Sarah Lahbati

{{Infobox person

| name = Sarah Lahbati

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|10|9}}

| birth_place = Geneva, Switzerland

| occupation = Actress

| years_active = 2009–present

| agent = {{plainlist|

Sparkle GMA Artist Center
(2009–2015)
Viva Artists Agency
(2015–present)

}}

| spouse = {{marriage|Richard Gutierrez|2020|2024|end=separated}}

| children = 2

| relatives = Gutierrez family (in-laws)

| awards = StarStruck 5 Ultimate female survivor

}}

Sarah Lahbati{{#tag:ref|Sarah Lahbati was born in Switzerland. Thus, she does not possess her mother's maiden name which is Alzol.|group = fn|name = sur}} (born 9 October 1993) is a Filipino actress. She gained media attention as a finalist on the 5th season of reality show StarStruck,{{cite news|url=http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/323878/ever-seen-the-black-book |title=Ever seen The Black Book? |date=23 June 2011 |work=Manila Bulletin|access-date=4 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913045937/http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/323878/ever-seen-the-black-book |archive-date=13 September 2012 }} a Philippine overall talent show broadcast on GMA Network. Lahbati declared StarStruck V's Ultimate Female Survivors after nine weeks of the competition. Together with Steven Silva, they each won P1.5 million cash prize and an exclusive contract with GMA Network, with a minimum guarantee of P3.5 million.{{Cite news|title = PEP: Steven Silva, Sarah Lahbati big winners in StarStruck V|url = http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/184462/showbiz/pep/pep-steven-silva-sarah-lahbati-big-winners-in-starstruck-v|work=GMA News|access-date = 6 December 2015}}

Early life and education

Lahbati was born in Geneva, Switzerland to a Filipina mother and a Moroccan father. She began her studies in Switzerland before moving to the Philippines, where she studied at the Immaculate Conception Academy in Cavite.

Career

Lahbati made her screen debut as Bong Revilla's daughter in Hokus Pokus.{{Cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/uJ4dIpTX8j/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/uJ4dIpTX8j |archive-date=24 December 2021 |url-access=registration|access-date=5 March 2019 |title=StarStruck on Instagram: "#StarStruckTrivia"}}{{cbignore}} After joining and winning the fifth season of hit reality show StarStruck, Lahbati topbilled GMA Network's drama series, Kokak (2011) and Makapiling Kang Muli (2012) along with her real-life partner Richard Gutierrez.{{Cite news|title = Sarah Lahbati is Kokak|url = http://www.philstar.com/entertainment/745122/sarah-lahbati-kokak|work=The Philippine Star|access-date = 6 December 2015}}{{Cite web|title = Richard Gutierrez and Sarah Lahbati: A Journey of Love {{!}} GMANetwork.com - Entertainment - Home of Kapuso shows and stars - Photos|url = http://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/gma/photos/2014-06-02/1487/Richard-Gutierrez-and-Sarah-Lahbati-A-Journey-of-Love|website=GMA Network|access-date = 6 December 2015}}{{Cite news|title = Sarah Lahbati Says Her Makapiling Kang Muli Co Star Richard Gutierrez Is Her Inspiration|url = http://www.pep.ph/news/35176/Sarah-Lahbati-says-her-Makapiling-Kang-Muli-co-star-Richard-Gutierrez-is-her-inspiration|work=Philippine Entertainment Portal|access-date = 6 December 2015|first = Rommel|last = Gonzales}} She also starred in different GMA shows such as Love Bug Presents: Exchange of Hearts (2011), Little Star, Koreana and Time of My Life. She also performed in GMA Network's variety show Party Pilipinas and Sunday All Stars as a regular artist.

