Dina Bonnevie

Geraldine Schaer Bonnevie known as Dina Bonnevie (born January 27, 1961) is an award-winning actress in the Philippines. Before joining Philippine showbiz, Ms D (as she is popularly called) was first-runner in the Miss Magnolia 1979 Beauty Contest. She landed her first acting assignment in the campy "Temptation Island" in 1979 with Joey Gosingfiao at the helm. However, the following year, Regal Films launched her to lead star status via Joey Gosingfiao's "Katorse" opposite then boyfriend, Alfie Anido. The same film introduced a young Gabby Concepcion who essayed the role of a naughty brat of a man. Early life and background Bonnevie was born January 27, 1961 to Swiss mother Jeannette Schäer and French-Italian-Filipino father Honesto Bonnevie. Her paternal grandfather is Pedro José de Bonnevie, a significant landowner in the Bicol region. He hails from Évian-les-Bains, France and is part French and Italian. Her grandmother is pre-World War II actress Rosita Rivera, also from Bicol. She is a cousin of singer Lou Bonnevie. She has two children from her previous marriage with comedian Vic Sotto, Oyo Boy Sotto and Danica, both of whom are now in the entertainment industry as well. She was educated at St. Theresa's College, Manila and finished her elementary and secondary education at St. Agnes' Academy in Legazpi City, where she was very active in drama guilds. In 1979, she was first runner-up in Miss Magnolia contest, where Joanna Paras took home the title. In 1980 she enrolled in Communication Arts at the Ateneo de Manila University and, later, the University of the Philippines, unfortunately, she did not graduate and finish her degree. Introduced by young actor Alfie Anido to director Joey Gosiengfiao, she first appeared in teen dramas Underage (1980) and Temptation Island (1980), but her breakout movie was Katorse (1980) with Anido and Gabby Concepcion. This film established her as one of the "Regal Babies" (named after the studio, Regal Films). She then appeared in a longer slew of teenage love or growing-pains dramas. Bakit Ba Ganyan? (1981) was a film whose theme song she sang and popularized. In 1981, she starred in "Age Doesn't Matter" and was paired with Vic Sotto. What started as a reel romance turned real. The couple started a sitcom in 1982 to 86 over BBC channel 2 every Saturday at 8 pm entitled, "2 + 2 = Gulo" sharing stellar billing with Maricel Soriano, William Martinez and Herbert Bautista. During this period, Ms. D focused on being a homemaker for her family and would occasionally accept showbiz assignments. In-between her domestic life, she was able to finish Mike de Leon's "Hindi Nahahati ang Langit" in 1985, lending support to Lorna Tolentino, Elwood Perez' "Till We Meet Again" and Leroy Salvador's "Tinik sa Dibdib" both with Nora Aunor. In 1986, she was re-launched and re-packaged by Viva Films as a serious actress through the comics-adapted story, "Magdusa Ka!". This time, local award-giving bodies recognized her performance by giving her their highly-coveted statuettes. Acting career In 1985 she ventured into dramatic roles, starting with 'Mike de Leon' 's Hindi nahahati ang langit (1985). Her other films are A Dangerous Life (1988) (mini), with American actor Gary Busey; Orapronobis (1989), Pangarap na Ginto (1990), Huwag mong Salingin ang Sugat ko (1991) and Akin ang Pangarap Mo (1992). In Babaeng Nawawala sa Sarili (1989), Bonnevie sizzled and wowed critics and audiences alike in the role of a possessed woman. She also portrayed real-life characters, such as in Eskapo: The Serge Osmena-Geny Lopez Story (1995), as the wife of Geny Lopez; as one of the accused parents in the child-molestation drama, Minsan May Pangarap: The Guce Family Story (1995), shot in New York City; as the girlfriend of activist Leopoldo Mabilangan in Ka Hector (1995); and as Governor Chavit Singson's wife in Chavit (2003), opposite Cesar Montano and Eddie Garcia. She also did some sexy roles in Tag araw Tag Ulan where she starred with Gary Estrada. Other notable films where Bonnevie showed maturity as an actress include: Tinik sa Dibdib (1985), for which she won Best Supporting Actress at the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) and Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) awarding ceremonies; Magdusa Ka (1986), for which she was given Best Actress awards by FAMAS, FAP and Catholic Mass Media Awards; Gumapang ka sa Lusak (1990), directed by Lino Brocka, for which she was nominated by FAMAS and URIAN Awards for Best Actress; and Sa Kabila ng Lahat (1991), for which she was nominated by FAMAS, FAP and Urian Awards for Best Actress. Other acting nominations are for Kung Kasalanan Man (1989), FAMAS; Bakit Kay Tagal ng Sandali? (1990), FAP; Tanging Yaman (2000), which won Best Picture in nearly all the local awards ceremonies and gave her an URIAN Best Supporting Actress nomination; American Adobo (2001), URIAN Best Actress nomination; and Bridal Shower (2004), URIAN Best Actress nomination again. Bonnevie also appeared in bright comedies with her ex-husband, Vic Sotto, in Hindi Pa Tapos Ang Labada, Darling! (1994) and Bakit Ba Ganyan? (Ewan ko nga ba, Darling) (2000). When they were still married they also appeared together in Ride on Baby (1985) and Mama Said, Papa Said, I Love You (1985). Bonnevie also topbilled Tatarin (2001), based on the short story Summer Solstice by Nick Joaquin; critics nearly panned the movie but appreciated Bonnevie's nuanced characterization of Lupe Moreta. Retirement from film After the turn of film died down and TV dramas became a thing Dina Bonnevie then started in hot soaps such as May Bukas Pa with Viva Television and IBC-13 in 1999-2001 in 2001-2003 she joined GMA-7 with the Evening soap Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin. In 2003-2004 she starred in another Drama Narito Ang Puso Ko and 2004-2005 she had a Lead and recurring role In the Critically acclaimed Primetime Soap Opera “Hiram” starring Kris Aquino Mickey Ferriols Heart Evangelista and Anne Curtis which also aired internationally through The Filipino Channel earning her praise for her role on the Soap. In 2005-2006 she was seen less on television in 2007 she came back with soaps like Walang Kapalit and Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos? Which became a trend of Classic 80s films being a soap. And In 2008 she decided to do another Sine Novela “Babangon Ako’t Dudurugin Kita” with GMA Network as a recurring role. In 2009 another Soap May Bukas Pa a religious themed Soap who ironically had the same name as her 1999-2001 soap earned her many nominations as the soap ran for a year on television with an ensemble cast. 2010-2012 she was with Viva and TV5 doing multiple guestings and soaps in 2013 she returned to ABS-CBN to do the Crime Soap Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin with Dawn Zulueta and Gerald Anderson this time as a antagonist in 2015 she did the soap Beautiful Strangers with GMA-7 again with her Hiram co Star Heart Evangelista and her first time working with Lovi Poe Rocco Nacinno and again with Christopher De Leon Except for her stints on soap operas and for judging a recent TV talent contest (and appearing unclothed on the cover of the local FHM Magazine), Bonnevie disappeared from the limelight during 2005 and 2006; she was in the United States for business purposes. She is a guest-judge in U Can Dance Version 2. Music Her first and only album Bakit Ba Ganyan, released in 1981 by Octo Arts International (now PolyEast Records formerly EMI Music Philippines, Inc.), became a Gold Record. Before her album, she sang a slapstick comedy ballad "Upakan" with Joey de Leon, recorded live on a primetime TV show in 1980.