Mylene Dizon

Mylene Lilibeth Inocencio Dizon (born September 6, 1976) is a Filipino actress. Known for her versatile work in independent film features and mainstream productions, she has received various accolades, including a Gawad Urian Award, two Luna Awards, and an Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival Award, in addition to nominations for two FAMAS Awards and a WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival Award.

Dizon made her screen debut in the youth oriented series Gimik (1996). The following year, she portrayed an assulted woman in the crime drama Calvento Files: The Movie, where she won the Star Awards for New Movie Actress of the Year. She played a supporting role in the teen drama Tabing Ilog (1999) and starred as an abused woman during the Japanese occupation in the war drama Gatas... Sa Dibdib ng Kaaway (2001), for which she received nominations for a FAMAS and Gawad Urian for Best Actress. She received wider audience for her role as Sally, the main antagonist in the romantic drama Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan (2001). She received praises for her portrayal of a liberated woman entangled in a forbidden affair in Rome and Juliet (2006), for which she won Best Actress for a Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival, and nominations for a Gawad Urian and Golden Screen Award for Best Actress.

Dizon also appeared in the romantic family drama Ploning (2008), where she received nominations for a Golden Screen and Gawad Pasado for Best Supporting Actress. Dizon received critical acclaim for her role as an opulent woman diagnosed with cancer in the independent drama 100 (2008), for which she won a Luna and Gawad Urian for Best Actress. She starred in the psychological drama Aparisyon in 2012 and became her fourth Gawad Urian nomination. Dizon's film appearances in the ensuing years including the action thriller 10,000 Hours (2013) and the epic war Heneral Luna (2015) have earned her nominations from major award-giving bodies in the Philippines. In 2019, she received a nomination for Best Actress at the WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival for her role in the Belle Douleur and won her second Luna Award for Best Supporting Actress in the family drama Family Matters (2022).

Early life and background
Mylene Lilibeth Inocencio Dizon was born on September 6, 1976, in Manila, Philippines to Seafin Dizon and Arlene Inocencio. She is the youngest of four children. After graduating from high school, she enrolled in De La Salle University, pursuing a bachelor's degree in communication arts. She stayed in the United States for four months after her family migrated. Dizon eventually went back to the Philippines to pursue a career in the show business. She initially appeared in a number of commercials and soon auditioned in ABS-CBN's talent agency Star Magic.

1996–2005: Early roles and breakthrough
Dizon began her acting career after she was launched as one of Star Circle's second batch members by the talent agency Star Magic, along with Diether Ocampo, Patrick Garcia and Marvin Agustin. She made her screen debut in the teen series Gimik (1996) where she starred with an ensemble cast that included Judy Ann Santos, Marvin Agustin, Diether Ocampo, and G. Toengi. Dizon next appeared in two productions in 1997. She had a supporting role in the drama Kulayan Natin ang Bukas and the thriller drama Calvento Files: The Movie. She won the PMPC Star Award for New Movie Actress of the Year for her performance in the latter. The following year, she appeared in two productions. She played a supporting role in the drama Miguel/Michelle and starred in the horror anthology Magandang Hatinggabi. She next appeared in the teen drama Tabing Ilog (1999). That year, she reprised her role in the film adaptation of Gimik: The Reunion.

In 2001, Dizon starred opposite Jomari Yllana in the war drama Gatas... Sa Dibdib ng Kaaway, which was the Philippine submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the 74th Academy Awards. The film was a critical success, earning her Best Actress nominations for FAMAS and Gawad Urian. Dizon earned wider reception as Sally, the main antagonist in the drama Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan. In 2002, she appeared in three productions. First is in the independent film Utang ni Tatang and second is a supporting role in the action adventure Ang Agimat: Anting-Anting ni Lolo. Third is an antagonist role in the comedy superhero Super B starring Rufa Mae Quinto. Dizon's work in the following years has been mainly in television. She played supporting roles in the action romantic Basta't Kasama Kita, the sitcom All Together Now, and her first series under GMA Network, Narito ang Puso Ko. In 2005, she played the role of a social worker in the inspirational drama Mga Amghel na Walang Langit.

2006–2013: Critical success
Dizon next starred with Andrea del Rosario in the romantic drama Rome & Juliet (2006). The film tackles issues about forbidden affairs and sexual norms. For her performance, she won Best Actress at the Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival and received nominations from Gawad Urian and Golden Screen Awards. Also in 2006, she played supporting roles in television dramas Agawin Mo Man ang Lahat, Ang Kasagutan, Mars Ravelo's Captain Barbell and sitcom Bahay Mo Ba 'To?. Dizon next appeared as one of the villainess in the post-apocalyptic sci-fi Resiklo, an entry to the 2007 Metro Manila Film Festival. The following year, she appeared in the romantic drama Ploning. It earned Dizon Best Supporting Actress nominations from Golden Screen and Gawad Pasado Awards. She next starred with an ensemble cast as an evil werewolf and vampire-like creature in the tenth horror anthology Shake, Rattle & Roll X. It grossed ₱119 million, becoming the highest grossing installment of the film series. Also in 2008, she starred as a woman with cancer in the independent film 100. Dizon received widespread acclaim for her performance, winning her first Best Actress trophies at the Luna, Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Gawad Urian, including nominations for a FAMAS and Star Awards for Movies. Dizon next portrayed Dyangga, the wicked queen of mermaids and main antagonist in the fantasy drama Dyesebel (2008). The following year, she made a guest appearance in the drama May Bukas Pa and was cast in a supporting role in Tayong Dalawa. Also in 2009, she was cast in the romantic comedy Status: Single. In 2010, she was handpicked by director Jose Javier Reyes in the sequel Working Girls. The same year, Dizon was tapped to play the role of Susan David in the remake Mara Clara. She was next cast in the series Budoy (2011) and made a special participation in Kahit Puso'y Masugatan (2012). Dizon also appeared in two film productions in 2012. She starred alongside Jodi Sta. Maria in the psychological drama Aparisyon. For her portrayal, she received her fourth Gawad Urian nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She next portrayed the role of a social climber in the comedy Sosy Problems. Her performance earned her nominations for a Star Award and Golden Screen Awards. In 2013, she made special participation in the fantasy drama Juan dela Cruz and its prequel My Little Juan, including supporting roles in Kahit Konting Pagtingin and Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala. The same year, she also starred in the drama Bamboo Flowers and played secondary roles in mainstream productions Bakit Hindi Ka Crush Ng Crush Mo? and 10,000 Hours. The latter earned her a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Metro Manila Film Festival.