In 2015, Lahbati transferred to the rival network, ABS-CBN, after her contract under GMA Artist Center expired. She officially joined Viva Artists Agency in June 2015.{{cite web|url= http://push.abs-cbn.com/features/39985/sarah-lahbati-signs-up-with-viva-artists-agency|title=Sarah Lahbati signs up with VIVA Artists Agency}} Tagged as Dance Goddess, Lahbati is a regular performer on ABS-CBN's Sunday variety show, ASAP.{{Cite web |title=KAKULAY SCOOP: ASAP Dance Goddess Sarah Lahbati dance an Egyptian-inspired number with Joseph Marco |url=http://kakulayscoop.blogspot.com/2015/11/asap-dance-goddess-sarah-lahbati-dance.html|website = KAKULAY SCOOP|access-date = 6 December 2015|first = Kakulay|last = Mo}}{{Cite news|title = Sarah Lahbati sizzles in sexy 'ASAP' number anew|url = http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/entertainment/08/16/15/sarah-lahbati-sizzles-sexy-asap-number-anew|work=ABS-CBN News|access-date = 6 December 2015|language = en-US}}{{Cite news|title = Sarah Lahbati pinalakpakan, umani ng papuri sa ipinakitang akting sa MMK|url = http://bandera.inquirer.net/105648/sarah-lahbati-pinalakpakan-umani-ng-papuri-sa-ipinakitang-akting-sa-mmk|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|access-date = 6 December 2015}}

Lahbati was cast in the ABS-CBN soap opera, Written in Our Stars, starring Toni Gonzaga, Piolo Pascual, Jolina Magdangal and Sam Milby which started early 2017.{{Cite news|title = Sarah Lahbati Joins ABS CBN New Teleserye Written In Our Stars |url=http://www.pep.ph/guide/tv/21408/sarah-lahbati-joins-upcoming-abs-cbn-teleserye-written-in-our-stars|work=Philippine Entertainment Portal|access-date = 6 December 2015|first = James Patrick|last = Anarcon}} In 2017, she was also cast as Valentina, the Goddess of Snakes, in the movie Darna released by Star Cinema and Reality Entertainment.{{Cite news|url=http://bandera.inquirer.net/138281/sarah-gaganap-na-valentina-sa-darna-ni-angel|title=Sarah gaganap na Valentina sa 'Darna' ni Angel|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|access-date=4 December 2016}}

Lahbati appears in E! Philippines reality show It Takes Gutz To Be a Gutierrez.{{Cite web|url=https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/28/sarah-lahbati-gets-sentimental-as-eldest-son-with-richard-gutierrez-turns-8/|title=Sarah Lahbati gets sentimental as eldest son with Richard Gutierrez turns 8|website=Manila Bulletin |date=28 April 2021}}

She is currently working as supporting actress in ABS-CBN playing extra and minor projects.

Personal life

On March 14, 2020, Lahbati married actor Richard Gutierrez in Taguig. They have two sons together, Zion (born April 29, 2013) and Kai (born March 21, 2018). Lahbati confirmed on March 1, 2024, that she and Gutierrez were separated but stated that they are coparenting their sons, Zion and Kai.{{cite news |last1= Uson|first1=Melanie |title=TIMELINE: A look back at Richard Gutierrez and Sarah Lahbati's relationship|url= https://philstarlife.com/celebrity/436857-richard-gutierrez-and-sarah-lahbati-relationship-timeline|accessdate=March 3, 2024 |publisher= The Philippine Star|date=March 2, 2024}} In January 2025, Gutierrez said that they were seeking an annulment.{{cite news |last1=Dongiapon |first1=Rob Andrew |title=Richard Gutierrez reveals ongoing annulment with Sarah Lahbati |url=https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/celebrities/richard-gutierrez-reveals-ongoing-annulment-sarah-lahbati/ |accessdate=January 17, 2025 |publisher= Rappler|date=January 17, 2025}}

