Sofia Louise Alejandre Andres, known in showbiz as Sofia Andres, is a Filipina actress in the Philippines.
She is a contract star of Star Magic, the talent management arm of ABS-CBN Corporation.
The 22-year-old actress has a massive social media following with 8.3 million followers on Instagram, 1.8 million on Twitter, and 1.6 million on Facebook.
In 2020, Sofia launched her YouTube channel, Daniel and Sofia, with boyfriend Daniel Miranda. To date, it has 275,000 subscribers.
FAMILY BACKGROUND
Sofia was born on August 24, 1998 to Eric Andres and Monette Alejandre-Andres.
She is the third of four children. Her siblings are Ian, Lara, and Bryan.
She is particularly close to the youngest, Bryan, who has Down Syndrome.
In her interviews, Sofia would call Bryan her “angel,” and their family’s “blessing” and “suwerte.”
In September 2016, Sofia told the viewers of ABS-CBN morning talk show Magandang Buhay that she is her family’s breadwinner.
“I’m the breadwinner. I always make sure that they’re okay. Nakukuha nila iyong gusto nila. Mas iniisip ko sila before sa sarili ko,” Sofia said.
Sofia's family
EDUCATION
Growing up, she was a regular student at ADT Montessori School in Pasig City, where she finished high school on March 26, 2015.
On the side, she worked as a part-time model.
For college, the then-teen actress said she would like to take up a course “related” to what she does in the entertainment industry.
At a presscon held in November 2014, she said, “I want to take up multimedia po, film or mass comm [communication] para related po sa [showbiz], para madaling gawin.”
After completing high school though, Sofia got even busier, and had no choice but to delay her plans of going to college and focus on her showbiz career instead.
SHOWBIZ CAREER
At six years old, Sofia became a TV commercial model for a milk brand.
In an interview with SunStar newspaper in July 2013, she recalled her first project.
“Iyong Angel Evaporada milk with Judy Ann Santos,” she remembered. “Six years old pa lang ako noon.”
Young Sofia with childhood best friend Michelle Vito
It was also through modeling where she met fellow Kapamilya actress and good friend Kathryn Bernardo. Both of them auditioned for a fried chicken restaurant's TV commercial.
At that time, Sofia was nine years old and Kathryn was 11.
“Si Kathryn Bernardo nakasabay ko nung nag-audition kami sa KFC,” Sofia recalled.
“Naka-brace pa siya noon. Ako po iyong nakuha,” she said.
In 2012, at the age of 14, Sofia accompanied her best friend, fellow Kapamilya talent Michelle Vito, on the set of ABS-CBN fantasy drama Aryana.
Michelle played the antagonist to the character of Aryana star, Ella Cruz.
Sofia said Michelle’s talent manager that time, Egay Cubelo, saw her and asked if she would also want to be an actress like Michelle.
“Nakita ako ng kanyang [Michelle] manager [Egay Cubelo]. Tinanong ako kung gusto ko rin bang mag-artista.
“Binigyan agad ako ng role as sister ni Kathryn Bernardo sa Princess and I.
“Ito iyong pinaka-first acting assignment ko,” Sofia recalled.
Sofia in Princess and I
RISE TO STARDOM
For the Kapamilya teleserye Princess and I, headlined by Kathryn and Enrique Gil, Sofia played the role of Dindi Maghirang. The series aired from April 2012 to February 2013.
The following year, Sofia appeared in a movie for the first time.
She played a minor role in Mae Cruz Alviar’s She’s The One (2013) with Enrique, Liza Soberano, Dingdong Dantes, and Bea Alonzo.
Her next project was the blockbuster coming-of-age romantic-comedy-drama film She’s Dating The Gangster (2014).
In the movie, Sofia worked with Kathryn again, and played the role of Athena Abigail Tizon, the third party between the characters of love-team partners Kathryn and Daniel Padilla.
FIRST LEAD ROLE, ACTING RECOGNITION
Also in 2014, Sofia had her first lead role through the romantic-comedy movie Relaks, It's Just Pag-Ibig, which was written and directed by Antonette Jadaone.
