IN THE SPOTLIGHT: A lookback at Daniel Padilla’s TV roles

Daniel Padilla as Dasho Yuan Rinpoche in “Princess and I”; Eloy in “2 Good 2 Be True”; and Tristan in “La Luna Sangre.” Image: screengrab from YouTube/ABS-CBN Entertainment

With his decade-long acting career, Daniel Padilla has proven his acting mettle not just with his blockbuster films but also with his small screen projects. 

From teenage roles, fictional characters, to mature portrayals, Padilla has built an acting portfolio that includes different genres, making him one of the most sought-after actors in his generation.

The actor was recently announced to make a television comeback and star in the upcoming ABS-CBN series “Incognito,” and excited fans are looking forward to seeing him in action anew after two years.

Padilla’s most recent TV series was “2 Good 2 Be True” in 2022 where he starred alongside his then girlfriend, actress Kathryn Bernardo. In fact, most of his teleseryes were with Bernardo, and now that the two of them have parted ways in real life, “Incognito” would be his first one sans the actress since 2013. 

To refresh everyone’s memory, here’s a recap of Padilla’s previous TV series:

‘Gimik 2010’ (2010)

Padilla started his acting career at the age of 15. He portrayed a minor role in the 2010 TV series “Gimik 2010,” a remake of the hit 90’s teen-oriented show “Gimik” that featured Judy Ann Santos, the late Rico Yan, Marvin Agustin and Mylene Dizon, among many others.

In the 2010 remake, Padilla starred alongside Jessy Mendiola, Julia Montes, Franco Daza as well as “Gimik” original cast Santos and Dizon, among others.

‘Growing Up’ (2011)

Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla in ‘Growing Up.’ Image: ABS-CBN Entertainment

In “Growing Up,” Padilla played the character of Patrick Rivero, the love interest of Bernardo’s role Ella Dimalanta. Padilla’s role was supposed to be played by his fellow actor Albie Casiño, but the latter was pulled out from the teen series due to controversies involving him at the time.

‘Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw’ (2012-2013)

In the TV series, Padilla’s role was the young version of the character of his uncle, actor-turned senator Robin Padilla. At the moment, “Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw” was Daniel’s latest TV series in which he doesn’t star as a love team with Bernardo. 

‘Princess and I’ (2012-2013)

Padilla portrayed the character of Gino Dela Rosa, who later turned out to be Dasho Yuan Rinpoche. The actor’s character was one of the men trying to win the heart of Princess Areeyah Wangchuck, the role played by Bernardo.

Padilla and Bernardo’s love team became a hit at the time, with the TV series running for 10 months.

‘Be Careful With My Heart’ (guesting)

Padilla also had a minor role in the hit 2012 TV series “Be Careful With My Heart” alongside Bernardo. The pair was featured in a few episodes of the series as younger versions of lovers Mang Anastacio (Carlos Salazar) and Manang Fe (Gloria Sevilla). 

‘Got to Believe’ (2013)

After “Princess and I,” Padilla immediately had a love team role with Bernardo through “Got to Believe” in 2013. The actor portrayed the character of Joaquin Manansala, whose life was revealed to be somehow intertwined with Chichay Tampipi (Bernardo) and her family. 

‘Pangako Sa’yo’ (2015)

“Pangako Sa’yo” made a shift in Padilla’s acting career as it is the actor’s first role that broke out from his “Teen King” image. The 2015 TV series, which is a remake of the 2000 drama of the same name, still starred Bernardo who portrayed the role of Yna Macaspac, the love interest of Padilla’s Angelo Buenavista. 

The series’ cast members also included Angelica Panganiban, Jodi Sta. Maria, and Ian Veneracion. It ran for nine months, and was also aired in several countries including Vietnam, Spain and Peru. 

‘La Luna Sangre’ (2017)

“La Luna Sangre,” the third installment to the fictional franchise that includes “Lobo” (2008) and “Imortal” (2010), saw Padilla as a vampire. In the series, Padilla is still with his love team partner Bernardo, who played an offspring of a vampire father and a werewolf mother.

The TV series was also Padilla’s first action project with Bernardo.

‘The House Arrest of Us (2020) 

Padilla starred in the romance-comedy digital series “The House Arrest of Us” along with Bernardo. The pair portrayed a couple who got engaged but was struggling between their feuding families. As it was filmed during the height of the pandemic, the series also shows the characters forced to stay all together in one house due to a community quarantine. 

‘2 Good 2 Be True’ (2022)

Kathryn Bernardo (left) and Daniel Padilla celebrate their 10th year as a love team (KathNiel) with the airing of “2 Good 2 Be True”

Padilla took on another romantic-comedy series role in “2 Good 2 Be True,” portraying the role of Eloy alongside Bernardo’s Ali. In the series, Eloy is a scam artist and a law student determined to take his father out of jail. In his pursuit to find the mastermind behind his father’s imprisonment, Eloy meets Ali and their lives get entangled after discovering each other’s secrets. 

This is Padilla’s last TV project with Bernardo before they ended their real-life romance in 2023.