Rosario Violeta Hernández Solís (October 6, 1935 – January 9, 1998), professionally known as Charito Solís, was a Filipino film actress.

Charito Solís
Solís in Kundiman ng Lahi (1959)
Born
Rosario Violeta Solís Hernández

(1935-10-06)October 6, 1935
DiedJanuary 9, 1998(1998-01-09) (aged 62)
Calamba, Laguna, Philippines
Resting placeManila Memorial Park, Parañaque, Metro Manila
OccupationActress
Years active1955–1998

She was considered among the major dramatic film actresses in the Philippines, with a career spanning five decades until her death in 1998. She also starred in various television series such as Okay Ka, Fairy Ko!, Maalaala Mo Kaya, Ipaglaban Mo!, Mula sa Puso and Tierra Sangre before her death.

Profile

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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,[1] who cast her to star in her initial movie Niña Bonita,[1] 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.

Film career

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Solís would star in well over 100 films starting with LVN Pictures' classics such as Niña Bonita (1955), Charito, I Love You! (1956),[1] Walang Sugat (1957), Malvarosa (1958), Kundiman ng Lahi (1959) and Emily (1960). She was featured in several of the best-known and critically acclaimed movies of Philippine cinema. She played the female lead in the 1962 film adaptation of Jose Rizal's El filibusterismo, directed by Gerardo de Leon.

Among her many films she also appeared in Eddie Romero's Manila, Open City (1967), Araw-Araw, Gabi-Gabi (1975) and Agila (1980); in Mike de Leon's Kisapmata (1981) and Batch '81 (1982); in Ishmael Bernal's Manila by Night (1980) and Hinugot sa Langit (1985); in Lino Brocka's Init (1979) and Ina, Kapatid, Anak (1979);[2] and as the narrator in Marilou Diaz-Abaya's Karnal (1983). Other notable performances of Solís were featured in Angustia (1963), Tatlong Mukha ni Pandora (1963), Magda Sales (1964), Claudia (1966) and Boomerang (1966).

From 1967 to 1971, she was under contract with Nepomuceno Productions. Her eight films for that outfit were Dahil Sa Isang Bulaklak,[1] Ang Langit sa Lupa, Luha sa Karimlan, Manila, Open City, Igorota, Ang Pulubi, Pipo and The Hunted. Her performance in Dahil sa Isang Bulaklak earned her the 1967 Asian Best Actress award from the Asian Film Festival held in Tokyo, Japan. Dahil sa Isang Bulaklak also brought a bonus to Solis: with the film being the country's entry to the Best Foreign Film category at the Academy Awards (although the film did not make it to the semi-finals), she and Luis Nepomuceno, the film's producer, were given tickets to see the 40th Academy Awards, the first Filipinos to ever do so.[citation needed]

After her association with Nepomuceno Productions ended, she appeared in several more films such as Shake, Rattle & Roll, Hindi Kami Damong Ligaw (1976), Ms. Teresa Abad, Ako si Bing, Hugasan Mo ang Aking Kasalanan, Babae... Sa Likod ng Salamin, Beerhouse, Babae Huwag Kang Tukso, Tundo Isla Puting Bato, Babae Ngayon at Kailanman, Walang Katapusang Tag-araw, Mga Tinik ng Babae, Iwasan Kabaret, Hubad sa Mundo, Mga Huwad Na Mananayaw, Init, and Alaga.

Solís became the first Filipino actress to play the lead role in an internationally released Japanese movie, in 1961 when she starred in Kenji Misumi's Shaka, a biographical film about Shakyamuni Buddha.[3] She appeared in another Japanese film, The Princess and I, produced by Daiei Japan which had its Philippine premiere at the Lyric Theater in Escolta on October 10, 1962.

Television career

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From 1966 to 1968, Solís had a weekly TV show on ABS-CBN entitled The Charito Solís Show (1966 to 1968). In 1973, Solís also had a TV weekly drama show named Obra Maestra on RPN.

In the late 1980s, Solís won the chance to showcase her comedic skills, as well as to gain a younger set of fans, when she was cast opposite Vic Sotto, Alice Dixson and Aiza Seguerra in the sitcom Okay Ka, Fairy Ko!. She played the imperious Ina Magenta, Enteng Kabisote's mother-in-law, a character which was loosely modeled after Agnes Moorehead's Endora on Bewitched. The popular show lasted nine years and spawned several film adaptations that continued after Solís' death. Giselle Tongi took over the role of Ina Magenta in the Enteng Kabisote film series. Before her death she would star in TV dramas such as Mula Sa Puso and the anthology series The Maricel Drama Special starring Maricel Soriano, both shows were transmitted on ABS-CBN.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Film studio
1958 Villa Milagrosa Virginia
Malvarosa Rosa
1959 Kundiman ng Lahi Isang
1960 Kung Ako'y Mahal Mo Lydia Amante
1962 El filibusterismo Juli
Arriva-Bayanihan Productions
1974 Mga Tigre ng Sierracruz Ramona
Lea Productions
1975 Araw-Araw, Gabi-Gabi
Lyra Ventures
1976 Hindi Kami Damong Ligaw
Lyra Ventures
Babae... Sa Likod ng Salamin Laura / Lorna
1977 Walang Katapusang Tag-Araw Matilde Montalban
Lea Productions
1979 Init Osa
Showbiz Incorporated
Ina, Kapatid, Anak Emilia
Modelong Tanso Ramona Ferreira
Bancom Audiovision Corporation
1982 Cross My Heart Cecille
1984 Hindi Mo Ako Kayang Tapakan Doña Consuelo Romero
V. H. Films
Teenage Marriage Mrs. Enage
1984 Shake, Rattle & Roll Lorna Delfin (Episode: "Pridyider")
1985 God, Save Me! Ondeng
1987 Huwag Mong Buhayin ang Bangkay Aurora
1988 Rosa Mistica Nyora Diday
Hiwaga sa Balete Drive Helga
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall Fe
Lorenzo Ruiz: The Saint... A Filipino
R.J.U. Films International
1991 Ang Utol Kong Hoodlum Madame Lily
Ipagpatawad Mo Carmen
1992 Miss Na Miss Kita (Utol Kong Hoodlum II) Madame Lily
Alyas Pogi 2 Sianang
Moviestars Production
1993 Dahil Mahal Kita: The Dolzura Cortez Story Mother
1994 Hindi Pa Tapos ang Labada, Darling Victorio's Mother
Kadenang Bulaklak Miss Conchita Carbonell
Megamol Atty. Sabel Enriquez
1995 The Flor Contemplacion Story Lydia Montilla
1996 Enteng and the Shaolin Kid Tia Rosa
Itataya Ko ang Buhay Ko Edmond's Mother
1997 Ipaglaban Mo: The Movie (Part 2) Mrs. Agoncillo (Episode 1)
1999 Bayad Puri Mrs. Verzosa