Playing the female lead opposite Iñigo Pascual and Julian Estrada, her character was Sari Nakpil, a teenage girl who—together with a love skeptic (Iñigo) and her guy best friend (Julian) who was secretly in love with her—went on a journey inspired by a stranger’s love letter.
Inigo and Sofia in Relaks. It's Just Pag-ibig
The film received encouraging reviews from critics, was graded "A" by the Cinema Evaluation Board (CEB), and had moderate box-office success considering that it was the debut film not only of Sofia but also of Julian and Iñigo.
Sofia’s performance in Relaks, It’s Just Pag-Ibig earned praises from film critics and was eventually affirmed by the New Movie Actress of the Year recognition that she received from the 31st PMPC Star Awards for Movies in 2015.
THE “PRINSESA NG MGA THIRD WHEEL”
In the same year, Sofia had been a part of the ensemble cast of Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil’s prime-time series Forevermore. She played the role of Kate Saavedra, the lady who tried her best to stand in between the relationship of Liza and Enrique’s characters.
Directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina, Forevermore aired from October 2014 to May 2015.
In her guesting on Tonight With Boy Abunda on July 16, 2015, Sofia disclosed that she endured trolling from bashers and haters while portraying “third wheel” characters for popular Kapamilya love teams KathNiel and LizQuen.
Host Boy Abunda asked Sofia how she felt being tagged by fans as “Prinsesa ng mga Third Wheel.”
Sofia answered: “Even though third wheel, no small roles po.”
She also didn't take the behavior of fans to heart, stating that some simply could not understand that actors were only portraying roles.
“Hindi naman po maiiwasan iyon. Siyempre laging may haters kapag may mga third wheels, but I have to accept that.”
Of course there were moments when she couldn't help but be affected.
“Umiiyak po ako. Kasi siyempre, I still have feelings,” she said.
FIRST teleserye: PUSONG LIGAW
After Forevermore, Sofia portrayed various roles in Kapamilya drama anthologies before she headlined the melodrama afternoon TV series Pusong Ligaw in 2017.
Sofia played the character of Vida Verdadero with Diego Loyzaga as her leading man. Pusong Ligaw aired from April 2017 to January 2018.
Sofia in Pusong Ligaw
She then starred in another movie, Connie Macatuno’s Mama’s Girl, where Sofia portrayed the role of an ambitious millennial.
Months after the last airing of Pusong Ligaw, Sofia had a special participation in the fantasy drama series Bagani, top-billed by Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil.
Sofia was Mayari, a slave who trained to become a warrior to be able to defend her loved ones, ruler, and race. Bagani aired for five months, from March to August 2018.
SOFIA ALMOST QUIT SHOWBIZ
In May 2018, just after her stint in Bagani ended, Sofia said in an exclusive interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) that there was a point in her life when she considered quitting showbiz.
Those were the times when she had been the subject of various controversies that resulted in excessive bashing from some netizens.
“Dumaan ako sa point na sinabi ko sa sarili ko na, 'Itutuloy ko pa ba?' Kasi parang nakaka-torture,” she told PEP.ph.
“Iniisip ko na lang na, ‘What more iyong mga veterans, what more iyong mas mga sikat?’ They're experiencing much worse na pamba-bash.
"What more ako na baguhan lang?” she continued. “[Kaya] siguro ako, hangga't kaya pa, mananatili ako sa showbiz.”
In the same interview, Sofia announced that she wanted to take some time off and recharge.
“Right now, I'm not doing anything,” Sofia said. “Kasi gusto ko munang magpahinga at mag-isip-isip for a while.
“Kaya naman ngayon, I'm resting. In a couple of months, I'm ready to work again for a new project,” she said.
Several months later, Sofia starred in a Maalaala Mo Kaya episode titled "Singsing."
She also joined the cast of the movie Kahit Ayaw Mo Na, starring Andrea Brillantes, Empress Schuck, and Kristel Fulgar that same year.
THE HIATUS AND PREGNANCY
In 2019, Sofia lay low from showbiz commitments for months and went to Australia.
Back then, rumors about her pregnancy surfaced.
