Sheryl Rose Anna Marie Sonora Cruz (born April 5, 1974) is a Filipino actress, singer, television personality, and composer. Beginning her career as a child actress, she rose to prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s as one of the leading young stars of Philippine film and television. She gained recognition as a member of the youth-oriented television program That's Entertainment and as a member of the singing trio The Triplet, alongside Tina Paner and Manilyn Reynes.
Throughout a career spanning more than four decades, Cruz has appeared in numerous films, television dramas, anthology programs, musical productions, and variety shows. She is known for her roles in Sinasamba Kita, Rosalinda, Bakekang, Magkaagaw, Prima Donnas, Lilet Matias: Attorney-at-Law, and Born to Shine. In addition to acting, she pursued a recording career and received Gold and Platinum Record Awards as a solo artist. Her work in film, television, and music has earned recognition from organizations including the Film Academy of the Philippines, the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation, the PMPC Star Awards, and the Film Development Council of the Philippines. GMA News Online identified Cruz as one of the notable alumni of That's Entertainment, alongside Lea Salonga, Francis Magalona, Billy Crawford, Ruffa Gutierrez, Manilyn Reynes, Romnick Sarmenta, Keempee de Leon, and Janno Gibbs.
Cruz is the daughter of actors Ricky Belmonte and Rosemarie Sonora, the niece of actress Susan Roces and actor Tirso Cruz III, and the niece by marriage of National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Fernando Poe Jr.
Beginning her career as a child actress, Sheryl Cruz later emerged as one of the prominent young actresses of Philippine film and television during the late 1980s and early 1990s. She gained wider recognition as part of the pioneering generation of performers on the youth-oriented variety program That's Entertainment, created by German Moreno, where she was a member of the program's Wednesday Group. During her years on the program, Cruz was also a member of The Triplet, a singing trio composed of Cruz, Kristina Paner, and Manilyn Reynes.
Prior to and during her participation in That's Entertainment, Cruz established herself as one of the most recognizable young stars of her generation through numerous film appearances and her popular screen partnership with Romnick Sarmenta. A retrospective published by PEP.ph noted that Cruz had already been dubbed the "Princess of Philippine Cinema" during her years on the program, while GMA News Online referred to her as the "Princess of Philippine Movies". Her growing popularity was attributed in part to the success of her love team with Sarmienta.
After returning to the Philippines, Cruz resumed her acting career as a freelance actress, appearing in television, film, and musical projects across multiple networks and production companies. In a 2007 interview with PEP.ph, she described herself as a freelance artist and stated that she was not under an exclusive contract with any television network, allowing her to accept projects from different broadcasters.
In 2012, Cruz made a guest appearance in the ABS-CBN series Walang Hanggan, portraying the young Virginia "Manang Henya" Cruz, a character later portrayed by her aunt Susan Roces. The following year, she joined the cast of Galema: Anak ni Zuma as Galela Carriedo while continuing to work as a freelance performer across television and film productions.
In 2019, Cruz portrayed Veron Santos in the GMA Network drama series Magkaagaw. The role marked a departure from many of her previous antagonist portrayals and was described by Cruz as an opportunity to explore more mature and challenging dramatic material. In interviews, she credited her manager Rams David of Artist Circle Talent Management for encouraging her to reconsider the project after initially hesitating to accept the role.
In 2022, she joined the cast of Prima Donnas, portraying Bethany Fajardo-Howards in the series' second season. Initially introduced as a guardian to Donna Lyn and Lenlyn while living in Australia, the character later emerged as the principal antagonist Kendra Fajardo Claveria, earning attention for Cruz's dual-role performance.
In 2024, Cruz portrayed principal antagonist Patricia Valdez-Egaño in the legal drama series Lilet Matias: Attorney-at-Law. The series became one of the most successful afternoon programs of its period and further strengthened her reputation for portraying complex antagonist roles. Her performance earned recognition from award-giving bodies in the Philippines and abroad throughout the program's run from 2024 to 2026.
In 2026, Cruz joined the cast of the musical drama series Born To Shine, portraying Giovanna "Vanna" Grande, the head vocal coach of the series' P-Pop boot camp. The same year, she starred alongside Ejay Falcon and Bembol Roco in the drama film Kappa-tiran, directed by Neal Tan and produced by Marcos Mamay. Inspired by the acclaimed 1982 film Batch '81, the film centers on fraternity life and was developed as part of Mamay Production's advocacy to support the Philippine film industry and provide opportunities for aspiring actors.
Over the course of her career, Cruz became known for portraying strong and complex female characters on television. Her body of work has included leading ladies, romantic rivals, matriarchs, anti-heroines, and antagonists across a wide range of drama productions. Roles such as Divina Ferrer in Sinasamba Kita, Veron Santos in Magkaagaw, Valeria del Castillo-Altamirano in Rosalinda, Valeria Manero-Arevalo in Bakekang, Patricia Engaño in Lilet Matias: Attorney-at-Law, and Coach Vanna in Born to Shine demonstrated her ability to portray diverse characters spanning multiple genres and generations of Philippine television.
Acting career Cruz started her career at age four.
