Barbara Perez (born January 4, 1938) is a Filipina actress in movies and television. She was tagged as the "Audrey Hepburn of the Philippines" due to her doe eyes, pixie face, swan-like neck and 19-inch waistline. In the west she appeared in No Man Is an Island, a 1962 Hollywood movie starring Jeffrey Hunter.
A Prolific Film Actress in the late '70s to '80s, she lended her thespic talents as a kontrabida or antagonist/villain. In 2002 to 2004, she was a part of the GMA Primetime hit soap Ang Iibigin ay Ikaw and Ang Iibigin ay Ikaw Pa Rin as Felisa.
Career
Perez appeared in more than 75 movies and television shows since 1956. Perez made films included Pagdating ng Takip-Silim (1956), Chabacano (1956), Pampanguena (1956), Gigolo (1956), Ate Barbara (1957), Kalabog En Bosyo (1959) and Tatlong Ilaw sa Dambana (1958).
After she made No Man Is an Island (1962), she was offered a five-year contract by Universal Studios. But she turned it down and decided to marry her boyfriend, Robert Arevalo. She appeared with her real-life husband in Daigdig ng Mga Api (1965) which garnered Best Actor and Best Actress awards for the couple.
In 2018 after almost 5 years on hiatus, she returned to showbiz via GMA Network's series Sherlock Jr.
Personal life
Born Barbara Muñoz Perez III, after her grandmother and mother, she is the eldest among the nine children of Antonio Perez from Urdaneta, Pangasinan and Barbara Munoz of Manila. Her grandfather was a Spanish engineer, who was among the builders of the national landmark, the Manila Hotel.
Perez was a journalism junior at University of Santo Tomas before entering showbiz. She married veteran dramatic actor Robert Arevalo,[2] with whom she has three children, Anna, a director of commercials; Georgina, a full-time hands-on mom; and Christian, a student at Xavier School.
^"Comedy addicts have field day in riotous Sampaguita offering". The Manila Times. The Manila Times Publishing Company, Inc. November 16, 1959. p. 5-B. The Spider Tango of Barbara Perez and Greg Martin, where the former tries to trap the latter with a 'will you come into my parlor' line.
^"Grand Opening Saturday". The Manila Times. The Manila Times Publishing Company, Inc. November 18, 1959.