Chai Fonacier
Born (1986-09-27) September 27, 1986 (age 37)
Cagayan de Oro, Philippines[1]
Occupation(s)
Actress, writer, singer, songwriter

Chai Fonacier (born September 27, 1986) is a Filipino actress, singer and songwriter.

Career

Music

Fonancier was a contestant of the first season of Pinoy Dream Academy.[2] She was also a part of the defunct Cebu-based trip hop trio Womb with Anthony Uy and Fender Figuera.[3]

Acting

Fonacier won her first Best Supporting Actress award in the 11th Sinulog Film Festival for her performance in Ara Chawdhury's short film Operation Prutas in 2015.[4][5] Later in the same year, she appeared in the Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival entry Miss Bulalacao and won the Best Supporting Actress award.[6]

In 2016, Fonacier appeared in the film Pauwi Na.[2] For her performance in Patay na si Hesus, Fonacier was awarded Best Supporting Actress in the 35th Luna Awards.[1]

In 2018, Fonacier appeared in the film Asuang.[7] She also appeared in Halik and Wansapanataym's Switch be with You miniseries, both running from 2018 to 2019.

In 2019, she appeared in the films Born Beautiful and Sakaling Maging Tayo.[8] Later in the same year, she would reprise her role in the TV adaptation of Born Beautiful.

Personal life

When speaking of her acting role portraying a trans man, Fonacier stated she identifies as cisgender and mostly straight[2], so she talked to her LGBTQ++ friends about their experiences to prepare for the role and to perform it with sensitivity.

She speaks English, Cebuano, Tagalog, and Hiligaynon.[1]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes Source
2006 Pinoy Dream Academy Herself — Contestant Season 1 [2]
2018–2019 Halik Chari Ortiz [9][10]
2018–2019 Wansapanataym Upeng Atay-atayan Miniseries: "Switch be with You"
2019 Born Beautiful Percival Episode: "Tarantulala Sa'yo"
2019 Ipaglaban Mo! Gina Episode: "Paninira"
2021–2022 FPJ's Ang Probinsyano Cheche Season 9 [11]
2022–2023 Maria Clara at Ibarra Lucia [12]
2024 The Bagman [13]

Film

Year Title Role Notes Source
2015 Operation Prutas Short film [4][5]
2015 Miss Bulalacao [6]
2017 Patay na si Hesus Judith "Jude" Marie [1][8]
Respeto Betchai [1][14]
2018 Asuang [7]
2019 Sakaling Maging Tayo Ernaline Marie "Erna" Alindogan [8]
Born Beautiful Yumi [8]
2022 Nocebo Diana Filipino-Irish film [15]

Awards and nominations

Year Work Award Category Result Source
2015 Operation Prutas Sinulog Film Festival Best Supporting Actress Won [6]
Miss Bulalacao Cinema One Originals Film Festival Best Supporting Actress Won [6]
2017 Patay na si Hesus PMPC Star Awards for Movies Movie Supporting Actress of the Year Nominated
Young Critics Circle Awards Best Performance by Male or Female, Adult or Child, Individual or Ensemble in Leading or Supporting Role[a] Nominated
Luna Awards Best Supporting Actress Won [1]
2018 "Kun Di Pa Lang Ko Buang" Cebu Siloy Music Awards Best Vocal Performance — Female Nominated [16]
Respeto PMPC Star Awards for Movies Movie Supporting Actress of the Year Nominated
Gawad Urian Awards Best Supporting Actress Nominated
FAMAS Awards Best Supporting Actress Nominated
Asuang Cinema One Originals Film Festival Best Supporting Actress Nominated

Notes

  1. ^ Shared with the cast of Patay na si Hesus.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Gallaga, Wanggo (November 24, 2017). "Chai Fonacier Flourishes in the New and Unknown". Young Star. The Philippine Star. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d "Chai Fonacier: 'I Believe Comedy Saves Lives'". InterAksyon. The Philippine Star. August 17, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  3. ^ Escandor, Fiona Patricia S. (February 28, 2014). "Womb". SunStar Weekend. SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Catan, Patricia May P. (October 16, 2017). "The Many Characters of Chai". SunStar Cebu. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Cajegas, Orly J. (March 8, 2015). "Ara Chawdhury Breaking the Mold". Cebu Daily News. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d Padayhag, Michelle Joy L. (August 27, 2017). "Chai Fonacier Wins Best Supporting Actress". Cebu Daily News. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Tayting, Desa. "Cinema One Originals 2018 Has All the Right Feels". StarStudio. ABS-CBN Corporation. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  8. ^ a b c d "Cebu's Cool Spots, According to Chai Fonacier". GMA News Online. January 19, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  9. ^ "'Halik' Primetime's Most Daring Drama". Manila Standard. August 12, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  10. ^ "Pictorial Photos: Chai Fonacier Bilang si Chari sa 'Halik'". ABS-CBN Corporation. August 7, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  11. ^ "[Only IN Hollywood] Dolly, Sol, and now Chai Fonacier – a great year for Pinoy actors in European cinema". RAPPLER. October 12, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  12. ^ Llemit, Kathleen A. (November 29, 2022). "Salome introduced, Padre Salvi finally meets Klay in 'Maria Clara at Ibarra'". Philstar.com. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  13. ^ Standard, Manila (March 3, 2024). "World-class actors join ABS-CBN's 'The Bagman'". Manila Standard. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  14. ^ Domingo, Gay Ace (August 17, 2017). "'Patay na si Hesus' Lives Up to the Hype". GMA News Online. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  15. ^ Hawson, Fred (December 4, 2022). "Movie review: Pinoy actors shine in 'Nocebo,' 'To the North'". ABS CBN News. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  16. ^ Libre, Mel (May 19, 2018). "Siloy Winners". Seriously Now. SunStar. Retrieved November 6, 2021.

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