LJ Reyes
Lourna Jane Pujeda Reyes-Evangelista (born December 25, 1987), known professionally as LJ Reyes, is a Filipino actress. She is best known as one of the Final Four in the second season of the widely acclaimed GMA reality TV show, StarStruck. She won Best Actress at the 39th Gawad Urian Awards.[1] She is currently an exclusive artist of GMA Network.
LJ Reyes | |
|---|---|
| Born | Lourna Jane Pujeda Reyes December 25, 1987 |
| Other names | LJ Reyes |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, Dancer, Model |
| Years active | 2004–2020 (on hiatus) |
| Agent | Sparkle GMA Artist Center (2004–2020) |
| Known for | Marge in D' Originals Senyora Angeli in Pinulot Ka Lang sa Lupa Flora in Yagit Kate in Prinsesa ng Buhay Ko Lourdes in Aso ni San Roque Zaira in Time of My Life Frances in The Good Daughter |
| Spouse |
Philip Evangelista (m. 2023) |
| Children | 2 |
Life and career
LJ Reyes was born in Fairview, Quezon City. She spent her high school days at St. Stephen's High School.
In 2004, Reyes auditioned for the second season of StarStruck where she ended up as First Princess. Her first show was Now and Forever: Mukha, where she worked with StarStruck runners-up and winners Ryza Cenon, CJ Muere and Mike Tan. Aside from acting, she is also a good dancer, performing with Cenon, Mark Herras, Marky Cielo among others. She is involved mostly in supporting roles on GMA Network shows.
Reyes had her biggest break as a lead villainess in Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan then, playing one of the leading ladies to JC de Vera in Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita. Reyes had another break by joining the cast of Una Kang Naging Akin, another Filipino soap opera. Reyes was given many praises by critics for her outstanding role in Una Kang Naging Akin which made her rise to fame. She posed for the local FHM magazine in December 2009 where she was also the cover girl.[2]
In 2010, she formed a trio called SH3, with Ryza Cenon and Chynna Ortaleza, and they performed on the Sunday variety show SOP Rules until the group disbanded because of plagiarism issues. In the same year, she won as Best Supporting Actress in Cinemalaya for her role in the indie movie The Leaving.
Reyes was baptized in August 2015 as a Born again.[3]
Personal life
She dated fellow GMA artist Paulo Avelino, who was a contestant in the fourth season of StarStruck. On July 24, 2010, she gave birth to their son. She dated Paolo Contis from 2016 to 2021. On January 4, 2019, she gave birth to their daughter. On September 1, 2021, she confirmed that she and Contis were no longer together. On May 30, 2023, Reyes announced her engagement to her boyfriend, Philip Evangelista.[4] The couple married on October 8, 2023 in Eatons Neck, New York.[5]
Filmography
Television shows
| Year | Title | Role | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Now and Forever: Mukha | Melody | |
| 2006 | I Luv NY | Ponyang | |
| 2006–2007 | Makita Ka Lang Muli | Vianne | |
| 2007 | Magic Kamison | Misty | |
| Lupin | Elaine | ||
| Fantastic Man | Binhi (Season 2) | ||
| 2007–2008 | Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan | Amazonang Lila / Debbie | |
| 2008 | Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita | Joanna Marie "Joey" Salcedo | |
| Sine Novela: Una Kang Naging Akin | Liway Mallari | ||
| 2009 | Totoy Bato | Gilette Molina | |
| Zorro | Sandy | ||
| All My Life | Maricar | ||
| 2010 | Sine Novela: Ina, Kasusuklaman Ba Kita? | Katrina Evangelista | |
| 2011 | Time of My Life | Zaira Marquez | |
| 2012 | The Good Daughter | Francesca "Frances" Alejandro Reyes | |
| 2012–2013 | Aso ni San Roque | Lourdes / Lualhati Salvador | |
| 2013 | Wagas (Coach Rio Dela Cruz and Nicole Wuthrich Story) | Nicole Wuthrich | |
| Bayan Ko | Atty. Karen Canlas | ||
| 2013–2014 | Prinsesa ng Buhay Ko | Kate Napoleon | |
| 2014–2015 | Yagit | Florentina "Flora" Fabro Trinidad-Macabuhay | |
| 2015 | Magpakailanman: Under1Roof | Heidi | |
| Karelasyon#PanchoLJRyza | Melissa | ||
| 2015–2016 | MariMar | Inocencia Corcuera-Arcega | |
| 2016 | Wagas (Courageous Caitie Story) | Feliz Lucas | |
| Alamat: Alamat ng Saging | Juana (Voice Only) | ||
| Karelasyon | Claire | ||
| Poor Señorita | Angie Batumbakal | ||
| Dear Uge: Single Teacher meets Single Dad | Luisa | ||
| Dear Uge: My Millenial Mom | Rita | ||
| 2017 | Pinulot Ka Lang sa Lupa | Angeli "Geli" Martinez-Esquivel | |
| Wish Ko Lang: Miss Pulis | SPO3 Rowena Jacosalem | ||
| D' Originals | Marjorie "Marge" Pineda-Tolentino | ||
| 3 Days of Summer | Herself | ||
| Tadhana: Yaya Abogada | Chona | ||
| 2018 | Sherlock Jr. | Meryl | |
| The Cure | Katrina Contes |
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Studio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Lovestruck | Sophia | GMA Films |
| 2006 | Puso 3 | Erika | GMA Films |
| Manay Po! | Gina | Regal Entertainment | |
| 2007 | Pi7ong Tagpo | Tanya | C Features |
| 2010 | The Leaving | Grace | Cinemalaya |
| 2012 | Intoy Syokoy ng Kalye Marino | Doray | Cinemalaya |
| Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles | Hilda | Reality Entertainment, Agosto Dos Pictures, GMA Films | |
| 2013 | She's the One | Alice | Star Cinema |
| 2015 | Anino Sa Likod ng Buwan | Emma | Octobertrain Films, The IdeaFirst Company |
| Haunted Mansion | Veronica Lobregat | Regal Entertainment |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Organization/Critics | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 39th Gawad Urian Awards | Best Actress | Ang Anino sa Likod ng Buwan | Won |
| 2016 | 32nd PMPC Star Awards for Movies | Movie Actress of the Year | Ang Anino sa Likod ng Buwan | Nominated |
| 2013 | ENPRESS Golden Screen Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Drama) | Intoy Shokoy ng Kalye Marino | Nominated |
| 2010 | Cinemalaya 2010 | Best Supporting Actress | The Leaving | |
| 2008 | FHM Philippines | Rank #89 | ||
| 2007 | FHM Philippines | Rank #45 | ||
| 2006 | FHM Philippines | Rank #65 | ||
| 2005 | StarStruck 2 | First Princess | ||
| 2005 | StarStruck 2 | 4 Pre-Recognition Award | ||
References
- Ligunas, Mary Louise (June 23, 2016). "LJ Reyes wins Best Actress in 39th Gawad Urian Awards". GMANetwork.com. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- "LJ Reyes, nagpasexy na!". GMANetwork.com. December 9, 2009.
- "TRIVIA: Celebs who converted to another religion". GMANetwork.com. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
- Chua, EJ (May 30, 2023). "LJ Reyes is now engaged to her non-showbiz partner". GMANetwork.com. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- Aquino, Maine (October 8, 2023). "First look at LJ Reyes and Philip Evangelista's New York wedding". GMA Network.