Coco Martin

Known for his performances in action and romantic drama, he is one of the most awarded Filipino actors of the 21st century.

His accolades include an ASEAN International Film Festival and Award, two FAMAS Awards, two Gawad Urian Awards, ten PMPC Star Awards for Television and eight Box Office Entertainment Awards.

Martin's films have grossed ₱2.3 billion worldwide, making him one of the highest-grossing box office stars of all time.

Tatler Asia named him one of the most influential Filipino personalities in Asia.

Additionally, ' Masahista' was honored with the prestigious Golden Leopard Award at the 58th Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland.

Rodel Pacheco Nacianceno (born November 1, 1981), known as Coco Martin, is a Filipino actor, director, producer and screenwriter.

Martin began acting in the early 2000s and initially played minor and guest roles in several films.

Often described as the "Ultimate Superstar", he was named Actor of the Decade (2000-2009) at the 34th Gawad Urian Awards.

Martin started his career in one of the ABS-CBN's talent agencies, Star Magic, as part of the Star Circle Batch 9 in 2001 alongside Angel Locsin, Rafael Rosell, Janus del Prado, Heart Evangelista, Princess Schuck, and Alwyn Uytingco.

He made his acting debut under his real name, Rodel Nacianceno, with a cameo appearance in the 2001 film Luv Text starring Judy Ann Santos.

Later that year, he got a minor role in the 2001 film Lakas at Pag-ibig under the name Rodel Salvador.

2002 marked the first time Rodel appeared under stage name Coco Martin in the film Ang Agimat: Anting-anting ni Lolo under Imus Productions.

After minor roles in films, Martin began appearing in TV advertisements and print ads.

He got his big break in 2004, when the TV personality German Moreno included him as a star on his reality show Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman.

He was later scouted for a role in an independent film.

He made his breakthrough with leading roles in widely acclaimed indie films, such as Masahista (2005), Daybreak (2008), Serbis (2008), Kinatay (2009) and Jay (2008).

For his portrayal of Edward Navarro for the latter, he won three Best Supporting Actor at the Gawad Urian, Golden Screen and Gawad Genio Awards.

Coco Martin's breakthrough came with the lead role in the 2005 indie film, ' Masahista' (The Masseur), directed by Brillante Mendoza in his directorial debut under Gee Films Productions International and Centerstage Productions.

The film, which explored the life of a young man providing massages to gay men, received critical acclaim.

It won Best Movie and earned Martin his first Best Actor Award at the 2006 Young Critics Circle.

In 2006, Martin starred in another Brillante Mendoza-directed indie film, 'Summer Heat ' (released locally as 'Kaleldo').

The film garnered multiple nominations at the FAMAS Awards and Gawad Urian Awards, winning the critic's prize for the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) at the 2007 Jeonju International Film Festival in South Korea.

Throughout 2007, Martin continued his involvement in indie films, starring in 'Siquijor: Mystic Island,' a film directed by Mark Philip Espina.

He also had a cameo role in Seiko Films' indie production, Foster Child.

Notably, Martin top-billed 'Tirador,' another indie film directed by Brillante Mendoza, which delved into the political undertones of Filipino life in poverty.

Breaking into the mainstream, he gained further recognition for his roles in television shows such as Tayong Dalawa (2009), Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo (2010), Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin (2011), Walang Hanggan (2012), Juan dela Cruz (2013), Ikaw Lamang (2014), and reached superstardom status in the longest-running drama series on Philippine television, FPJ's Ang Probinsyano (2015), and FPJ's Batang Quiapo (2023).

He was also recognized as one of the most influential celebrities of the decade (2010-2019) at the 10th EdukCircle Awards.

His other notable films include Noy (2010) which was selected as the Philippine entry at the 83rd Academy Awards, Sa 'Yo Lamang (2010), Sta. Niña (2012) and Padre de Familia (2016) with Nora Aunor.

Rodel Pacheco Nacianceno was born in Santa Cruz, Manila, to Maria Teresa (née Pacheco) and Ramon Nacianceno.

He was young when his parents separated causing his grandmother, Matilde, to care for him.

He was raised in Novaliches, Quezon City, and would later admit that he spent most of his time on the streets to make ends meet.

During these years, he would often go to the Quiapo Church in Manila with his grandmother to seek guidance from the Black Nazarene.

Despite poor living conditions, he was able to attend elementary and high school at Capitol Institute in Novaliches.

Martin earned a degree in hotel and restaurant management from the National College of Business and Arts in Fairview, Quezon City.

To sustain his studies, Martin worked distributing flyers, as a barista, a merchandiser, a waiter, and a driver.

After finishing college, he flew to Alberta, Canada, where he worked as a janitor at a bingo parlor.

A widowed Filipino-Canadian woman promised to help him secure employment legally if he would work as her housekeeper, but the arrangement was unsuccessful.

Martin eventually returned to janitorial work, and after nine months, returned home to the Philippines.

Among his most successful films at the box-office include The Super Parental Guardians (2016), Beauty and the Bestie (2015), Jack Em Popoy: The Puliscredibles (2018), Ang Panday (2017), Feng Shui 2 (2014), You're My Boss (2015) and Maybe This Time (2014).

In 2017, Martin established his own production company CCM Film Productions.