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Anita Linda (born Alice Bueñaflor Lake; November 23, 1924 – June 10, 2020), was a Filipinos actress whose career spanned nearly eight decades and who appeared in close to 400 Film. A romantic lead in her early years, she gained widespread acclaim for her portrayals of maternal, elderly roles depicting Filipino struggles and their lifestyle. Often described as the face of Philippine cinema, she was one of the top Box office draws for two decades and received numerous accolades from Film festival and domestic award-giving bodies.
Linda was discovered by renowned director Lamberto Avellana while watching a stage show at the Avenue Theater starring Leopoldo Salcedo, Lopito, among others. Then an Ilongga teenager that couldn't speak Tagalog language, she had second thoughts when she was asked backstage if she wanted to become an actress. Avellana then told her to report for rehearsals for the next show and later had her fetched when she didn't appear.
Linda first did High School with no dialogue, then Biyernes sa Quiapo with Jaime dela Rosa as her leading man, then Aksesorya with Leopoldo Salcedo onstage. Avellana later gave her the screen name Anita Linda and cast her in Tia Juana, her first film at LVN Pictures. The film was completed shortly before the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, but released only in 1943.*
With the film studios being shut down for the duration of the war, Linda spent the war years performing on bodabil at Avenue Theater in Manila. After the war in 1947, she was later offered a contract by Premiere Productions where she was cast by Avellana in Sekretang Hong Kong with Pugo and Togo. Her first lead role in Alyas Sakim with Pol Salcedo in 1947 was directed by Moises Cagin.
In 1951, Linda portrayed the title character in Gerardo de Leon's Sisa, a film based on the tragic character in Jose Rizal's novel Noli Me Tangere. The role garnered her the Best Actress Maria Clara award (a precursor of the FAMAS award). De Leon then cast Linda in Sawa sa Lumang Simboryo (1952), a role for which Linda would be nominated for a FAMAS Best Actress Award.
Linda would appear in several leading films of the 1980s and 1990s, including Joey Gosiengfiao's Temptation Island (1980), Mike de Leon's Sister Stella L. (1984), Chito S. Roño's Itanong Mo sa Buwan (1988) and Brocka's Gumapang Ka sa Lusak (1990). For her portrayal of an aging film actress in Mario O'Hara’s Ang Babae sa Bubungang Lata (1998), Linda would receive a Star Award for Best Supporting Actress and her second FAMAS Best Supporting Actress Award. For this, she set a record as the oldest actress to ever win a FAMAS at age 74. In 1987, Linda also won a Gawad Urian Best Supporting Actress award for Takaw Tukso.
Linda remained active in the film industry as she reached her eighties, appearing in such films as (2004), You Are the One (2006) and Ouija (2007). In 2009, she returned to television, starring in the ABS-CBN drama Tayong Dalawa as Kim Chiu's ruthless Chinese grandmother Lily.
Linda garnered widespread acclaim in 2008, she starred in the independent film, Adela (2008), directed by Adolfo Alix, Jr. For her performance playing the loneliness of a woman celebrating her 80th birthday alone when her children failed to visit her, she was cited as Best Actress in the 10th Cinemanila International Film Festival (Southeast Asia Film Competition), as Best Actress by the Young Critics Circle, and as Best Actress (tied with Judy Ann Santos) at the Gawad Tanglaw Awards. The New York Times film critic Stephen Holden praised Linda's performance as "quietly transfixing". In 2009, Anita Linda was given the ENPRESS Lino Brocka Lifetime Achievement Award.
She won the Best Supporting Actress award, for her performance in Sta. Niña, at the Cinemalaya under the New Breed Full Length Feature Category.
In 2014, she made a comeback on primetime television in an ensemble drama Sana Bukas pa ang Kahapon as Paulo Avelino's grandmother Lola Patchi.
In January 2009, Linda was unhurt in a mugging incident that occurred while she was aboard a taxicab. In October 1950, Linda's sister Mamey was murdered in a robbery attempt at the home they had shared; Linda herself was unharmed after she and her nieces had locked themselves in a bedroom to evade the burglars.
Later career
In the 1970s, Linda gained renewed critical acclaim in maternal roles she played for director Lino Brocka in Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang (1974), Isa Dalawa Tatlo (1974) and Jaguar (1979). She would win the FAMAS Award for Best Supporting Actress for Isa Dalawa Tatlo. Linda would also be nominated for the Gawad Urian Best Supporting Actress Award for Jaguar, which was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 1980 Cannes Film Festival. In 1982 she was given the Natatanging Gawad Urian ng Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino.
Personal life
She was married to actor Fred Cortes Sr. (stage name) with whom she had a son, Fred Cortes Jr. (stage name). The marriage lasted 2 years.
Death
Linda died on June 10, 2020. She was 95. The news was confirmed by her daughter, Francesca Legaspi by a text message to Philippine Star news.
