Rosemarie Joy Garcia-Smith (born April 15, 1985), better known by her stage nameDiana Zubiri, is a Filipina actress. She began her acting career in the early 2000s when she starred in various erotic movies produced by Seiko Films. She is widely recognized for her role as Danaya in the 2005 fantasy drama series Encantadia.
Early life and education
Rosemarie Joy Garcia is born on April 15, 1985 in Bulacan, Philippines. When she was six or seven years old, her father abandoned their family. Since then, her mother at Olongapo, who maintained a sari-sari store, took care of them. The family later transferred to Fairview, Quezon City and rented a house, where she stayed during her younger years.[1] Her mother remarried[1] and bore a child that became her halfsister.[2]
Zubiri was a member of the Iglesia ni Cristo but later converted to Roman Catholicism during her early part of her show business career.[3] She finished with a theater arts degree at Miriam College.[4][5]
Career
Zubiri was discovered by Seiko Films at the age of 15, years after applying for work in Japan as an entertainer. She later starred in various sexy films produced by the company. Zubiri became well-known to the public in October 2002 when she posed atop the EDSA–Shaw flyover in Mandaluyong, wearing only a two-piece bikini for the men's magazine FHM Philippines. This photoshoot stirred controversy, leading the then-mayor of Mandaluyong, Benhur Abalos, to file charges against Zubiri and the magazine. However, the charges were later withdrawn following an apology.[6]
In 2003, she became a semi-regular host in the noontime show Eat Bulaga! which lasted until 2005.[7] She also became a mainstay on the long-running sketch-comedy show Bubble Gang until 2009.
Starting in 2005, she began taking on acting roles in various shows on GMA Network. Zubiri's major acting breakthrough came with the 2005 fantasy drama series Encantadia, where she portrayed Danaya, the diwata who holds the Jewel of the Earth.[8] She later reprised the role in the spin-offs Etheria and Encantadia: Pag-ibig Hanggang Wakas. In 2007, Zubiri starred in the action-adventure series Asian Treasures alongside Angel Locsin and Robin Padilla.
After a two-year absence from both film and television, Zubiri made her return in 2010 with the comedy fantasy series Jillian: Namamasko Po. The following year, she appeared in several drama series, including Nita Negrita and Amaya.[9]
In 2012, Zubiri signed a three-year exclusive contract with ABS-CBN. Notably, during her early career, she had applied multiple times to ABS-CBN's Talent Center before ultimately seeking opportunities in Japan. In March of that year, Zubiri won the Best Performer Award from the Young Critics Circle for her role in the indie film Bahay Bata, where she portrayed a nurse. The film also won the Jury Prize at the 2012 Deauville Asian Film Festival in France.[10]
After her contract with ABS-CBN expired in 2015, she returned to GMA Network, where she appeared in episodes of Karelasyon and joined the cast of the 2015 remake of Marimar. In 2016, she portrayed one of the major antagonists in the remake of Encantadia, the series she first starred in 2005. She continued to take on supporting and guest roles in various GMA series, including D' Originals, Super Ma'am, Victor Magtanggol, Cain at Abel, Dragon Lady, and Beautiful Justice.
Zubiri took a brief hiatus from acting but made her return to television in 2024, joining the cast of the drama series Mga Batang Riles.[11]
Personal life
On May 10, 2015, Zubiri married Australian businessman-model Andy Smith in New Manila, Quezon City.[12][13] They have a daughter named Aliyah Rose born on August 14, 2016.[14] After giving birth to her third child in 2020, Zubiri and her family moved to Adelaide, South Australia where the couple run a talent agency for a global social live-streaming platform.[15]
Zubiri sold one of her souvenirs to Jayson Luzadas or Boss Toyo for $400 (₱23,417). The subject memorabilia is her donned bikini top and panties used in her controversial photo shoot at EDSA-Shaw flyover for FHM Philippines on October 2002.[16]
Zubiri made her first appearance in FHM Philippines in June 2002 as one of the "Girls of FHM." Just six months later, she became a cover girl for the magazine, posing on the EDSA-Shaw Boulevard flyover. She appeared in an FHM calendar alongside Maui Taylor and Aubrey Miles. She also appeared in the FHM editions of Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia.[19]
For 14 consecutive years, Zubiri consistently ranked in the magazine's annual 100 Sexiest Women in the World list. She topped the list in 2003 where she was hailed the FHM Philippines' Sexiest Woman.
On June 27, 2012, Zubiri accepted her Young Critics Circle award for Best Performance at the ceremony held at the University of the Philippines.[21][4][22]
Year
Film Award/Critics
Award/Nomination/Category
Nominated Work
Result
2012
Young Critics Circle award
Best Performance by Male or Female, Adult or Child, Individual or Ensemble in Leading or Supporting Role
^Nuñez, Julie Ann (September 29, 2006). "DIANA ZUBIRI: ANG PAGBABAGO". filmacademyphil.org (in Tagalog). Film Academy of the Philippines. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
