Marian Gracia Rivera, more popularly known as Marian Rivera (born August 12, 1984 in Madrid, Spain) is a Spanish-Filipino actress and commercial model. Her first TV role came in 2005 via TAPE Inc.'s afternoon drama, Kung Mamahalin Mo Lang Ako in the lead. However, her breakout role did not come until 2007 when she was cast as the title role in the Philippine remake of MariMar.
Marimar was a Philippine drama previously being broadcast in GMA network starring Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera in her first lead role as the protagonist Marimar.
Though a remake-adaptation of a Mexican telenovela the setting and some of the storylines were altered to avoid the series being too predictable. Directed by award-winning directors Joyce E. Bernal and Mac Alejandre, the series premiered on August 13, 2007.
MariMar premiered on August 13, 2007 with a 36.6% rating and was able
to maintain strong ratings throughout its run. The two-hour finale of MariMar on March 14, 2008 generated a whooping 52.6% rating to break its own record of 49.5% set on November 16, 2007.
Due to the astounding success of MariMar, Rivera was honored by the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation, Inc. (GMMSF) as the Phenomenal TV Star in the 38th Box-Office Entertainment Awards.
