Matet de Leon explained

Matet de Leon
Birth Name:Maria Nora Ana Theresa Villamayor-Estrada
Other Names:Matet
Birth Date:October 4, 1983
Birth Place:Manila, Philippines
Occupation:Actress
Yearsactive:1986–present
Children:4

Matet de Léon-Estrada (born October 4, 1983 as Maria Nora Ana Theresa Villamayor is a Filipino actress who began her career as a child star. She then transitioned to a supporting actress, often taking roles as the best friend of the main characters, giving her the nickname "Best Friend ng Bayan". She is an adopted daughter of Christopher de Leon and Nora Aunor.

Early life

De Leon was adopted by actors Christopher de Leon and Nora Aunor. She also has an adopted sister Lotlot, and two adopted brothers Kiko and Kenneth. Their eldest brother, Ian, is the only biological child in the family.[1]

Career

1980s–1990s

De Leon's first film was I Love You, Ma, I Love You, Pa in 1986, which was also the film debut of her siblings Lotlot and Ian.[2] She then appeared in several horror films.[3] Her acting performance was noticed in the movie Bunsong Kerubin in which she played the lead role. This earned her a Best Child Actress nomination from the 1988 FAMAS Awards. Also in 1988, she got to act alongside Fernando Poe Jr. in the film One Day Isang Araw. From there she was able to get more film roles in a five-year span. In 1997, De Leon starred together with her mother Aunor in the film Mama Dito Sa Aking Puso and also appeared in the horror film Shake, Rattle & Roll VI.

2000s–2010s

In 2001, De Leon took on her first television role in the drama Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan. She then appeared in more ABS-CBN teleseryes such as Tabing Ilog, the television remake of Bunsong Kerubin, and many more. She then took on roles as the best friend of the main characters in films such as Till There Was You and Till My Heartaches End. From the late 2000s to the early 2010s, she played Zoila in the romantic film trilogy A Very Special Love. She also took a supporting role in the series The Legal Wife as Rowena, Maja Salvador's confidante, and played Tracy Buenaventura in the romantic series A Love to Last.[4] In 2015, she played Maris Racal's mother in the film Stars Versus Me, with her performance praised as one of the few positives from that film.[5]

Beginning in 2015, De Leon did several GMA teleseryes such as InstaDad and That's My Amboy.

2020s

In 2022, De Leon played Belle Mariano's mother in the film An Inconvenient Love.[6] Her performance in that film led to her being nominated as Best Supporting Actress for the 2023 EDDYs.[7] In 2023, she joined the casts of Unspoken Letters and Love Before Sunrise.[8] [9] She and her family also competed on Family Feud, where they won P200,000.[10] In 2024, she joined the cast of Black Rider.[11]

Personal life

Since 2004, De Leon has been married to former NU Bulldogs basketball player-turned chef Mickey Estrada.[12] They renewed their vows on their 18th wedding anniversary.[13] They have three daughters: Mishka, Mikaela, and Mia. Mishka is currently a volleyball player for the Adamson Soaring Falcons.[14] She had a son, Juan Miguel, who died after having been born prematurely at eight months and two weeks.[15]

Aside from her parents, other members of De Leon's family also became actors with her siblings Ian and Lotlot pursuing acting careers. Lotlot's daughter Janine (her niece) also became an actress in her teen years. Her grandparents on her father's side, Gil de León and Lilia Dizon, were both also actors.[16]

De Leon is diagnosed with general anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder.[17] [18] She revealed her diagnoses to the public in 2022.[19]

De Leon owns a small business 'Casita Estrada,' which sells gourmet tuyo and tinapa. However, this caused tension between her and her mother as Aunor as Aunor asked her to promote a product directly competing with hers. They reconciled several weeks later.

Awards

YearWorkAwardCategoryResultSource
1988Bunsong KerubinBest Child ActressFAMAS Awards
1989One Day Isang Araw
1990Magic to Love
1998Mama Dito Sa Aking Puso
2023An Inconvenient LoveBest Supporting ActressThe EDDYs

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Producer
1986 I Love You Mama, I Love You Papa Matet Regal Films
Inday Inday sa Balitaw Tiyanak
1987 Bunsong Kerubin Angelita
Tatlong Ina, Isang Anak NCV Films
Takbo, Bilis... Takboooo! Golden Lion Films
Takot Ako, Eh! NCV Films
1 + 1 = 12 (+ 1): One Plus One Equals Twelve (Cheaper by the Dozen) Regal Films
1988 Bobo Cop
One Day, Isang Araw Precious / Purunggay
Luningning Viva Films
1989 Magic to Love Twinkle Regal Films
1991 Dr. Potpot Travels to the Moon Louise -
1997 Mama Dito sa Aking Puso MAQ Productions
Shake, Rattle & Roll VI Marice Regal Films
2000 Pangarap ng Puso Nena
2001 Abakada... Ina Gina Viva Films
2002 May Pag-ibig Na Kaya? Tere Starlight Films
2003 Cass & Cary: Who Wants to Be a Billionaire? Carol Violett Films Production
Till There Was You Jean Star Cinema
2008 A Very Special Love Zoila Star Cinema
Viva Films
2009 You Changed My Life
Hellphone Bluemoon Productions
I Love You, Goodbye Melai Star Cinema
2010 Fling Lanie MSG Productions
Piperstorm Pictures
Dampi Indie Film
Till My Heartaches End Gemma Star Cinema
2011 Rakenrol Herself
Forever and a Day Cam Star Cinema
2012 24/7 in Love
2013 It Takes a Man and a Woman Zoila Star Cinema
Viva Films
My Lady Boss Ruby GMA Films
Regal Films
Eva Star Cinema
Regal Films
2014 Da Possessed Marie
2015Stars Versus MeElena's motherTandem Entertainment
2015 WalangForever DirectorQuantum Films
2016 The Third Party Lila Star Cinema
The Super Parental Guardians Sarah Nabati
2018 The Significant Other Cineko Productions
Star Cinema
Da One That Ghost Away Halak Star Cinema
2021 Love or Money Mima
2022 An Inconvenient Love Terry

