How Maris Racal Manifested Her First Gawad Urian Best Actress Win

Maris Racal has won her first Gawad Urian Best Actress award for her performance in Sunshine at the 49th Gawad Urian Awards on October 8, 2026, at De La Salle University-Manila. Her not-so-secret recipe? Visualize it over and over, then do the work.

During her acceptance speech, Maris revealed that winning a Gawad Urian had long been one of her goals. "Ilang beses ko 'tong ini-imagine, ilang beses ko 'tong ginawang inspirasyon para humusay sa pag-arte, at totoo na siya. May Urian na ako!" she said.

Following the ceremony, Maris also celebrated the milestone on Instagram, sharing photos of herself with her trophy and writing, "MAY URIAN NA AKO!!!! Maraming Salamat PAPA GOD!"

ICYDK, the Gawad Urian is given by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, a group of Filipino film critics whose founding members included National Artist Nicanor Tiongson. The first ceremony was held in 1977. Winners are chosen by the critics themselves, which is why the award is considered one of the country's most respected film honors.

Maris shared the award with veteran actress Odette Khan, who won for Bar Boys: After School. It was the first Best Actress win for both of them. Odette had earlier won Best Supporting Actress for the original Bar Boys, in which she played Justice Hernandez, the same role she reprised in the sequel.

The Best Actor award was also a tie, between Jericho Rosales for Quezon and Carlo Aquino for Bar Boys: After School. It was the first time in Urian history that both lead acting categories ended in a draw in the same year.

In Sunshine, directed by Antoinette Jadaone, Maris plays a promising young gymnast who seems certain to make the national team. During the week of tryouts, she discovers she is pregnant, with her lifelong dream and college scholarship on the line.

Antoinette pitched the story to Maris in 2020, and Maris has said she cried reading the script and said yes right away. She trained in gymnastics for over a year, fitting sessions around her other projects like Can't Buy Me Love. She also had to portray her character's struggles with personal ambition, societal expectations, and reproductive choices.

It all paid off.

The film took the Crystal Bear for Best Film in the Generation14plus competition at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival in 2025. It reached Philippine cinemas on July 23, 2025.

Maris first rose to fame on Pinoy Big Brother: All In in 2014 and has since taken on heavier, darker roles. Sunshine has brought her a run of awards: Best Lead Performance of 2025 from the Society of Filipino Film Reviewers at the 6th Pinoy Rebyu Awards, then Best Actress at the EDDYS in July, and now the Gawad Urian.

Sunshine director Antoinette was among those who celebrated Maris' first Gawad Urian Best Actress win. "MARIS HAS JUST WON HER FIRST URIAN!!!!!!!!!! OH WHAT A FEELING!!!!!" the filmmaker wrote on Instagram. She added, "Pinapangarap lang natin ito dati tehhhhhhh!!! Pero hindi ako kailanman nagduda. SA'YO ITO."

Antoinette also shared a sweet Instagram Reel showing Maris getting emotional after receiving the award. Fans also thanked Direk Tonet for seeing Sunshine in her.

Sunshine had another reason to celebrate: Jennica Garcia, who played Maris' sibling in the film, won Best Supporting Actress.

Bloom Where You Are Planted was the night's biggest winner, taking Best Picture, Best Documentary and Best Direction for Noni Abao. Will Ashley won Best Supporting Actor for Bar Boys: After School, and Laurice Guillen received the Natatanging Gawad Urian lifetime achievement award.

Congratulations to Maris, Jennica, and everyone who took home a trophy! 🥳