Tessie Agana | |
---|---|
Born | Maria Teresa Rigotti Agana 16 May 1942 |
Nationality | Filipino |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1950–1969 |
Website | tessieagana |
Tessie Agana (born May 16, 1942) is a Filipina former child actress of the 1950s. She is best known for playing the title role in the 1951 film Roberta , which was then the highest grossing Philippine film of all time. [1] Agana was known as the "Shirley Temple of the Philippines". [2] Her mother was the actress Linda Estrella. [3]
On July 26, 1956, Agana moved to the United States with her mother and father. She enrolled as a sophomore at Maryvale Preparatory School in Lutherville, Maryland. [4] A year later, the Agana family moved to Lafayette, Indiana, and Tessie attended Lafayette Central Catholic Jr/Sr High School. She graduated in 1959. [5]
In 1951, Agana received the Maria Clara Award for Best Child Star for her performance in Ang Prinsesa at ang Pulubi. [6]
In 2006, Agana earned her own star at the Eastwood City Walk of Fame for her overall contribution to Philippine showbusiness. [7]
In 2022, Agana received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences FAMAS Award. [8]
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The next year she made Roberta which held the box-office record for local films for ten years [sic].