Television / Digital Series

Year Title Role Network
2001 Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan Lucila "Lucy" Ilagan-Cristobal ABS-CBN
2003 Tabing Ilog Honey
2006 Komiks Presents: Bunsong Kerubin Ellen
2009 May Bukas Pa Kim
Babette
2010 Merlinda
Habang May Buhay Yolly
Elena M. Patron's Momay Rose
Mercy
2011 Munting Heredera Belen GMA Network
Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin Ising Somera
2012 Broken Vow Amy
Marita ABS-CBN
2013 My Little Juan Irma
Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala Nancy
2014 The Legal Wife Rowena
Elise
Tess
Glenda Delgado
2015 InstaDad Gracia GMA Network
Pangako sa 'Yo Chef Sam ABS-CBN
2016 Jhonaluz
Dear Uge Bekbek Balbacua GMA Network
Juan Happy Love Story Didith Dimanlinlang
Hay, Bahay! Eba
That's My Amboy Yolly
Cynthia ABS-CBN
2017
A Love to Last Tracy Buenaventura
Cristy Agustin
The Lolas' Beautiful Show Guest GMA Network
2018 FPJ's Ang Probinsyano Menchu Versoza ABS-CBN
Tadhana: Dalawang Ina Andrea GMA Network
2019 Nang Ngumiti ang Langit Ruth Estacio-Dimagmaliw ABS-CBN
2020; 2023Daddy's Gurl Sharon / Ursula GMA Network
2021 Huwag Kang Mangamba Rebecca Estopacio
2022 Suntok sa Buwan Nesthy TV5
Niña Niño Evelyn
2023 Love Before Sunrise Daisy Lacson-Pagdilao GMA Network
Open 24/7Mia
2024 Black RiderBelen

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Acar . Aedrianne . December 6, 2022 . Matet de Leon's private and public life . April 20, 2024 . www.gmanetwork.com . en.
  2. Web site: September 8, 2020 . Matet de Leon’s stellar journey from child star to “Bestfriend ng Bayan” . April 20, 2024 . ABS-CBN Entertainment.
  3. Web site: October 31, 2015 . ‘Takot Ako, E’ Matet minumulto na kahit nu’ng bata pa . April 20, 2024 . Philstar.com.
  4. Web site: Torre . Nestor . June 5, 2014 . All in the family . April 20, 2024 . INQUIRER.net . en.
  5. Web site: Cruz . Oggs . June 5, 2015 . ‘Stars Versus Me’ Review: Awful but strangely appealing . April 20, 2024 . RAPPLER . en-US.
  6. Web site: Oquiza . Ryan . November 28, 2022 . ‘An Inconvenient Love’ review: A movie that restores faith in the love team genre . April 20, 2024 . RAPPLER . en-US.
  7. Web site: Purnell . Kristofer . October 7, 2023 . Nadine Lustre, Kim Chiu among Eddys 2023 nominees . April 20, 2024 . Philstar.com.
  8. Web site: Ruiz . Marah . March 15, 2023 . Bigating cast ng 'Love Before Sunrise,' nagsama-sama sa isang script reading . April 20, 2024 . www.gmanetwork.com . en.
  9. Web site: Severo . Jan Milo . June 14, 2023 . 'Tuyo war is over': Matet de Leon says tuyo business growing after reconciling with Nora Aunor . April 20, 2024 . Philstar.com.
  10. Web site: Napoles . Jimboy . April 14, 2023 . Pamilya ni Matet De Leon, panalo ng PhP200,000 jackpot prize sa 'Family Feud' . April 20, 2024 . www.gmanetwork.com . en.
  11. Web site: April 20, 2024 . New war unfolds in new season of ‘Black Rider’ . 2024-04-20 . Philstar.com.
  12. Web site: April 4, 2007 . Matet de Leon: Little girl no more . April 20, 2024 . PEP.ph . en.
  13. Web site: Tuazon . Nikko . July 22, 2021 . Matet de Leon, Mickey Estrada renew wedding vows on 18th anniversary . April 20, 2024 . PEP.ph . en.
  14. Web site: Lim . Ron . January 10, 2024 . Get to know Matet de Leon's daughter, Mishka Estrada . April 20, 2024 . www.gmanetwork.com . en.
  15. Web site: Francisco . Butch . August 6, 2005 . An outpouring of love & concern for Matet . April 20, 2024 . Philstar.com.
  16. Web site: Severo . Jan Milo . May 8, 2020 . 'Asia’s Best Actress' Lilia Dizon, Christopher de Leon's mom, dies at 92 . April 20, 2024 . Philstar.com.
  17. Web site: Severo . Jan Micko . September 14, 2023 . Matet de Leon opens up on 'invisible' bipolar disorder after PWD queuing experience Philstar.com . April 20, 2024 . www.philstar.com.
  18. Web site: Sanchez . Giselle . March 1, 2022 . GOSSIP GIRL: Matet de Leon wants to reach out to millennials having panic attacks . April 20, 2024 . Manila Bulletin.
  19. Web site: Pasajol . Anne . December 6, 2022 . Matet de Leon feels ‘betrayed’ by mom Nora Aunor: ‘Hindi kami mahal ng nanay namin’ . April 20, 2024 . INQUIRER.net . en.