Lorna Tolentino

Victoria Lorna Perez Aluquin-Fernandez (born December 23, 1961), better known by her stage name Lorna Tolentino, sometimes known as L.T., an abbreviation of her screen name, is a Filipino actress, model, film producer and television personality. Dubbed as the "Prime Star", she is known for her dramatic roles in film and television and was the fourth actress to achieve the Grandslam status for her performance in the film Narito ang Puso Ko (1992). With a career spanning five decades, she has already appeared in 100 motion pictures and is cited by critics as one of the greatest Filipino actresses in Philippine cinema. She has received numerous accolades including seven FAMAS Awards, four Luna Awards, a Gawad Urian Award and two commendations from Asian Television Award.

Early life
Lorna Tolentino was born as Victoria Lorna Perez Aluquin on December 23, 1961, in Concepcion, Tarlac and later moved to Manila. Her father is from Liliw, Laguna. She is also the stepmother of actor Mark Anthony Fernandez. She is first cousin to actress Amy Perez, Zsa Zsa Padilla and a niece of actor Jerry Pons. She was married to actor Rudy Fernandez from 1983 until his death in 2008. They have two sons.

She attended the elementary grades at St. Anthony School where she also finished high school. She took up a Bachelor of Arts course at St. Paul College in Quezon City, and also at the University of Santo Tomas and Maryknoll College (now Miriam College).

Career
She started her career as a child actress. Later, she portrayed the young Susan Roces in Divina Gracia and has a total of at least 60 movies. She has won eight film awards and garnered 20 nominations (mostly for Best Actress in FAMAS).

Her notable performances were Uod at Rosas (1981), Moral (1982), Sinasamba Kita (1982), Init sa Magdamag (1983), Somewhere (1984), Huwag Mo Kaming Isumpa (1986), Nakagapos Na Puso (1986), Pinulot Ka Lang sa Lupa (1987), Natutulog Ba ang Diyos (1988). In 2002, Tolentino starred in her first Primetime Drama Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay the first time Tolentino starred in a teleserye. In 2004-2008 she went to GMA Network to star in Hanggang Kailan and host Startalk to replace Rosanna Roces.

Tolentino returned to ABS-CBN to star with an ensemble cast in Dahil May Isang Ikaw, which earned her more praise. In 2010, she starred in the TV drama Momay, and in 2011, she starred in Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin with an ensemble cast.

She is also one of the Grandslam actresses in Philippine Cinema together with Vilma Santos, Elizabeth Oropesa, Nora Aunor and Sharon Cuneta. She won her Grandslam Best Actress for Narito ang Puso Ko (1993). She went back to her original network, GMA Network, to star in the upcoming heavy drama series Pahiram ng Sandali.

In May 2001, Tolentino participated in the protests of EDSA III, which called for Joseph Estrada's return to the Philippine presidency.

Tolentino is also known for her dramatic roles in television dramas. In 2002-2003, she was cast in the suspense drama series Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay as Lorrea/Lorrinda Guinto/Red Butterfly, a lead role which successfully set Philippine Primetime TV Standards and a successful finale.

In 2009-2010, Tolentino stopped doing TV series and instead focused on full-length films. On occasions, she participated as a TV host. She came back to reclaim her throne when she played the role of Atty. Tessa Ramirez in the popular soap opera Dahil May Isang Ikaw which won her more accolades in the New York Television Awards for Best Telenovela.

In 2011, she starred in the action-drama television series Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin, where she played a villain as Alondra Sebastiano. She later left the network and starred in the television drama Glamorosa.

In 2012, Tolentino did the soap opera Pahiram ng Sandali with GMA-7 with actor Dingdong Dantes, Christopher de Leon and Max Collins. She was included in the cast of Valiente and the weekly series Third Eye both airing on TV5.

In 2014, Tolentino had a small part in the GMA Network series, Genesis again with Dingdong Dantes.

In 2015, she starred with Ruffa Gutierrez and Gelli de Belen in Misterless Misis on TV5.

In 2018, Tolentino came back to ABS-CBN after five years to do the daytime series Asintado. After Asintado, Tolentino played the villainous and authoritarian bureaucrat-first lady turned warlord Lily Ann Cortez-Hidalgo on ABS-CBN's FPJ's Ang Probinsyano, topbilled by Coco Martin and reunited again with Martin in FPJ's Batang Quiapo as the anti-heroic syndicate leader Amanda Salonga.

Acting style and reception
Tolentino "has been known to practice emotional restraint in her acting." In 2004, the Directors’ Guild of the Philippines Inc. have listed her among the "15 Best Filipino Actresses of All Time". In 2006, S Magazine also included her in their list of "Philippine Cinema’s 15 Best Actresses of All Time" voted by film directors, scriptwriters and journalists. In a special episode of QTV's Ang Pinaka hosted by Pia Guanio, her dialogue with Alice Dixson in the 1988 film Nagbabagang Luha was included in their list of "20 Most Unforgettable Filipino Movie Quotes of All Time." Critic Elvin Luciano praised her portrayal in the 2010 film Sa 'Yo Lamang saying: "LT has mastered her craft, and at the same time, effectively supports her co-stars." Abigail Mendoza of Philippine Entertainment Portal praised her performance in the film Burgos (2013) saying: "Tolentino effectively evokes empathy with her subtle but compelling portrayal of Edita Burgos", further adding: "The actress shines in bringing life to the subdued but resilient heroine of the biopic, making her audience feel that a mother’s love is indeed so powerful." Edita Burgos herself praised Tolentino's portrayal saying: "It’s not only very accurate, it’s a very sensitive portrayal not only during the lonely and sorrowful moments but even the joyful experience with the children. It's very beautiful."

Reception
Tolentino has been described as the "Grandslam Queen" by various media outlets. She is the second most nominated actress in a leading role at the FAMAS Awards history (behind Nora Aunor) having been nominated 16 times since 1988, tying the record with Lolita Rodriguez. She is also the third most nominated actress for the leading role in Gawad Urian Awards history (behind Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos), garnering 10 nominations since 1983. She starred with the ensemble cast in the 2009 series Dahil May Isang Ikaw. According to AGB Neilsen, the series attained 33.6% TV ratings in Mega Manila, earned a nomination at the International Emmy Awards in the Best Telenovela category and premiered in more than ten countries globally including Colombia, becoming the second Filipino content to air in Latin America. Yes! Magazine have included Tolentino in their annual list of 100 Most Beautiful Stars in 2009, 2010, 2013, and 2015. Among the local celebrities who expressed admiration towards Tolentino include Tootsie Guevara.

As producer or executive producer

 * Kaaway ng Batas (1990)
 * Kislap sa Dilim (1991)
 * Kamay ni Kain (1992)
 * Kahit Buhay Ko (1992)
 * Matimbang Pa sa Dugo (1995)
 * Itataya Ko ang Buhay Ko (1996)
 * Hula Mo, Huli Ko (2002)