Janice de Belen

Catherine Janice Yap de Belen (born November 9, 1968), better known as Janice de Belen, is a Filipino actress. She is dubbed as the "Queen of Horror-Drama" for her acting prowess and exceptional portrayals in both Filipino drama and horror films.

She began her career in show business as a child star, and her breakthrough came when she played the title role in the soap opera Flordeluna, which aired from 1979 until 1984. She was hailed as the "80s Teen Drama Princess" alongside then showbiz rival Julie Vega.

De Belen is a FAMAS Award winner (including three Best Actress nominations). In 2020, she won "Best Actress in a Drama Series" alongside Angel Locsin, Maricel Soriano and Eula Valdez at the 18th Gawad Tanglaw Awards. The same year, she also won "Best Drama Supporting Actress" at the 33rd PMPC Star Awards for Television. She won "Best Actress" in the 2021 International Film Festival Manhattan. In 2022, she won "Best Supporting Actress" at the 70th FAMAS Awards for her performance in Big Night!.

Early life
Catherine Janice Yap de Belen was born on November 9, 1968 to Philip Ilagan de Belen and Cynthia Susan Jimenez Yap. She has a younger sister, Gelli, who is also an actress.

At 13 years old, de Belen worked at Regal Entertainment, nicknamed the "Regal Cry Babies", along with Julie Vega, Snooky Serna, and Maricel Soriano.

In 1986, de Belen had a successful career with TV soaps and films. Her career was halted when she got pregnant at age 18. The father of her child was Aga Muhlach, her screen partner in the films Erpat kong Forgets, Napakasakit Kuya Eddie, Bakit Madalas ang Tibok ng Puso, When I Fall in Love and others.

On March 19, 2016, her mother died at the age of 67 due to multiple organ failure.

Career
At the age of nine, she became a newscaster for NewsWatch Kids Edition. She got her biggest break from the same channel when she got the lead role in the soap opera Flordeluna a TV soap where she played Flor from 1979 until 1984, when she momentarily quit showbiz to continue her studies. The soap continued to air a few more years after Janice left but it started going on a downward trend and never regained its popularity.

De Belen returned to showbiz, returning to TV with the soap Jesy and the early evening variety show The Big, Big Show. She was considered the "80s Teen Drama Princess" alongside Julie Vega, whose soap Anna Liza provided stiff competition to Flordeluna. In the 1980s, de Belen and Vega co-starred in a number films, mostly produced by Regal Films. In 1982, de Belen was partnered with Gabby Concepcion through the films Puppy Love and Home Sweet Home.

She returned to the world of TV in soap in 1985 with Andrea Amor and Don Camote dela Mancha, both aired on GMA 7. Her transformation from a teenage star to a serious actress started in 1989 when she topbilled Mina Films' Rosenda opposite erstwhile boyfriend Gabby Concepcion. She received her first Best Actress, the Raha Sulayman Award, recognition in 1991 for Vision Films' Kailan ka Magiging Akin, a Manila Film Festival entry.

In 2001–2010, after her separation from husband John Estrada, she hosted the morning talk show SiS also on GMA-7 with sister Gelli de Belen and their friend Carmina Villarroel.

In 2010, de Belen was one of those names have been inducted into the Eastwood City Walk of Fame.

In 2011–2012, she starred in the TV series Budoy. She followed it up with performance in the television series Ina, Kapatid, Anak which aired on the Primetime Bida Block and worldwide through TFC from 2012 to 2013.

She co-hosted Showbiz Inside Report as well from February 2012 to October 2013 and until recently, was also doing Buzz ng Bayan with Boy Abunda.

In 2016, she moved back to GMA to appear in Destined to Be Yours and My Korean Jagiya.

In 2018, she returned to ABS-CBN and was cast in The General's Daughter and Sino ang Maysala?: Mea Culpa, various episodes of Maalaala Mo Kaya, La Vida Lena, Love in 40 Days and Dirty Linen.

Personal life
De Belen loves stuffed toys and considers herself to be a "child at heart". She has a giraffe collection and owns a thousand giraffe items. She challenges herself and started to collect them when someone gave her the first giraffe stuffed toy in 2002.

She graduated with a diploma in Culinary Arts under Chef Gene Gonzales at the Center for Asian Culinary Studies in San Juan.

She launched her personal YouTube channel where she show her cooking skills. Along with her sister Gelli, and their closest friends in showbiz Carmina Villaroel and Candy Pangilinan they have a podcast called Wala Pa Kaming Title, which is also available on their respective YouTube channels.

Awards and nominations
De Belen has been recognised by the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) for the following performances:
 * 30th FAMAS Awards: Best Child Actress, nomination, for Tropang Bulilit (1981)
 * 38th FAMAS Awards: Best Actress, nomination, for Rosenda (1989)
 * 39th FAMAS Awards: Best Supporting Actress, nomination, for Bakit Kay Tagal ng Sandali (1990)
 * 58th FAMAS Awards: Best Actress, nomination, for Last Viewing (2009)
 * 65th FAMAS Awards: Best Actress, nomination, for Ringgo: The Dog Shooter (2016)
 * 70th FAMAS Awards: Best Supporting Actress, win, for Big Night! (2022)