Quinto's show business career began in 1994, when she was offered a position by That's Entertainment. Her first film was Indecent Professor, starring Glydel Mercado, Amanda Page, and Michelle Parton.[8] She then played supporting roles, until she got her first major role in the 1997 film Gloria, Gloria Labandera.[9]
2000–2009: Rise to prominence and popularity
Quinto continued to reach new career heights at the turn of the new millennium after starring in the romantic drama film Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw (2000). In 2001, her first big break was when she starred in a titular role in the blockbuster hit Booba, which remains one of her most popular films to date.[10] Due to her screen popularity and voluptuous figure, she released her debut album Rated R that same year, which included the theme song of Booba.[11] In 2003, she hosted the MTV Pilipinas Music Awards with Ogie Alcasid. In 2004, she landed another box-office hit Masikip sa Dibdib where she is credited as one of the producers of the film.[12] The accompanying soundtrack of the film includes a song with Regine Velasquez doing the backing vocals.[13] In 2005, she landed a Best Actress nomination at the prestigious FAMAS Awards for her performance in the film Mano Po 4: Ako Legal Wife, where she competed with the likes of Claudine Barretto and Irma Adlawan. At this point of her career, she has already worked with the likes of Rudy Fernandez, Robin Padilla, Bong Revilla, Regine Velasquez and Ai-Ai delas Alas. She would later star in Regal and GMA Films Desperadas series as a sex author in Desperadas and Desperadas 2 and produced her film Status Single through On-Q 28 productions.[14] In 2009, FHM Philippines listed her among the Top 25 sexiest women of the decade.[15]
2010–2019: Established actress and continued success
With over 15 years of experience in the show business, Quinto has already established herself as a pop culture icon in the industry. In 2011, she starred in the sexy comedy film Temptation Island and was a box-office success. It earned a whooping ₱10 million in its first day,[16] around ₱27.65 million in its first 5 days and has grossed ₱55.42 million within 2 weeks, becoming the 8th highest grossing domestic film of 2011.[17] The next year, she tied with Pokwang on winning Best Comedy Actress at the 2012 PMPC Star Awards for her performance in the comedy show Bubble Gang.[18]
2020–present: Hiatus and showbiz comeback
In 2020, Quinto and her family moved to the United States. After two years of hiatus from show business, she made a comeback and signed a management contract with Sparkle GMA Artist Center.[19] She landed a major role in the GTV's first family sitcom Tols.[20] Not long after, she immediately made guest appearances on Mars Pa More and Family Feud. She top billed an episode for Tadhana with acclaimed actress Irma Adlawan.[21] In 2023, Preview Magazine hailed Quinto as "The backbone of Filipino pop culture."[22]
Personal life
Quinto is the daughter of Alexander Quinto and Fe Ann "Carol" Ocampo,[1] who separated when she was only one year old.[8] She is the second paternal cousin of singer and actress Angeline Quinto who was also in a relationship with her singer ex-boyfriend Erik Santos. She is also the second cousin of Jean Garcia, who also came from That's Entertainment, and the second-degree aunt of Jennica Garcia.[citation needed]
On August 30, 2007, burglars broke into Quinto's house in an exclusive subdivision in Quezon City; she lost valuable property worth P2 million (a watch worth P1.2 million, a laptop, and valuables from inside her bag).[23][24]
Quinto married financial analyst, Trevor Magallanes on November 25, 2016 in Quezon City.[26] The two had met in 2016, during Quinto's fifth visit in the United States.[27] She gave birth to their first daughter Athena on February 18, 2017.[28] Quinto and her daughter splits their time between the Philippines and the United States, where her husband is based.[29] As of September 2020, she and her daughter have applied for a U.S. green card.[30]