2014–present: Established actress
Dizon next starred in the independent drama Mariquina (2014), followed by the comedy Moron 5.2: The Transformation and played the role of a socialite in Red. She was also cast in the fantasy drama Mirabella and joined the second season of Ikaw Lamang. In 2015, Dizon appeared in three productions, two of which are epic wars Heneral Luna, where she received Best Supporting Actress nominations from Gawad Urian, Luna and Star Awards for Movies, and Felix Manalo. Also in 2015, she was cast in the melodrama Doble Kara. After a one year absence from the screen, Dizon appeared in the crime drama The Good Son. She received a nomination for Best Drama Supporting Actress at the 32nd Star Awards for Television. In 2019, Dizon appeared in the third installment of the Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 3: The Real Untold Story of Josephine Bracken. She also starred with an ensemble cast in the comedy Call Me Tita and the fantasy drama Sahaya, where Dizon played the character of a Badjao mother. She made her screen comeback in the romantic drama Belle Douleur opposite Kit Thompson, an official entry at the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival. She received a Best Actress nomination at the WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival for her performance. She next appeared in two mainstream productions.

Dizon starred with Carmina Villaroel in the horror Sunod and made a cameo appearance in the fantasy adventure Magikland, which were official entries at the Metro Manila Film Festival in 2019 and 2020 respectively. In 2020, Dizon starred alongside Nora Aunor and Kyline Alcantara in the drama Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit. She continuously appeared in television productions in the next two years, playing secondary roles in Huwag Kang Mangamba (2021) as a feisty journalist, a strict parent in My Sunset Girl (2021) and as the main antagonist in Love in 40 Days (2022). In 2022, Dizon was cast in the family drama Family Matters which was an official entry at the Metro Manila Film Festival and became one of the top grossing entries at the festival of that year. For her performance, she won her second Luna Award for Best Supporting Actress and earned a FAMAS nomination in the same category. In the year that followed, Dizon was cast in the limited series Fractured and was cast in the Metro Manila Film Festival entry, Mallari. In January 2024, she was announced as one of the ensemble cast in the family drama Pamilya Sagrado.

Reception and acting style
Dizon is often regarded as one of the finest Filipino actresses of her generation. Having appeared in numerous independent films and mainstream productions of varying genres since her career's inception in mid-1990s, she is noted for displaying depth and emotional connection to the characters she portrays. Edwin Sallan of Philippine Entertainment Portal described her portrayal in Belle Douleur (2019) as the best performance of her career, saying: "Mylene has mastered the art of nuanced acting that indie films are known for... [Her] subtle approach reminiscent of Hollywood actress Diane Lane (and equally as luminous) was effective in previous Cinemalaya entries such as Aparisyon (2012) and Mariquina (2014)." Writing for The Philippine Star, Tim Yap praised Dizon's ability to tackle any role she's given with strength, saying: "Even if her assigned characters are on the surface, weak, she gives it multiple dimensions." Variety praised Dizon's performances in 100 (2008) and Heneral Luna (2015). Chris Martinez, director of the film 100, stated that Dizon was the first and only choice for the role, saying: "She exudes strength and invulnerability even at the "default" stage. I wanted that presence, that beauty, and the willingness to stretch her limits and talents. She was a gung-ho actress. Very intelligent, very instinctive, and yes, very, very beautiful!"

In 2019, the Film Development Council of the Philippines have cited Dizon as one of the luminaries in Philippine cinema through the Sine Sandaan event. Dolly Anne Carvajal of Inquirer Entertainment named her one of the best Filipino actresses. Butch Francisco of The Philippine Star included Gatas... Sa Dibdib ng Kaaway on their list of the best Philippine films of 2001. Media publications such as Spot.ph and Philippine Daily Inquirer have also included her on their list of notable Filipino villains, particularly for her portrayal as Sally Concepcion in the series Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan (2001). Three films she appeared in, such as Gatas... Sa Dibdib ng Kaaway (2001), Ploning (2008) and Heneral Luna (2015), were Philippine entries for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards. Dizon has appeared in Yes! magazine's annual beauty list in 2007 and 2012. In a 2013 interview at the DZMM Teleradyo in the Pasada Sais Trenta program, John Lloyd Cruz expressed admiration towards Dizon.

Other ventures
In 2002, Dizon made her stage debut in the musical Rocky Horror Show, staged in RCBC Plaza Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium. In late November 2021, Dizon participated in the launch of Mga Munting Babae, the Filipino translated version of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, at the Performatura: Performance Literature Festival.

Personal life
Dizon has two sons with ex-boyfriend Paolo Paraiso, Tomas, born in 2005 and Lucas, who was born in 2009. Jason Webb was in a relationship with Dizon since 2013. In 2014 he married Dizon.