Television

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

Accolades

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Solis's portrait and accolades displayed at the Mowelfund museum.

Her performance in 1967's Dahil sa Isang Bulaklak, directed by Luis Nepomuceno, won her Best Actress award at the 1967 Asian Film Festival.[4] She again starred for Nepomuceno the following year in Igorota, where she became the first Filipina actress to bare her breasts on film. Her role in Igorota won her the 1968 FAMAS Best Actress Award, one of 5 she would win during her career. Her other four FAMAS Best Actress wins came in 1959 for Kundiman ng Lahi; in 1960 for Emily; in 1963 for Angustia; and in 1983 for Don't Cry for Me, Papa. After her fifth win, in 1984, she became the first actress to be inducted into the FAMAS Hall of Fame.[5] She also won the Gawad Urian Best Actress award in 1979 for Ina, Kapatid, Anak, and for Best Supporting Actress for in 1981 and 1982 for Kisapmata and Of the Flesh, respectively. In 1984, Solís won Best Supporting Actress for her performance as a narrator in Of the Flesh from Philippine Academy of the Philippines (FAP Awards).

In the first-ever Metro Manila Film Festival held in 1975, Solís won the Best Actress Award for Araw Araw, Gabi Gabi and a Best Supporting Actress in the 1981 Metro Manila Film Festival for Kisapmata. She received Ulirang Artista Lifetime Achievement Award from Philippine Movie Press Club (Star Awards) in March 1997.

In the Catholic Mass Media Awards, she was the first lead artist to be awarded the "rock trophy" for an excellent performance as a jealous sister, wife and mother in the family drama, Ina, Kapatid, Anak. In 1983, she was awarded the best actress rock trophy for playing the role of a manipulative mother in Minsan May isang Ina.

Asian Film Festival
Year Nominated work Category Result
1967 Dahil sa Isang Bulaklak Best Actress Won[1]
FAMAS Awards
Year Nominated work Category Result
1986 Moises Padilla Story: The Missing Chapter Best Supporting Actress Nominated
1985 - Best Actress Hall of Fame Won
1984 Don't Cry for me, Papa Best Actress Won
1982 Kisapmata Best Supporting Actress Nominated
1980 Ina, Kapatid, Anak Best Actress Nominated
1976 Araw-araw, Gabi-gabi Nominated
1970 Ang Pulubi Nominated
1969 Igorota Won
1968 Dahil sa Isang Bulaklak Nominated
1967 Claudia Nominated
1965 Lagablab sa Maribojoc Nominated
1964 Angustia Won
1963 El filibusterismo Nominated
1961 Emily Won
1960 Kundiman ng Lahi Won[1]
1958 Krisalis Nominated
1957 Ulilang Birhen Nominated
Gawad Urian Award
Year Nominated work Category Result
1986 Hinugot sa Langit Best Supporting Actress Nominated
1984 Karnal Won
1982 Kisapmata Won
Playgirl Best Actress Nominated
1980 Ina, Kapatid, Anak Won
Luna Award
Year Nominated work Category Result
1984 Karnal Best Supporting Actress Won
Metro Manila Film Festival
Year Nominated work Category Result
1981 Kisapmata Best Supporting Actress Won
1975 Araw-araw, Gabi-gabi Best Actress Won
Catholic Mass Media Award
Year Nominated work Category Result
1979 Ina, Kapatid, Anak Best Lead Performer Won
1983 Minsan May isang Ina Best Actress Won

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Macapendeg, Mac (January 14, 2014). "Naaalala mo pa ba ang yumaong batikang aktres na si Charito Solis?". GMA News Online (in Tagalog). Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  2. ^ Mario Hernando. Charito Solis... Alagad ng Sining, Diyosa Ng Kagandahan (Kawil III) (2002 ed.). Rex Bookstore. ISBN 9789712333651. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  3. ^ Garcia, J. "A Movie Quizbook", pp. 146-47
  4. ^ Garcia, J. A Movie Quizbook, p. 149
  5. ^ Magundayao, Nicolo. "FAMAS Awards Facts". The Unofficial Website of the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on December 29, 2007. Retrieved November 21, 2007.

References

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