Susan Africa

Susan Africa (born August 20, 1959) is a Filipino screen and stage actress, writer, painter, beauty queen and former television host with a career spanning four decades. After placing first runner-up at the 1980 Binibining Pilipinas pageant, she pursued a career in showbusiness. A prominent figure in soap operas, she rose to fame in the television series Mara Clara (1992) and is noted for playing impoverished maternal characters. She won Best Supporting Actress at the 1987 Metro Manila Film Festival for her portrayal in Olongapo... The Great American Dream and has been involved in several international productions such as Noriega: God's Favorite (2000), Blood Surf (2000) and Under Heavy Fire (2001).

Africa also served as the host of PTV4's For Art’s Sake (1989) and Sesame (1984). Among her acclaimed performances include Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis (2016) which competed at the Berlin International Film Festival and earned praises from Meryl Streep. She served as the Corporate Development Director of Ballet Philippines Foundation for 14 years and Associate Director of Alumni Relations at Asian Institute of Management (AIM). Her other memorable roles include Manang Esther in Kadenang Ginto (2018) and Nita Dimaculangan in Batang Quiapo (2023).

Beginnings
Africa studied Fine Arts and Advertising where she graduated cum laude at the University of Santo Tomas. She became involved in acting after joining an actors' workshop at the behest of her aunt Odette Marquez, a film producer, who thought that it would help Africa overcome her shyness. As a young actress, Africa's mentors were Joel Lamangan and Soxie Topacio. She started in the theater in a production of General Goyo (1979) for Bulwagang Gantimpala (now Gantimpala Theater Foundation). Her other plays for Gantimpala include Kanser, Bien Aligtad, Biyaheng Timog, Bongbong at Kris. She has also acted for Teatro Pilipino (The Importance of Being Ernest, Regina Ramos), Dramatis Personae (Antigone) and Dulaang UP (Juna Luna) and has been directed by Rolando S. Tinio, Tony Espejo, Joel Lamangan, Anton Juan and Nonon Padilla.

Film and television
She received the Best Supporting Actress at the 1987 Metro Manila Film Festival for her role as Charlie in Olongapo, The Great American Dream. She is also well known for her five-year role as Susan Davis in the long-running teleserye Mara Clara. In 2005, she transferred to rival station, GMA Network, to play a supporting role on Now and Forever: Mukha and took a television break the following year but came back in 2007 through ABS-CBN's Palimos ng Pag-ibig. Africa later did TV5 and Kapamilya shows intermittently in 2011. During 2013, she returned to GMA-7 after Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala and was seen doing Kapuso teleseryes including Prinsesa ng Buhay Ko and Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real. Africa came back to ABS-CBN in late 2014.

Work off camera
Africa worked with Ballet Philippines of the Cultural Center of the Philippines as corporate development manager/director from 1986 to 2000, and with the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) as alumni relations program manager/associate director from 2000 to 2014.

This 1980 Bb Pilipinas-Universe 1st Runner-up had her 1st one-woman show at Gallery 139, SM Megamall in 2001.

Personal life
Africa is the widow of actor Spanky Manikan. She first met Manikan while acting opposite him in a production of Benjamin Pascual's General Goyo directed by Lamangan in 1979. The couple had three children together: Eli, Miguel, and Mika.