the] subtle leap". Despite mixed reviews on the film, Salvador went on and won the Gawad Urian Award for Best Actress as well as the Film Academy of the Philippines Award for Best Actress.^[2][3]

In 2012, Salvador starred in the afternoon drama series Lumayo Ka Man Sa Akin as Janine Castillo, and subsequently in the primetime soap Ina, Kapatid, Anak alongside Kim Chiu in the title role as Margaux Marasigan.^[16][22] She also starred in films My Cactus Heart and 24/7 in Love.^[23][24]

As of 2014, Salvador starred as Nicole Esquivel in the highly controversial teleserye, The Legal Wife, alongside Angel Locsin, Jericho Rosales, and JC De Vera. After The Legal Wife, Salvador is set to do another teleserye, confirmed by ABS-CBN and Salvador herself.

In 2015, Salvador starred as Mia Sandoval alongside Jericho Rosales and Paulo Avelino in Bridges of Love.^[25] After the high ratings of the teleserye, she is set to star in another one alongside Coco Martin, Arjo Atayde and Bela Padilla in a remake of FPJ's Ang Probinsyano.^[26]

Maja Salvador in Toronto, 2014

Music career

In December 2013, it was announced that Salvador had signed a recording contract with Ivory Music & Video. While recording the album, Salvador worked with award-winning arranger and producer, Jonathan Ong. By March 2014, she revealed through her Instagram account that the title will be Believe along with its track listing which contains mainly original composition and two cover songs.^[27] The carrier single, "Dahan-Dahan", was released on March 6 while the album was released nationwide on March 25. The album also features collaborations with rapper Abra and Project Pinas. Salvador also co-wrote a song titled "Buong Gabi".^[28] She released her firsl single from the said album titled "Dahan Dahan".

On June 8, 2014, the album was eventually certified gold for selling over 7,500 copies nationwide and Salvador appeared on ASAP to receive a Gold Record award. She also staged her first major sold out concert entitled "MAJ: The Legal Performer" on July 12 at the Music Museum.^[29] In September 14, 2014 she released her second single called "Halikana" featuring Abra. The same month the music reached at no. 7 in the top 10 Philippine pop music.

On March 15, 2015, during an interview with Myx she revealed details on her second album and that its carrier single will be released by the end of the month.^[30] On April 9, 2015, a photo was uploaded on Salvador's Facebook page showing herself on set to film a music video for the carrier single titled, "Bakit Ganito Ang Pag Ibig", with actor JC De Vera.^[31] The single was digitally released on April 17.^[32] Her second album, titled Maja In Love, was released on April 30. It features collaborations with Sam Milby and Rayver Cruz.^[33] She is set to have a concert in November dubbed as Majasty, this will be her second concert for her second album.

Personal life

Salvador is a member of a family of actors which includes her father, Ross Rival and uncle Phillip Salvador.^[34]

In 2013 Salvador joined the PETA campaign to Free Mali from captivity in Manila zoo and have her transferred to Boon Lott's Elephant Sanctuary where she can be given proper treatment and care. Mali is the only captive elephant in the Philippines and the zoo does not have adequate knowledge or resources to properly care for her.^[35]

Filmography

Television

Movies

Discography

Believe Soundtracks:^[50]

1. Kilig
2. Halika Na - featuring Abra
3. Wala Na Bang Pag-Ibig
4. Dahan-Dahan
5. Urong-Sulong
6. Buong Gabi - featuring Project Pina
7. Kilig (instrumental)
8. Dahan-Dahan (instrumental)

Maja In Love Soundtracks:^[51]

1. Bakit Ganito Ang Pag-Ibig
2. Habulan
3. Nakawin Ang Sandali
4. Gaano Kalayo? - featuring Sam Milby
5. Hiling - featuring Rayver Cruz
6. Love Me, Kill Me
7. Bakit Ganito Ang Pag-Ibig (club music)
8. Bakit Ganito Ang Pag-Ibig (instrumental)

Awards and nominations

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Maja Salvador.

External links

• Maja Salvador at the Internet Movie Database
• Maja Salvador at Star Magic