Krista Elyse Hidalgo Sullivan (born May 3, 1991), known professionally as Bela Padilla (), is a Filipino actress, host, singer, writer, and director.
She is best known for her roles in television dramas on GMA and ABS-CBN, as well as critically acclaimed films such as 100 Tula Para Kay Stella (2017) and Meet Me in St. Gallen (2018). She is also recognized for her performances in The Day After Valentine's (2018) and On Vodka, Beers, and Regrets (2020). In 2022, she made her directorial debut with the film 366, which she also starred in alongside Zanjoe Marudo and JC Santos, produced by Viva Films. Additionally, she wrote the screenplay for Joyce Bernal's film Last Night (2017).
Early life and background Krista Elyse Hidalgo Sullivan was born to a British father, Cornelius Gary Sullivan, and a Filipina mother, Margarette "Meg" Cariño Hidalgo. Her father was divorced from his first wife. She has three elder half-siblings in England from her father's first marriage, as well as an older brother from both of her parents. She first attended a Montessori-style international school in Forbes Park, Makati, before attending the foreigners' class at Colegio San Agustin – Makati. Padilla took up journalism as an elective in senior high school. Padilla was a classmate of fellow actress Lovi Poe.
Padilla's maternal grandmother is the sister of Eva Cariño-Padilla, wife of actor-director and former Camarines Norte governor Roy Padilla Sr. She is the niece, by second-degree consanguinity, of actors Rommel Padilla, Robin Padilla, and BB Gandanghari, and second cousin to RJ and Daniel Padilla (sons of Rommel), as well as Queenie and Kylie Padilla (daughters of Robin). She is a practicing Jehovah's Witness. Padilla's father, Cornelius, died in August 2023.
Acting career Padilla was discovered by ABS-CBN talent scout Jet Valle during one of his field trips. Valle introduced her to ABS-CBN, where she joined Star Magic Batch 15 and adopted the stage name "Krista Valle." Her debut television role came in 2007 in the teen drama series Star Magic Presents: Abt Ur Luv Ur Lyf 2. She later changed her stage name to "Krista Sullivan" when she transitioned to a freelance acting career. In 2009, she appeared in a minor role in the TV series Totoy Bato, and shortly after, she became a regular cast member of Lokomoko High on TV5.
In 2010, Padilla left Star Magic, signed with manager Claire dela Fuente, and moved to GMA. With this move, she also adopted the name "Bela Padilla." She starred in the 2011 fantasy series Machete alongside Aljur Abrenica. That same year, she won the Miss Friendship and Media's Darling awards at the 2011 Asian Super Model Contest, held in Guilin and Nanning in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China.
Padilla made headlines in 2012 when her FHM Philippines magazine cover for the March issue was pulled due to accusations of racism. Later that year, she starred in the titular role in the afternoon drama series Magdalena: Anghel sa Putikan. In 2013, she starred opposite Richard Gutierrez in the primetime series Love & Lies.
After a return to ABS-CBN in 2015, Padilla joined the action-packed series FPJ's Ang Probinsyano alongside Coco Martin. Two years later, in 2017, she headlined the drama series My Dear Heart and starred in the romantic film 100 Tula Para Kay Stella, which became the highest-grossing film at the first Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino. She made her debut as a screenwriter in the film Last Night, which premiered on September 27, 2017, through Star Cinema.
Padilla took the lead role in the 2019 crime drama series Sino ang Maysala?: Mea Culpa. She also starred in the Philippine adaptation of the Korean film Miracle in Cell No. 7, which was an official entry to the 2019 Metro Manila Film Festival. The film went on to earn ₱543 million at the box office, making it one of the highest-grossing Filipino films of all time.
Padilla made her directorial debut with the drama film 366, which premiered on April 13, 2022, on Vivamax. Padilla also starred in the film opposite Zanjoe Marudo.
In 2024, Padilla returned to television as a guest host on the noontime variety show It's Showtime. In October 2024, Padilla was confirmed to reprise her role in a sequel of 100 Tula Para Kay Stella, which was titled 100 Awit Para Kay Stella. The film premiered in September 2025.
Business In 2020, Padilla is a co-owner of the Seoul-based skincare company, Britory, with business partners DongWoo Kang and WonYoung Ryu.
She launched her beauty business, BELA by Bela, which sells beauty products including lip tints, cheeks tints and lip balms in 2024.
Personal life Padilla holds dual Filipino and British citizenship, and has several paternal relatives based in London. On November 2021, she revealed that she had relocated to London. She attributed her move to be more productive during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to find a sense of security following the nonrenewal of ABS-CBN's franchise.
Padilla was in a relationship with Swiss national Norman Bay. She first introduced him to the public in October 2020 through an Instagram post, in which she captioned, "the one I met in St. Gallen," in reference to her previous movie Meet Me in St. Gallen. In November 2023, she enrolled in an acting course in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
In January 2025, Padilla announced that she had moved back to the Philippines to resume working full-time as an actress, as well as resume scriptwriting. She later shared in August that she and Bay had mutually broken up, largely due to their long-distance relationship and her return to the Philippines; the two remained friends and Bay visited Padilla during the filming of 100 Awit Para Kay Stella. In September 2026, Padilla announced her relationship with tech CEO Martin Tan, but broke up later in the month.
