Kris Bernal

2011–2016: Leading lady roles

She got a main role in the year 2011 on Machete along with Aljur Abrenica, Bela Padilla and Ryza Cenon.^[4] Bernal played the role of Jessa Ledesma/Jessa Romero, also a simple girl and Machete's (played by Aljur Abrenica) close friend who has a hidden unrequited love for him. Like Bela Padilla's character Aginaya/Rosella, Jessa is also opposed by the cunning and selfish Marla Lucero/Fake Aginaya/New Bugana (all played by Ryza Cenon) who will make a scheme to make both Aginaya and Jessa's suffer and died. Right after Machete, Kris played a lead role in Time of My Life with Mark Herras, Rocco Nacino, and LJ Reyes who played the mean character Zaira Marquez in that series. Kris portrayed Shane / Lizette in that series, a beautiful girl who has an ambitions to fulfill her dream of becoming a real dancer. In the process, she uncovers things of the past as she explores the field of dancing. Helping Shane achieve her dreams are two knights in shining armor: Jason (played by Rocco Nacino), her childhood friend; and Patrick (played by Mark Herras), Jason's friend and founder of the Motion Masters dance group. With other friends, they compete against The Elite Crew led by Zaira (played by LJ Reyes) who is the protégé and stepdaughter of famous dancing queen, Lisa. Because of the competition between Shane and Zaira, a former rivalry resurfaces between Lisa (played by Jean Garcia) and Martha, Shane's mother. Martha (played by Cherie Gil) has long been angry and bitter because her dance partner and boyfriend, Fred, broke up with her to be with Lisa. Soon, the couple had a daughter named Lisette. Unable to accept defeat, Martha schemed to dance with Fred again and set fire to the house where Lisa and Lisette were. However, Lisa followed Fred and, thus, only the child was believed to have perished in the fire. This incident caused Fred and Lisa to part ways; Fred worked abroad while Lisa went back to her family and married Gregory, the father of Zaira. On the other hand, Martha paid for her crime but kept with her in jail a secret about Fred and Lisa's child. Lisette did not really die in the fire but was saved by Martha's friend, Carlotta. She was raised as Shane and grew up with a natural talent and interest in dancing.

She played a special role in Amaya as Adult Alunsina, the youngest among the alabays of the puod. She is the first to know about Amaya's secret. During the execution of Dian Lamitan, Alunsina attempts to kill her but Dian Lamitan takes her as a hostage, until she is saved by Amaya.

In 2012, she played a lead role in Hiram na Puso as Lira Banaag, a sweet and cheerful girl.^[5] A loving and obedient daughter of Zeny and Leo and Vanessa/Kara twin sister. Lira is raised with love and care by her mother, Zeny. Her fervent dream is to give her mother a comfortable life, that is why she strives hard to finish her studies. Unfortunately, she suffers from terrible heart condition and must undergoes heart transplant, an operation that will change, not only her old damage heart, but her whole life and the lives of the people around her, as well. At the end Lira dies from a hit & run accident. She was also opposed by Vanessa (played by Bela Padilla), a manipulative, ruthless and bitter woman who hates Lira as well.

The same year, Bernal played Andrea "Andy" Gomez in Coffee Prince along with her love team Aljur Abrenica. Bernal played the lead role of the tomboyish girl who eventually falls in love with his boss, Arthur, who's unaware that she is actually a girl.

In 2013, she played another leading role in Prinsesa ng Buhay Ko, where she played Princess "Cess" Inocencio-Grande / Elizabeth Salazar a heroine who saved many people but become opposed by Kate Napoleon (played by LJ Reyes).^[6] After that she played Andrea "Andeng" Dizon again as the main character of Hiram na Alaala. She played the lead role of Tinay in Little Nanay who has an intellectual disability (ID).^[7]

In 2015 to 2016, she played various roles in Karelasyon, Dear Uge and Tadhana.

2017–2018: First dual and evil role

In 2017, Bernal played the role as Nimfa/Rosette in Impostora (based on the 2007 primetime drama series of the same title, originally portrayed by Sunshine Dizon. Kris Bernal played two roles, the main villain Rosette who is a purely evil mother and a murderess who will kill just to achieve her needs. The other one is the main character Nimfa, a tragic woman but later she was tasked to do an evil scheme. This is Kris Bernal's first villain and dual role.^[8][9]

Bernal appeared on the cover of FHM Philippines' May 2017 issue.^[10]

In 2018, Bernal played the role as Narda/Darna in Darna (based on the 2009 primetime fantaseries of the same title, originally portrayed by Marian Rivera.

Movies

Television