Maureen Larrazabal
{{short description|Filipina actress (born 1979)}}
{{Use Philippine English|date=September 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Maureen Larrazabal
| image =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1979|09|23}}
| birth_place = Cebu City, Philippines
| height = 5 ft 7 in
| occupation = Actress, singer, model
| years_active = 1999–present
}}
Maureen Larrazabal (born September 23, 1979) is a Filipina actress, singer and commercial model who is one of the popular and regular mainstays of the TV sitcom Bubble Gang of GMA Network. Before venturing into film and television, Larrazabal was with the Big Deal band who often performs abroad. She was with the band for 10 years.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0488576/bio|title=Maureen Larrazabal|website=IMDb |publisher=|accessdate=3 June 2016}}
Personal life
Larrazabal is the daughter of Nestor Vera Cruz and Ana Marie Larrazabal. Mau, as she is fondly called, has two siblings: EJ Leonardo and Raine (Lorraine Ana). She got an AB Communication Arts in Interior Design from St. Paul University Quezon City.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Larrazabal experienced the symptoms of COVID-19 in the last week of July 2020. She underwent self-quarantine for three weeks and her symptoms subsided. However, she tested positive on a swab test on August 25.{{cite news |last1=Santos |first1=Jamil |title=COVID-19 positive na si Maureen Larrazabal, pinapatatag ni Michael V. na gumaling na sa sakit |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/balitambayan/chikamuna/755099/covid-19-positive-na-si-maureen-larrazabal-pinapatatag-ni-michael-v-na-gumaling-na-sa-sakit/story/ |accessdate=September 21, 2020 |agency=GMA News |date=September 10, 2020 |language=Filipino |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922094302if_/https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/balitambayan/chikamuna/755099/covid-19-positive-na-si-maureen-larrazabal-pinapatatag-ni-michael-v-na-gumaling-na-sa-sakit/story/ |archivedate=September 22, 2020}} On September 19, she announced that she tested negative for the virus.{{cite news |last1=Acar |first1=Aedrianne |title=Maureen Larrazabal is now COVID-free |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/showbiznews/health/68921/maureen-larrazabal-is-now-covid-free/story |accessdate=September 21, 2020 |agency=GMA News |date=September 21, 2020}}
In 2025, Larrazabal revealed that she had previously went blind for two years after having slept without removing her contact lenses, which ended after she underwent a corneal transplant.{{cite news |title=Maureen Larrazabal blind for 2 years due to contact lens misuse |url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/3/24/maureen-larrazabal-blind-for-2-years-due-to-contact-lens-misuse-1211 |accessdate=March 24, 2025 |agency=ABS-CBN |date=March 24, 2025}}
Career
Before venturing into films, Larrazabal made TV commercial appearances for Condura Refrigerators, Skin Reborn and Gilbeys Gin.{{cite web|url=http://mauonline.8m.com/maureenelarrazabal/tv_shows.html|title=MauOnline: Maureene Larrazabal - TV Shows|first=Ricardo S. Jr.|last=Gonzales|publisher=|accessdate=3 June 2016}}
Larrazabal started her film career via sexy-flicked films such as Ekis: Walang Tatakas (1999), Unfaithful Wife 2 (1999), Bulaklak ng Maynila (1999), Sugo ng Tondo (2000) and Blood Surf (2000). Showing her versatility, Larrazabal decided to shy away from doing sexy films instead shifted to more wholesome projects. She began accepting TV projects. Her first break was playing the weather girl, Carrie in GMA 7's comedy sitcom, Mikee Forever. This was followed by more comedy sitcoms such as Iskul Bukol and Gags Must Be Crazy of Viva TV, Home Along Da Riles of ABS-CBN, and finally, Bubble Gang.