Filmography
Film
1943 Tiya Juana 1947 Alias Sakim 1947 Sekretang Hong Kong 1947 Ngayon at Kailan Man 1948 Labi ng Bataan 1948 Perfidia: Kataksilan 1948 Anghel sa Lupa 1948 Hiram na Pangalan 1948 Wala Na Akong Luha 1949 Ang Lumang Bahay sa Gulod 1949 Bakit Ako Luluha? 1949 Bandilang Basahan 1949 Ina ng Awa 1949 Dugo ng Katipunan 1949 Kay Ganda ng Umaga 1949 Kung Sakali Ma't Salat 1949 Magkapilas ng Langit 1949 Suwail (Naglaro ang Ligaya) 1950 3 Balaraw 1950 Hiwaga ng Tulay na Bato 1950 Punglo at Pag-ibig 1951 Kadakilaan 1951 Kapitan Bagwis 1951 Prinsipe Don Juan 1951 Sisa Sisa 1952 Luha ng Langit 1952 Bulaklak ng Nayon 1952 Tatlong Kabanata sa Buhay Ko 1952 Ngipin sa Ngipin 1953 Ang Sawa sa Lumang Simboryo 1953 Agilang Itim 1953 Siga-Siga 1953 Makabuhay 1953 Nenita Unit 1954 Ri-Gi-Ding 1954 Lourdes: Ang Mutya ng Paaralan 1954 Playboy 1954 Guwapo 1954 Por Bida Gid 1954 Basagulera 1954 Bandolero 1955 Bandilang Pula Commander Dalia 1955 Magia Blanca 1955 7 Maria 1956 Takya 1956 Ambrocia 1956 Buhay at Pag-ibig ni Dr. Jose Rizal 1956 Hokus-Pokus 1956 Haring Tulisan 1957 Viva Las Señoritas 1957 Ukulele Boy 1958 Mga Liham Kay Tiya Dely 1958 Obra Maestra ("Singapore" segment) 1958 Matandang Tinale 1961 Nag-uumpugang Bato 1963 Madugong Paghihiganti (The Massacre) 1964 Naligaw na Anghel 1964 Callejon Delinquente 1964 Deadly Brothers 1964 Pamatay: Kaliwa at Kanan 1965 Darna at ang Babaing Tuod Marta 1969 Bimbo 1969 Born to Be Wild 1970 Omar Cassidy and the Sandalyas Kid 1970 The Alvarados 1970 Mga Dugong Simaron 1970 Because You Are Mine 1970 Johnny Baby, Please Come Home! 1974 Tatlo, Dalawa, Isa 1974 Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang Gng. Ortega 1975 Lumapit, Lumayo ang Umaga 1976 Mrs. Teresa Abad, Ako Po si Bing 1976 Isang Pag-ibig, Isang Pangarap, at Isang Bulaklak 1978 Katawang Alabok Kalapati 1978 Boy Apache 1978 Mahal Mo, Mahal Ko 1978 Katawang Alabok 1979 Jaguar Mother 1979 Alabok na Ginto 1979 Kadete 1980 4 Na Maria 1980 Candy 1980 Dolphy's Angels 1980 Kung Tawagin Siya'y Bathala 1980 Temptation Island 1980 Milyon 1980 Good Morning, Sunshine 1980 Ang Galing Galing Mo ... Mrs. Jones 1981 Bakit Bughaw ang Langit? Sofia The Mother 1982 Pretty Boy Charlie 1984 Lovingly Yours: The Movie (segment: Akin ang Walang Diyos) 1984 Sister Stella L. 1986 Iyo ang Tondo, Kanya ang Cavite Desta Takaw Tukso Lumuhod Ka sa Lupa Constancia "Atang" dela Cruz Batang Quiapo Iska 1987 Amang Hustler 1988 Iyo ang Batas, Akin ang Katarungan Pinang Babaing Hampaslupa Aling Ising Itanong Mo sa Buwan 1990 Gumapang Ka sa Lusak 1991 Makiusap Ka sa Diyos Sister Carmen 1994 Pare Ko! Auring Lorenzo 1995 Patayin sa Sindak si Barbara Yaya Benita 1996 Maruja Belen Cedie Mrs. Mellon 1998 Dama de Noche Mother Catalina Ang Babae sa Bubungang Lata Amapola Puso ng Pasko Lola Angeles 1999 Isusumbong Kita sa Tatay Ko... Lola Benedicta Sa Paraiso ni Efren 2000 Deathrow Robbery Victim 2001 Isda 2004 Inya 2006 You Are the One 2007 Tambolista Ouija Lola Corazon A Love Story Inang Sion Amelia 2008 Adela Adela Macaraig Caregiver Lola Miling 2009 Booking Manila Seniora Aleria Grandmother 2011 Presa 2012 The Mistress Lola Lina 2013 David F. 2013 Nuwebe 2013 Otso 2013 Alamat ni China Doll 2013 Morgue 2014 Bride for Rent Lola Czarina My Illegal Wife Magda Zabaldica 2016 Mrs. Padre de Familia Lola Eva 2017 New Generation Heroes Tatlong Bibe Mameng
Television
Munda Aling Panchang Aling Pacita Melchora Aquino Doña Beatriz Puring "Lola Puring" San Juan Aling Tasing Rustica Nacyfe Lola / La Impo Lilian "Lola Lily" King Older Aginaya Lola Magda Max's mother Uray Patrice "Lola Patchi" Salvador Lola Adelina
Recognitions
See also
Bibliography
External links
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