Nora Aunor

Nora Cabaltera Villamayor (born May 21, 1953), known professionally as Nora Aunor, is a Filipino actress, recording artist, and film producer.

Aunor has also appeared in several stage plays, television shows and concerts.

She is known as Philippine cinema's "Superstar" and was conferred as a National Artist of the Philippines for Film and Broadcast Arts in 2022.

The Hollywood Reporter called her "The Grand Dame of Philippine Cinema" for her performances in the movies Taklub (Trap) and Hustisya (Justice), and for her contributions to the Philippine film industry.

Aunor started her career as a singer, after winning a local talent search.

She rose to fame in the following years as both a singer and actress.

Aunor went to Mabini Memorial College (1959 to 1960) when she was in the first grade and transferred to Nichols Air Base Elementary School (1960 to 1962) when she reached the second grade.

She finished high school at Generosa de Leon Memorial College in Paranaque, a branch of Centro Escolar University.

After her film debut All Over the World (1967), she transitioned into heavy drama with highly acclaimed performances in films such as Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos (Three Years Without God) (1976), Minsa'y Isang Gamu-gamo (Once a Moth) (1976), Ina Ka ng Anak Mo (You Are the Mother of Your Daughter) (1979), Himala (Miracle) (1982), Bulaklak sa City Jail (Flowers of the City Jail) (1984), and Bona (1980).

The Grand National Finals of Tawag ng Tanghalan was on May 29, 1967, where she sang "Moonlight Becomes You."

After winning the local talent search, Tawag ng Tanghalan in 1967, she made her first appearance as a guest at Timi Yuro's Araneta Coliseum concert.

She made her first TV appearance as a guest in An Evening with Pilita hosted by Pilita Corrales and Carmen on Camera hosted by Carmen Soriano.

On October 2, 1967, Aunor signed an eight-picture non-exclusive contract with Sampaguita Pictures, with the assurance that she would be given a singing part.

Aunor made several youth-oriented films like All Over The World and Way Out of the Country.

From September to December 1967 Aunor had supporting and minor roles in six films.

Meanwhile, she made several singles like "Moonlight Becomes You" and "There's Just Forever" for Citation Records, and "No Return, No Exchange" and "You are My First Love" for Jasper Recording.

1968 was a less busy time; she only had minor roles in three films, mostly for musical numbers.

By the beginning of 1969, she appeared in movies such as 9 Teeners, a popular TV show that time, and Young Girl, where she was teamed up for the first time with Tirso Cruz III.

That year her contract with Sampaguita Pictures expired and she made movies with other studios, including Banda 24 and Drakulita for Barangay, Oh Delilah, Karate Showdown, Pabandying-Bandying and Adriana.

Tower Records gave Aunor her first starring role opposite Tirso Cruz III, the "D' Musical Teenage Idols" by Tower Productions, directed by Artemio Marquez, was shown on September 23, 1969.

Three days after, on September 26, 1969, Sampaguita Pictures released its 34th-anniversary presentation, Fiesta Extravaganza.

Aunor and actor Christopher de Leon tied the knot on January 25, 1975, in a civil ceremony.

She and De León have one biological child: actor Ian de León (born 1975) and four adopted children Lotlot de Leon Matet de Leon, Kiko and Kenneth.

She and her husband renewed their vows on January 27, 1976, in a religious service officiated by Rev Alleysius Rodríguez.

She is the most nominated actress in the history of the Gawad Urian Awards with 21 nominations, winning seven, and the only performer to be chosen as one of The Best Actors and Actresses of the Decade in three different decades (1980s, 1990s, and 2010s) by the same awards body.

She has won eight trophies from PMPC Star Awards for her work in film and television, as well as eight Metro Manila Film Festival Awards, four Luna Awards, five Young Critics Circle Awards, a Cairo International Film Festival award, an Asia Pacific Screen Award, an Asian Film Award, among others.

Nora Aunor was born as Nora Cabaltera Villamayor in Barrio San Francisco, Iriga City, Camarines Sur Province to Antonia Cabaltera and Eustacio Villamayor.

She has nine siblings, including Eddie Villamayor, a former actor.

When Nora was growing up, her grandmother Lola Theresa taught her to sing; the first song she learned was "The Way of a Clown".

Her aunt, Belen Aunor, taught her diction, interpretation, and expression while singing, and gave her her screen name.

Before her fame, she lived a poverty stricken childhood and selling peanuts on the buses and cold water in front of the Bicol Express Train Station to make ends meet.

She became a champion at the Darigold Jamboree radio singing contest, singing her winning piece "You and the Night and the Music."

After that, she won in another radio singing contest, The Liberty Big Show.

She entered the national singing contest, Tawag ng Tanghalan, was defeated on her first try, but became a champion on her second attempt.

In the following decades, her performances in The Flor Contemplacion Story (1995), Bakit May Kahapon Pa? (1996), Thy Womb (2012), and Dementia (2014) gave her further international recognition and numerous international awards and nominations.

For her work, Aunor received 17 FAMAS Award nominations and is a "Hall of Fame" inductee, winning five Best Actress Awards.

The couple later separated, and their marriage was dissolved in 1996.

Aunor became a permanent resident of the United States in 2008, but retains her Filipino citizenship.

In 2011, she came back to the Philippines to resume her acting and singing career after an 8-year hiatus.

Her niece was Marion Aunor is also a singer and a recent new actress following the footsteps of Marion's Aunt Nora Aunor.