Gretchen Barretto is a Filipina actress, model and singer, born on March 6, 1970. Her parents are Miguel Alvir Barretto and Estrella Castelo Barretto. She has two younger sisters, Marjorie Barretto and Claudine Barretto, both are also actresses. She has another sister who is a teacher in Boston, Gia. She is a wife to Tony Boy Cojuangco, a businessman and the owner of Associated Broadcasting Company or ABC-5. They have a daughter Dominique Cojuangco. Gretchen’s highest educational attainment is at third year high school in which case she dreams of pursuing her education further.
Gretchen started pursuing the showbiz industry as a model at age 14. She eventually became one of the Regal Babies. She appeared in films such as Ang Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang, 14 Going Steady, Tender Age, and Paalam, Bukas ang Kasal Ko. During her years with Seiko films, she was among the first sex symbols of the film production company. Among many other films she took part in was Ubos na ang Luha Ko, Tukso, Layuan Mo Ako, Beautiful Girl, Paminsan-minsan, and Pulis Patola. She made a comeback to Philippine showbiz in 2006 in a horror film, Matakot Ka sa Karma with Octoarts Films.
Recently she has been given projects under ABS-CBN 2. She played the role Victoria Valera with Angel Aquino as Vera Cruz Abella in a fashion-drama series Magkaribal for the 60th Anniversary Celebration of Philippine Drama. After the project, it was followed by a role of Ashi Behati , an antagonist in ABS-CBN’s teleserye, Princess and I with Kathryn Bernardo, Enrique Gil, Daniel Padilla, Khalil Ramos and Albert Martinez.
Awards she has received recently from 2009 to 2011 includes PMPC Star Awards for TV’s Best Single Performance by An Actress for “Maalaala Mo Kaya”: Salamin in 2009, PMPC Star Awards for TV’s Best Single Performance by An Actress for “Maalaala Mo Kaya”: Larawan in 2010 and PMPC Star Awards for TV’s Best Drama Actress for “Magkaribal” in 2011.
Gretchen Barretto is among the Filipina actresses who filled the tabloids, entertainment news and headlines. She has a very pretty face and despite all the intrigues in show business, she remains to be composed in front of the press and yet being able to throw a few punch lines that could make a smile for a while. She recently celebrated her daughter’s 18th birthday, themed with the wizard of OZ. Being the only daughter of Gretchen and Tony, Dominique seems well pampered as her 18th birthday celebration clearly shows.
