Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1986-09-21
Hazel Orencio
Hazel Orencio is an internationally acclaimed Filipina actress and filmmaker born on September 21, 1986, in Antipolo, Rizal. A graduate of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, she has become one of the most significant figures in Philippine "New Wave" cinema, primarily through her prolific decade-long collaboration with director Lav Diaz. She first gained global recognition when she won the Boccalino D'Oro Best Actress Award at the 2014 Locarno International Film Festival for her role in the Golden Leopard-winning epic From What Is Before (Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon). Beyond her work as a leading character actress, Orencio often takes on a multi-hyphenate role within the production company Sine Olivia Pilipinas, serving as a producer, assistant director, and casting director for Diaz's expansive cinematic works, including A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery (2016) and Season of the Devil (2018). In the 2025 historical epic Magellan, Orencio plays Reyna Juana, the wife of Rajah Humabon. To prepare for the role, she dedicated months to learning the Cebuano (Bisaya) language to ensure historical and linguistic authenticity, as the film focuses on the indigenous perspective of the 1521 encounter. In addition to her performance, she served as a production manager for the film, bridging the logistics between the Philippine, Portuguese, and Spanish co-production teams. As of 2026, Orencio remains a staple of the international film festival circuit and is widely regarded as a pivotal collaborator in modern cinema, often advocating for the preservation of Filipino history through the "slow cinema" movement.
Person History
Magellan 2025
2025