Sheryl Cruz

Sheryl Rose Anna Marie Sonora Cruz (born April 5, 1974) is a Filipino actress, singer, television personality, and composer. Beginning her career as a child actress, she rose to prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s as one of the leading young stars of Philippine film and television. She gained recognition as a member of the youth-oriented television program That's Entertainment and as a member of the singing trio The Triplet, alongside Tina Paner and Manilyn Reynes.

Throughout a career spanning more than four decades, Cruz has appeared in numerous films, television dramas, anthology programs, musical productions, and variety shows. She is known for her roles in Sinasamba Kita, Rosalinda, Bakekang, Magkaagaw, Prima Donnas, Lilet Matias: Attorney-at-Law, and Born to Shine. In addition to acting, she pursued a recording career and received Gold and Platinum Record Awards as a solo artist. Her work in film, television, and music has earned recognition from organizations including the Film Academy of the Philippines, the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation, the PMPC Star Awards, and the Film Development Council of the Philippines. GMA News Online identified Cruz as one of the notable alumni of That's Entertainment, alongside Lea Salonga, Francis Magalona, Billy Crawford, Ruffa Gutierrez, Manilyn Reynes, Romnick Sarmenta, Keempee de Leon, and Janno Gibbs.

Cruz is the daughter of actors Ricky Belmonte and Rosemarie Sonora, the niece of actress Susan Roces and actor Tirso Cruz III, and the niece by marriage of National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Fernando Poe Jr.

Beginning her career as a child actress, Sheryl Cruz later emerged as one of the prominent young actresses of Philippine film and television during the late 1980s and early 1990s. She gained wider recognition as part of the pioneering generation of performers on the youth-oriented variety program That's Entertainment, created by German Moreno, where she was a member of the program's Wednesday Group. During her years on the program, Cruz was also a member of The Triplet, a singing trio composed of Cruz, Kristina Paner, and Manilyn Reynes.

Prior to and during her participation in That's Entertainment, Cruz established herself as one of the most recognizable young stars of her generation through numerous film appearances and her popular screen partnership with Romnick Sarmenta. A retrospective published by PEP.ph noted that Cruz had already been dubbed the "Princess of Philippine Cinema" during her years on the program, while GMA News Online referred to her as the "Princess of Philippine Movies". Her growing popularity was attributed in part to the success of her love team with Sarmienta.

After returning to the Philippines, Cruz resumed her acting career as a freelance actress, appearing in television, film, and musical projects across multiple networks and production companies. In a 2007 interview with PEP.ph, she described herself as a freelance artist and stated that she was not under an exclusive contract with any television network, allowing her to accept projects from different broadcasters.