A year later, on June 21, 2020, Father’s Day, Sofia revealed that during her showbiz hiatus, she stayed in Australia with her boyfriend, race-car driver Daniel Miranda.
The actress also announced that on November 24, 2019, she gave birth to her daughter with Daniel. They named the baby Zoe Natalia.
Sofia with daughter Zoe
Days after her big revelation, she expressed her gratitude to fans for their acceptance, love, and support.
She said in an interview with ABS-CBN reporter MJ Felipe, "Siyempre, overwhelming iyon. Dun ko naramdaman na maraming nagmamahal sa akin after everything that happened.
“Kasi, di ba, nawala rin ako sa showbiz, madami ring issues and all that.
“Pero nung nababasa ko iyong mga comments nila [fans], nagpapasalamat ako na andito pa rin sila at ‘tsaka iyong mga bagong naging fan.
“Sobrang nakakatuwa kasi hindi ko ini-expect."
SHOWBIZ COMEBACK
In her interview with the ABS-CBN weekly online talk show I Feel U on July 19, 2020, Sofia explained why she chose to keep her pregnancy a secret.
“Tinake ko lang iyong advice ng sister ko, na kapag daw hindi stressful ang pregnancy, nagre-reflect daw sa bata iyon.”
Sofia was referring to her older sister Lara, who is also a mother.
She continued, “And I think, kaya ko po iyon ginawang private kasi para carefree ako, wala akong stress na iniintindi… na parang, I don’t have to listen to other people na, ‘Bakit ka nanganak nang maaga?” and all that. Parang nakaka-stress.”
In October 2020, Sofia announced her next project, the ABS-CBN streaming drama series La Vida Lena, starring Erich Gonzales. Sofia portrayed the role of antagonist Rachel Suarez.
La Vida Lena’s Season 1 was shown via iWantTFC from November 2020 until January 2021.
This March 2021, La Vida Lena will make its television premiere on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, and TFC.
SOFIA ANDRES' LOVE LIFE
Sofia had a mutual understanding with Iñigo Pascual while they were working on their movie Relaks, It’s Just Pag-Ibig in 2014.
Both Sofia and Iñigo admitted this in separate interviews years later.
“Kasi bata pa kami nun, 14 ako, siya 15,” Sofia recalled in a casual live interview with ABS-CBN online show Kapamilya Chat on August 24, 2017.
“Three years kami. Puro text lang kami, text-text lang kami,” she added.
Sofia also confirmed that Iñigo broke her heart.
She narrated: “There was a time, nung nag-18 siya [Inigo], tumawag siya. Gusto raw muna niyang i-enjoy iyong life niya.
“Siyempre I got hurt. I don’t know why. Just randomly. Kasi 18 siya, e, excited siya, free siya.
“Ang sad, pero naintindihan ko naman. Hindi naman ako nagtanim ng galit sa kanya kasi that’s normal. Part of growing up.
“Pagkatapos nun, okay na. Naging friends na kami ulit.”
Iñigo and Sofia
LOVE TEAM WITH DIEGO
Sofia was also romantically linked to her Pusong Ligaw leading man Diego Loyzaga.
Though Diego repeatedly expressed his admiration for Sofia in his interviews, the young actress maintained that she and Diego were only good friends who genuinely care about each other.
It was in May 2018 when Diego, while exchanging comments with some netizens, asked fans to stop romantically linking him to Sofia because “she has a boyfriend.”
Sofia denied Diego’s claim, but confessed to dating someone else.
Both Sofia and Diego never admitted to having a romantic relationship.
Diego and Sofia
In October 2018, Sofia surprised her social-media followers when she posted a photo of race-car driver Daniel Miranda. She captioned it with “my driver.”
Though she did not share any photos of them together, netizens were quick to assume that Daniel was the boyfriend that Diego mentioned in his Instagram comment five months ago.
On November 13, 2018, Sofia confirmed her relationship with Daniel through the latter’s Instagram post.
Daniel posted a photo of himself while hugging Sofia inside an elevator. The actress reacted to Daniel's post with an “I love you” comment.