Like some other actresses, both foreign and local, Larrazabal openly admitted that she had breast augmentation.{{cite web|url=https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:V5QrsSzffPsJ:rauli.cbs.dk/index.php/cjas/article/download/2525/2645%20&hl=en&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESjeDKfPIyFxyLptxjgFQ1rDwu6lRpzrWYTUz9j40u8YFTRmnosgov_tKPLLOpiXm3VdF9awLwkiYp8yIgkixPt44vtf0H2hwQc7H8n8JWor78Tgg_3ZHRd06OQ4DcWK5MGtR4_L&sig=AHIEtbQRQluCb7o-Qx1sKinAidPMmribBw&pli=1|publisher=|accessdate=3 June 2016}}
As a result, Larrazabal has graced the covers of some of the Philippines' most popular men's magazines such as FHM Philippines and Maxim Philippines. In 2010, she was voted as FHM Top 25 Sexiest Women of the Decade in Philippines.{{cite web|url=http://ofwnow.com/entertainment/fhm-top-25-sexiest-women-of-the-decade-in-philippines-2010/1484|publisher=|accessdate=3 June 2016|title=FHM Top 25 Sexiest Women of the Decade in Philippines (2010)}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Studio | |||
| rowspan="3" | 1999 | Ekis: Walang Tatakas | Weng | rowspan="6" | Viva Films |
| Unfaithful Wife 2 | |||
| Bulaklak ng Maynila | Myrna | ||
| rowspan="3" | 2000 | Mana-mana Tiba-tiba | Menchie | |
| Juan & Ted: Wanted | Nurse Suzy | ||
| Sugo ng Tondo | |||
| 2001 | Blood Surf | Lemmya Lofranco | |
| 2009 | Manila Kingpin | Herself | |
| 2011 | My Valentine Girls | Korean Female Soldier | GMA Films |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year !! Title !! Role(s) !! Network | ||
| 1999
| Herself | rowspan="9" | GMA Network | ||
| 1999–2000
| | ||
| 2001
| Maina | ||
| 2002–2013; 2017
| Herself | ||
| 2002
| Pandora | ||
| rowspan="2"| 2004
| Tisay | ||
| Forever in My Heart
| Vicky Abrera | ||
| rowspan="2"| 2005
| Lucy | ||
| Mars Ravelo's Darna
| Aio | ||
| rowspan="2"| 2006
| Khyna | ABS-CBN | ||
| Love to Love
| Thalia | rowspan="27" | GMA Network | ||
| rowspan="4"| 2007
| Nicole | ||
| Sine Novela: Pati Ba Pintig Ng Puso?
| Betty | ||
| Sine Novela: Pasan Ko ang Daigdig
| Bunny | ||
| Carlo J. Caparas' Kamandag
| Cathy | ||
| 2008
| Mau Timbol | ||
| rowspan="2"| 2009
| Dina Arcilla / Babaeng Bampira | ||
| Zorro
| Bella | ||
| rowspan="3"| 2010
| Teenage Alvina | ||
| Pilyang Kerubin
| Azura | ||
| Jillian: Namamasko Po
| Lizzie | ||
| 2013
| Suzana "Suzie" Zamora | ||
| 2013–2014
| Adarna | Jinky | ||
| 2014–present
| Pepito Manaloto: Ang Tunay na Kwento | Mariano / Mara Quijano | ||
| rowspan="2"| 2015
| | ||
| Healing Hearts
| Kleng Samonte | ||
| rowspan="6" |2017 | Imbestigador | Mary Grace Paz |
| G.R.I.N.D. | Diana Perez | |
| Encantadia | Lanzu | |
| Imbestigador: Rape Victim | Beth | |
| Mulawin vs. Ravena
|Belinda | ||
| Haplos | Mama Sol Españo | |
| 2018 | Kambal, Karibal | Madam Strong Beauty |
| rowspan=2| 2019 | TODA One I Love | Jane Magsino |
| The Better Woman | Ruby | |
| 2019–2020 | One of the Baes | Carmina Rivera-Biglangdapa |
| rowspan="4" | 2021 | Wish Ko Lang!: Nilapa ng Aso | Mildred |
| The Lost Recipe | Cherry Valencia | GMA News TV |
| Wish Ko Lang!: Making Akala | Precy | rowspan=4 | GMA Network |
| Dear Uge: Ampon ng Kadiliman | Madam Hussein | |
| 2022 | Artikulo 247 | Pinky |
| 2023 | Black Rider | Kapitana Babylyn Hilario |
References
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Category:Filipino film actresses
Category:Filipino television actresses
Category:Filipino women comedians
Category:Actresses from Manila
Category:Singers from Cebu City
Category:Filipino people of Basque descent
Category:Filipino people of Spanish descent
Category:21st-century Filipino singers
Category:GMA Network (company) people
Category:Actresses from Cebu City
Category:Filipino sketch comedians
Category:Comedians from Cebu City
Category:Comedians from Manila