She is a member of the Barretto clan, a prominent entertainment family which includes actresses Claudine Barretto and Gretchen Barretto. She finished grade school (Grades 1 to 7) at Miriam College in Loyola Heights Katipunan Avenue Quezon City in March 2011. She started high school at Miriam College from freshman to sophomore year, where she played as a member of their varsity volleyball team in the WNCAA, until she transferred to St. Paul College in Pasig in 2013 during her junior year under their curriculum for professional talents after signing a contract with Star Magic. She graduated high school in 2015.[3][4]
Career
Early years and breakthrough (2006–2014)
Barretto began her career as a child actress and made her screen debut in Gulong ng Palad (2006).[5] After playing several supporting roles in television, she gained fame as Anna in the fantasy series Kokey (2007) and appeared as Pamela Kiev in the action drama series Palos the following year.[6] She also appeared in numerous episodes of the anthologies Wansapanataym and Maalaala Mo Kaya in the succeeding years. In 2011, she made her first appearance at the Star Magic Ball and was awarded Princess of the Night the following year.[7] In 2013, she was launched as part of Star Magic Circle, along with Liza Soberano and Janella Salvador.[8] She landed her first lead role in the drama series Mirabella (2014) opposite Enrique Gil.[9] According to Kantar Media, the series was the fourth most watched television show throughout its run and garnered its highest nationwide viewership of 27.3% during its finale episode.[10] The same year, Barretto was honored with a German Moreno Youth Achievement Award at the 62nd FAMAS Awards.[11][12]
Mainstream stardom (2015–2019)
Barretto at the Candy Style Awards in 2013.
In May 2015, Barretto made her film debut in the teen romance Para sa Hopeless Romantic. The film earned her a nomination at the 64th FAMAS Awards for Best Supporting Actress. Later that year, she starred with Miles Ocampo in the melodrama series And I Love You So.[13] Barretto ventured more roles in romantic comedies and drama. In December 2016, she starred alongside Joshua Garcia and Ronnie Alonte in the film Vince and Kath and James.[14] It was selected as one of the official entries at the 42nd Metro Manila Film Festival and became a blockbuster hit, earning ₱123 million at the Philippine box office.[15] Following their successful team up, Barretto and Garcia starred again in another Star Cinema film, Love You to the Stars and Back. The film was acclaimed by the critics and has earned ₱112 million at the domestic box office.[16] Barretto's performance also earned her nominations for Best Actress at the FAMAS and Luna Awards.
In 2017, Barretto teamed up with Garcia for the third time and starred in the film Unexpectedly Yours with Sharon Cuneta and Robin Padilla. The film garnered bigger numbers at the box office, grossing ₱249 million worldwide.[17] In August 2018, the tandem made their television series debut in the drama series Ngayon at Kailanman. The show was a consistent top rater,[18] garnered its highest national TV rating of 34.7% in the finale.[19] The same year, the pair starred with Kris Aquino in the film I Love You, Hater.[20] In May 2019, she starred in the romance drama film Between Maybes opposite Gerald Anderson, her first project without Garcia in more than two years.[21] Barretto has earned consecutive nominations for Movie Loveteam of the Year at the PMPC Star Awards for Movies from 2017 to 2022 (excluding 2020).
Continued success (2020–present)
Barretto in 2024
In January 2020, she starred in the zombie thriller film Block Z.[22] While the film performed moderately at the box office, it achieved the highest number of first day registrations by any KBO movie following its availability on iWant and ABS-CBN TVplus' KBO.[23] In February 2020, she starred in an iWant original series I Am U opposite Tony Labrusca.[24][25] In September 2020, Barretto left Star Magic and signed a management contract with Viva Artists Agency.[26][27] In February 2022, she starred alongside Xian Lim and Marco Gumabao in the horror film Bahay na Pula.[28][29] In September 2022, Barretto starred with Carlo Aquino in the romantic drama Expensive Candy.[30] It marked her first venture into sexy roles and received acclaim from critics for her performance.[31]
In 2023, Barretto graced the cover of Preview Magazine for their September issue, her first in over a decade.[32] In November, she was announced as the newest calendar girl]] for the local liquor brand Tanduay.[33][34]
In 2013, Barretto filed a petition before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court to change her surname from Baldivia (her father's surname) to Barretto (her mother's surname). Her parents, actors Marjorie Barretto and Dennis Padilla have been separated since 2007. The official reason cited by the actress' camp was to "prevent confusion" due to different surnames used in public and official records. As of 2021, Barretto reportedly still carries her father's surname in her contracts and business dealings.[42]
In 2020, Barretto filed a legal complaint against former broadcaster Jay Sonza for cyber libel and violation of the Safe Spaces Act at the National Bureau of Investigation due to his malicious social media posts alleging her pregnancy.[43]
Business endeavours
Barretto launched her accessory brand The Juju Club in November 2021, which sells retro clips, hats, eyewear, and rings among others.[44][45]