In November 2024, Padilla revealed that she has polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and hypothyroidism, having been diagnosed when she was 19 years old.
Filmography Film +Key Denotes films that have not yet been released + Year Title Role Notes 2007 Bahay Kubo: A Pinoy Mano Po! Janet2009BFF (Best Friends Forever)Mean girl2010You to Me Are EverythingMonique2012My Kontrabida GirlEvelyn201310,000 HoursMaya LimchaucoCo-Writer2014Sa Ngalan ng Ama, Ina at mga AnakDamian2015Felix ManaloHonorata de Guzman-Manalo2016TomodachiRosalindaCamp SawiBridgette "Brij"Film producerI AmericaErica BerryThe Super Parental GuardiansEmmy CameoWorking BeksJoy2017Luck at First SightDianeScreenwriter100 Tula Para Kay StellaStella PunoLast NightWriter2018Meet Me in St. GallenCeleste / Katy PerryThe Day After Valentine'sLanieFantasticaFairy GodmotherNonspeaking role, lines delivered through Gus Abelgas' voiceover2019Apple of My EyeWriterMiracle in Cell No. 7Yesha Gopez (Adult)Mañanita2020On Vodka, Beers and RegretsJane Pineda2022366JuneActress, Director, WriterThe Ultimate OppaYana2023Spellbound YuriYung Libro sa Napanood KoLisaActress, Director, WriterWish You Were The OneAstrud 2025100 Awit Para Kay StellaStella PunoRekonek Trisha Main role, 51st Metro Manila Film Festival entry 2026A Special MemorySandra
Television +Key Denotes shows that have not yet been aired + Year Title Role Notes 2008 Star Magic Presents: Abt Ur Luv Ur Lyf 2 Jo Credited as "Krista Valle" 2009 Tayong Dalawa Bar Girl Carlo J. Caparas' Totoy Bato Rain Midnight DJ Guest, Episode: "Higanti ng Kamatayan" New Pangarap Kong Jackpot Episode: "Sa Mundo ng Kahapon" Credited as "Krista Sullivan" Lokomoko High Herself / Various roles / Betty La Panget Maalaala Mo Kaya Pinky (teenage years) Episode: "Kalapati" Pinky (teenage) Episode: "Makinilya" Maynila Isa Episode: "Makinig Ka, Puso" 2010 Endless Love Mayumi 'Yumi' Ramirez 2011 Pablo S. Gomez's Machete Aginaya / Rosella Maynila Lea Episode: "Love's Priority" Sisid Monique 2012 Hiram na Puso Vanessa Saavedra / Kara Banaag Bubble Gang Herself - Various roles Makapiling Kang Muli Amber 2012–2013 Magdalena: Anghel sa Putikan Magdalena "Lena" Fuentebella / Angela Natividad 2013 Love and Lies Denise Salvador-Galvez 2014 Point of Entry Analyn Ocampo Sa Puso ni Dok Dr. Gabrielle "Gab" Estrella Magpakailanman Andrea Episode: "Nakakulong Ang Puso" Mae Episode: "Asawa Mo, Hiniram Ko" Jessa Episode: "Ang Nurse Na May Ikatlong Mata" 2015–2016 FPJ's Ang Probinsyano Carmen Guzman-de Leon 2016 Ipaglaban Mo Flora Episode: "Sanggol" Home Sweetie Home Criselda Guest 2017 My Dear Heart Clara Estanislao-de Jesus Maalaala Mo Kaya Melanie Episode: "Ice Candy" 2018 Karla Episode: "Fireworks" 2019 Sino ang Maysala?: Mea Culpa Julie Iris Miranda / Atty. Juris Agoncillo-Montelibano 2023; 2024–present It's Showtime Herself / Host 2024Pamilya Sagrado Cristine Malonzo Special Participation 2025 Maalaala Mo KayaNadia Episode: "Sim Card" Episode: "Bintana" 2026Blood vs DutyLara Angeles Everybody, Sing! season 4 Guest player
Music video appearances Year Title Performer Director 2021MagpahingaBen&BenJorel Lising
Accolades Year Work Award Category Result 2013 10,000 Hours Metro Manila Film Festival Best Actress 2014 12th Gawad Tanglaw Best Supporting Actress 30th PMPC Star Awards for Movies Movie Supporting Actress of the Year FAMAS Award Best Supporting Actress 2016 Felix Manalo 32nd PMPC Star Awards for Movies Movie Supporting Actress of the Year Female Face of the Night FAMAS Award Best Actress FPJ's Ang Probinsyano 6th EdukCircle Awards Best Drama Actress of the Year (tied with Kim Chiu) 2018100 Tula Para Kay Stella 5th Paragala: Central Luzon Media Awards Best Actress in Film 34th PMPC Star Awards for Movies Movie Actress of the Year 41st Gawad UrianBest Actress 2019Meet Me in St. Gallen42nd Gawad UrianBest Actress Sino ang Maysala?: Mea Culpa33rd PMPC Star Awards for TVBest Drama Actress 2020Seoul International Drama Awards (SDA) 2020Best Actress Mañanita43rd Gawad UrianBest Actress Miracle in Cell No. 7 Box Office Entertainment AwardsMovie Supporting Actress of the Year 2021On Vodka, Beers and Regrets44th Gawad UrianBest Actress
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