SOFIA’S PARTNER: DANIEL
On February 1, 2021, through Erich Gonzales’s vlog, Sofia said she met Daniel, 23, at a bar in The Fort, Taguig City in 2016.
Sofia was Daniel’s first girlfriend.
Sofia and Daniel
In the couple’s vlog uploaded on July 29, 2020, the young actress revealed that her family, especially her father Eric, did not approve of Daniel at first because of his “chickboy” looks.
Because of this, she had to keep their dates a secret.
“Tumatakas ako ng bahay,” Sofia recounted in the vlog, which also featured Daniel.
“Bawal kami magkita nito before, as in bawal. Ayaw ng parents ko sa kanya.
“Sabi ng Daddy ko, ‘Chickboy iyan, wag na iyan,’ [but] na-in love ako. Tigas-ulo. Takas.”
Since breaking the news on Father's Day last year about having a baby, Sofia and Daniel's relationship has remained strong.
Though they already have Baby Zoe, the couple is in no hurry to get married.
“Napag-usapan namin iyan [marriage], but we’re both young so we don’t want to rush things,” Sofia told Erich in the latter's vlog.
She explained: “Ito iyong laging sinasabi ng mga tao na, ‘Why don’t you want to rush things, e, may anak na kayo? What are you talking about?’
“Sabi ko, well, iyon na nga, it’s [pregnancy] unplanned. But I think this time it’s better for us to plan things para hindi kami nawawala sa path na gusto namin," Sofia said.
Sofia and Daniel have been together for five years.
MOVIES
- She’s The One (2013) as Claire
- She’s Dating the Gangster (2014) as Athena Abigail Tizon
- Relaks, It’s Just Pag-ibig (2014) as Sari
- Walang Forever (2015) in a cameo role
- My Ex and Whys (2017) as lady customer
- Pwera Usog (2017) as Jean
- Our Mighty Yaya (2017) as Marla
- Bloody Crayons (2017) as Marie Ragma
- Mama’s Girl (2018) as Abby Potpot
- Kahit Ayaw Mo Na (2018) as Trixie
- Open (2019) as Mia
TELEVISION
- Princess and I (2012) as Dindi Maghirang
- Maalaala Mo Kaya: Kamison (2013) as young Tessa
- Maalaala Mo Kaya: Stars (2014) as Ylette
- Forevermore (2014) as Katherine Saavedra
- Maalaala Mo Kaya: Sanggol (2015) as Joy
- Wansapanataym Presents: My Kung Fu Chinito (2015) as Carla
- Ipaglaban Mo: Sigaw ng Katarungan (2015) as Maxine Castillo
- Luv U (2015) as Bea Tipol
- Maalaala Mo Kaya: Bintana (2015) as teenage Prima
- Maalaala Mo Kaya: Toothbrush (2016) as Aika Robredo
- Maalaala Mo Kaya: Pantalan (2016) as Roselle
- Maalaala Mo Kaya: Cellphone (2017) as Sandra Reyes
- Pusong Ligaw (2017) as Vida Verdadero
- Bagani (2018) as Mayari
- Maalaala Mo Kaya: Singsing (2018) as Angel
- Wansapanataym Presents: Mr. CUTEpido (2019) as Rachel
- Ipaglaban Mo: Paasa (2019) as Jessica Serafin
- La Vida Lena (2020) as Rachel Suarez
AWARDS
- Female Star of the Night (2015) 29th PMPC Star Awards for Movies
- New Movie Actress of the Year (Relaks, It’s Just Pag-ibig, 2015) 31st PMPC Star Awards for Movies
- Most Promising Love Team (with Inigo Pascual, Relaks, It’s Just Pag-ibig, 2015) GMMDF Box-Office Entertainment Awards
- German Moreno Youth Achievement Award (2015) 63rd FAMAS Awards
- Couple of the Night (with Diego Loyzaga, 2016) Star Magic Ball Awards
NOMINATIONS
- Most Promising Actress (She’s Dating The Gangster, 2014) Star Cinema Online Awards
- Best Drama Supporting Actress (Forevermore, 2015) 29th PMPC Star Awards for Television