Lawsuit

In late 2012, Lahbati used her Twitter account to express her dissatisfaction with her network, GMA and expressed her desire to be released from her contract. On January 10, 2013, GMA Network and GMA Films president, Annette Gozon-Abrogar, counter-sued Lahbati,{{cite news|url=http://www.pep.ph/news/37042/annette-gozon-abrogar-sues-sarah-lahbati-for-libel |title=Annette Gozon-Abrogar sues Sarah Lahbati for libel |work=Philippine Entertainment Portal|access-date=11 January 2013}} and on the following day, January 11, 2013, the network filed a formal complaint against Sarah Lahbati for breach of contract. She was facing multiple charges.{{cite news|url=http://www.pep.ph/news/37063/gma-7-files-formal-complaint-against-sarah-lahbati-for-breach-of-contract |title=GMA-7 files formal complaint against Sarah Lahbati for breach of contract |work=Philippine Entertainment Portal|access-date=11 January 2013}} In a related article published in PEP last 9 January 2013, Felipe Gozon, the head of GMA Network, released a statement indicating he did not guarantee protection that Sarah Lahbati said she was due.Joyce Jimenez (10 January 2013) [http://www.pep.ph/news/37045/atty-felipe-gozon-on-sarah-lahbati39s-guaranteed-protection-claim-she-did-not-ask-for-protection-and-i-did-not-guarantee-that-i-will-protect-her Atty. Felipe Gozon on Sarah Lahbati's "guaranteed protection" claim: "She did not ask for protection and I did not guarantee that I will protect her."]. PEP.ph. Retrieved on 17 July 2013. A few days later, Lahbati left the Philippines for Switzerland "to study".[http://entertainment.inquirer.net/76767/sarah-lahbati-evades-cases-by-fleeing-the-country Sarah Lahbati evades cases by fleeing the country]. Entertainment.inquirer.net (15 January 2013). Retrieved on 17 July 2013. In August 2013, Lahbati returned to the Philippines to face the charges against her. It was later revealed that Lahbati left for Switzerland to give birth to her son with Richard Gutierrez in May 2013 at the age of 19.[https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/publicaffairs/kapusomojessicasoho/366603/full-transcript-kapuso-mo-jessica-soho-interview-with-richard-gutierrez-sarah-lahbati-and-baby-zion/story FULL TRANSCRIPT: ‘Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho’ interview with Richard Gutierrez, Sarah Lahbati and baby Zion] GMA News Online (20 June 2014). Retrieved on 24 March 2025.

Filmography

=Television=

Year	Title	Role
class="wikitable sortable"
2009–2010	StarStruck	Herself / Contestant / Ultimate Female Survivor
2010–2012	Party Pilipinas	Herself/Performer
2010	Love Bug Presents: Exchange Of Hearts	Rachel
2010–2011	Little Star	Paula Estrella
rowspan=4 \| 2011	Maynila: Bestfriends & A Girl	Ina Kariran
Time of My Life	Pia
Spooky Nights Presents: Sumpa	Sarah
Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin	young Amara Luna
2011–2012	Ruben Marcelino's Kokak	Kokak/Kara
2012	Makapiling Kang Muli	Graciela Montes
2013	Indio	Ynaguiguinid
2013–2015	Sunday All Stars	Host/Herself/Performer
2014	Seasons of Love: BF for Hire, GF for Life	Samantha "Sam" Villareal
2014–2019	It Takes Gutz to Be a Gutierrez	Herself
2015	Ipaglaban Mo: Tiwalang Nasira	Nora
2015–2017 \| ASAP	Herself / co-host / Performer
2015 \| Maalaala Mo Kaya: Karaoke	Monica Cuenco
rowspan=2 \| 2016	Maalaala Mo Kaya: Gitara	Mia
My Super D	Ulah / Tiradora
2017	The Promise of Forever	Elizabeth Dela Paz
2018	Eat Bulaga!	Herself / Co-host
rowspan=2\|2023 \| E.A.T.	Herself / Guest
The Iron Heart	cameo
2024 \|Frontline Pilipinas \|Guest
2024	Lumuhod Ka Sa Lupa	Mercy Balmores-Aguirre
2024 \|Eat Bulaga! \|Guest player

=Film=

Year	Title	Role
class="wikitable sortable"
2010	White House	Pim
2012	Boy Pick-Up: The Movie	Queen
2013	Seduction	Trina
2014	Basement	Eliza
2015	Liwanag sa Dilim	Minerva
2016	The Achy Breaky Hearts	Martha
2017	Ang Pagsanib Kay Leah dela Cruz
2018	Fantastica	Cameo
2019	Mission Unstapabol: The Don Identity	Samantha