CHARITO SOLIS: FIRST-RATE DRAMATIC ACTRESS

From the very start, LVN’s Doña Sisang went out of her way for Charito Solis. There was something in her young beauty that softened Doña Sisang’s heart. Fair of face, lithe, the young Solis had an incandescence that showed in her eyes, but in her eyes alone. She was always inward and inclined to be morose and, even later when she was a top star, was never known as the life of the party.

That reserve may have been the reason why Doña Sisang at once took to her. Unlike other LVN top stars that had to make their way, sometimes very slow, up the ladder, Charito had top billing in her very first role, Niña Bonita (1955). Her leading man was Jaime de la Rosa, one of the established stars in the LVN roster then. Charito’s star rose in LVN as Doña Sisang gave her leading roles with all the well-known actors and directors of the time. But it was in Krisalis (1957) that Charito experienced her first box-office hit.
[Excerpt from the book Dona Sisang & Filipino Movies/ 1977]

In Malvarosa (1958), Charito did a superb and credible performance which revealed her range as a melodramatic star. She later won two successive FAMAS best actress awards in Kundiman ng Lahi (1959) and Emily (1960). She did daring and bold roles when she turned freelance in the early 60s in such movies as Angustia, where she won her third FAMAS best actress award, 3 Mukha ni Pandora (1963), Magda Sales (1963) and Nagbabagang Paraiso (1964). She did several memorable movies under Nepomuceno Productions, notably Dahil sa Isang Bulaklak (1967), Ang Langit sa Lupa (1967), Ang Pulubi (1968), Manila Open City (1968), among others.

She was elevated into the FAMAS Hall of Fame when she won her fourth and fifth FAMAS best actress awards in Igorota (1968) and in Don’t Cry for me Mama (1983). She was also awarded the URIAN Best Actress in Lino Brocka’s Ina, Kapatid, Anak (1979) and URIAN best supporting actress in Mike de Leon’s Kisapmata (1981) and Marilou Diaz-Abaya’s Karnal and FAP best supporting actress also for Karnal.

Nina Bonita (1955) - Charito's first movie with Jaime de la Rosa

Charito, I Love You (1957)- Stars Charito Solis and Leroy Salvador

Rose Tatoo ng Buhay Ko (1958)- Stars Diomedes Maturan, Charito Solis and Eddie Rodriguez

Villa Milagrosa (1958)- Stars Nestor de Villa, Charito Solis, Eddie Rodriguez and Nita Javier

Emily (1960) - Stars Pancho Magalona, Leroy Salvador, Eddie Rodriguez, Marita Zobel, Merle Tuazon and Charito Solis in an award-winning performance

Sandata at Pangako (1961)- Stars Fernando Poe, Jr., Charito Solis, Bernard Bonnin and Lourdes Medel

Mahal Kita Inay (1962) - Stars Zaldy Zshornack, Van de Leon, Cielito Legaspi, Rodolfo Cristobal, Rosa Aguirre, Vilma Valera and Charito Solis

The Princess and I (1962)- Stars Charito Solis and Kojiro Hongo

3 Mukha ni Pandora (1963) - Stars Charito Solis, Van de Leon, Bob Soler and Eddie Rodriguez


Ang Bukas ay Akin (1963) - Stars Nestor de Villa, Bella Flores, Zeny Zabala and Charito Solis

Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Daigdig (1963) - Stars Willie Sotelo, Bert Silva, Annabelle Huggins and Charito Solis

Maria Dolores (1963)- Stars Charito Solis, Eddie Mesa, Lourdes Medel

Sugapa (1963)- Stars Joseph Estrada and Charito Solis with Stella Suarez

Ginintuang Ani (1964)- Stars Nestor de Villa and Charito Solis

Lagablab sa Maribojoc (1964) - Stars Cesar Ramirez, Charito Solis, Johnny Monteiro, Maggie de la Riva, Oscar Roncal

Nagbabagang Paraiso (1964) - Stars Charito Solis, Amado Cortez, Leroy Salvador, Gloria Sevilla and introducing Alona Alegre

Magda Sales (1964) - Stars Charito Solis and Bob Soler

Claudia (1966) - Stars Zaldy Zshornack, Lauro Delgado, Renato Robles and Charito Solis/ Directed by Lamberto Avellana

Ang Tao ay Makasalanan (1966)- Luis Gonzales, Vic Vargas, Paraluman and Charito Solis

Kapag Langit ang Umusig (1966) - Luis Gonzales, Vic Vargas, Rosa Mia and Charito Solis

Mga Pag-ibig ni Christine (1966) - Stars Vic Vargas, Edgar Salcedo, Ramil Rodriguez and Charito Solis

Dahil sa Isang Bulaklak (1967) - Stars Charito Solis, Ric Rodrigo, Paraluman, Rod Navarro and introducing Liza Lorena

Ang Langit sa Lupa (1967) -Stars Charito Solis, Ric Rodrigo, Liza Lorena, Greg Martin

Luha sa Karimlan (1968) - Stars Charito Solis

Ina, Kapatid, Anak (1979) - One of Charito's best performances in which she was awarded the Urian Best Actress. The film was directed by National Artist Lino Brocka.

City After Dark (1980) - Another Charito's finest movie, this time from the direction of National Artist Ishmael Bernal.

Kisapmata (1981)- Stars Charito Solis, Vic Silayan, Charo Santos and Jay Ilagan/ Directed by Mike De Leon / Charito won the Urian Best supporting actress award