She won the FAMAS Best Child Actress award for her portrayal in the film Mga Basang Sisiw opposite Janice de Belen, Che Che and Julie Vega. She also won Best Child Actress for the film Roman Rapido opposite Fernando Poe Jr. She was also in the movie Ang Leon at ang Kuting (1980) with Fernando Poe Jr. and in Tropang Bulilit (1981) with Niño Muhlach and Lea Salonga.
She was later contracted by Regal Films along with Kristina Paner and Manilyn Reynes as one of the Regal Babies. Cruz also recorded the album Must Be Heaven with Reynes and Paner under Ivory Records.
At that time, GMA Network established the youth-oriented television program That's Entertainment, hosted by German Moreno, where Sheryl Cruz became a member of the Wednesday Group. During her time on the show, she was paired with actor Romnick Sarmenta, forming one of the program's popular love teams.
In 1987, Cruz portrayed Maritess in the Regal Films drama Asawa Ko Huwag Mong Agawin, directed by Emmanuel H. Borlaza.
Cruz later signed a contract with Seiko Films, where she was paired with actor Romnick Sarmenta. In 1990, she starred in the Metro Manila Film Festival entry Ama… Bakit Mo Ako Pinabayaan?, directed by National Artist for Cinema Lino Brocka, portraying Julie, a blind young woman. The film was named Second Best Picture at the 1990 Metro Manila Film Festival and won five awards, including Best Supporting Actor for Robert Arevalo and Best Child Performer for Guila Alvarez, who portrayed the younger version of Julie.
During the early-to-mid 1990s, Cruz headlined her own season of Star Drama Theater (later Star Drama Presents), under the title Sheryl. The anthology format featured selected actors and actresses in multi-episode story arcs designed to showcase their dramatic range. Directors associated with her season included Lore Reyes, Mac Alejandre, Jerry Lopez Sineneng, and Rory Quintos.
In August 2004, Cruz returned to the Philippines and starred in the comeback film Mano Po III: My Love alongside Vilma Santos.
Cruz's breakthrough came through her appearances in two seasons of Now and Forever, as well as in Tinig and Ganti, which were among GMA Network's successful afternoon drama productions during the period.
In 2006, Cruz portrayed Valeria Arevalo in Bakekang, one of the central figures in the conflict surrounding the title character.
In 2007–2008, she transferred to ABS-CBN after her career on GMA, where she portrayed Miss Minchin in Princess Sarah, Xandra in Komiks Presents: Varga, and appeared in Lobo.
She later returned to GMA Network for Luna Mystika opposite Heart Evangelista.
In 2009, she portrayed another character named Valeria, Valeria Altamirano, in the Philippine adaptation of Rosalinda.
In the mid-plot of the Sine Novela offering Tinik sa Dibdib, Cruz was cast as an additional character in the series, rumored that she was the replacement of Ara Mina. Cruz later joined the cast of the series as Rita Domingo, a key character in the series' central love triangle involving Lando and Lorna. After her role in Tinik sa Dibdib, Cruz was chosen by GMA Network to appear in Langit sa Piling Mo as a guest star. She also starred in the first season of the reality-comedy series Ang Yaman ni Lola and portrayed Fabiola in the fantasy-action series Grazilda, performing a role that combined drama, fantasy, and physically demanding action sequences.
In 2011, Cruz moved to TV5 and joined the cast of Mga Nagbabagang Bulaklak, portraying Rosal Flores. She also portrayed the young Helena See in the TV5 drama series Babaeng Hampaslupa, opposite her aunt, Susan Roces, who played the character's older counterpart. She later returned to GMA Network through the remake of Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin. In 2012, Cruz made a guest appearance in the ABS-CBN series Walang Hanggan, portraying the young Virginia "Manang Henya" Cruz, a character later portrayed by her aunt Susan Roces. The following year, she joined the cast of Galema: Anak ni Zuma as Galela Carriedo while continuing to work as a freelance performer across television and film productions.
On December 7, 2013, Cruz won ₱1,000,000 on ABS-CBN's The Singing Bee after correctly guessing the lyrics to four consecutive songs in the final round.
Before her victory episode, Cruz was featured among the celebrity contestants competing for the jackpot prize alongside Rez Cortez, Dennis Padilla, Tina Paner, and Tirso Cruz III.
She returned to GMA network again in 2014, and was given many roles and TV appearances including the primetime drama series Strawberry Lane.
In a 2020 retrospective feature, GMA Entertainment highlighted several of Cruz's notable and iconic television and film roles, including Mga Basang Sisiw, That's Entertainment, Bakekang, Sinasamba Kita, Rosalinda, Luna Mystika, Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin, Strawberry Lane, Buena Familia, Once Again, Meant to Be, and My Guitar Princess.
In 2019, Cruz reunited with Sunshine Dizon in the drama series Magkaagaw. She portrayed Veron Razon-Santos, one of the series' central female characters whose complex relationship and rivalry with Laura drove much of the story's narrative. She starred alongside Dizon, Jeric Gonzales, and Klea Pineda.
In 2022, she joined the cast of the afternoon drama series Prima Donnas, portraying the role of Bethany Howards in Season 2. Initially depicted as a kindhearted guardian to Donna Lyn / Lenlyn (portrayed by Sofia Pablo) in Australia, her character transitions to the main antagonist, Kendra Fajardo Claveria, taking over the antagonist role previously portrayed by Aiko Melendez in the first season. Her portrayal of the dual role received attention for its dramatic villain arc.