Nora Aunor, one of the most recognised figures in Philippine entertainment, has died at the age of 71. The news was confirmed on Wednesday through social media posts shared by her children. No details regarding the cause or location of death have been released.
Born Nora Cabaltera Villamayor in Camarines Sur, Aunor rose from humble beginnings, once selling water at a local train station, to become a national icon. She first entered the spotlight in the 1960s as a singer before transitioning to acting, where she built a formidable career spanning over 200 film and television roles.
Among her most lauded performances were those in Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos (1976), Bulaklak sa City Jail (1984), and The Flor Contemplacion Story (1995). Her role in Andrea, Paano ba ang Maging Isang Ina? (1990) earned her a sweep of best actress awards domestically. In 2012, she won the Asian Film Awards best actress title for Thy Womb, in which she portrayed a midwife.
Aunor continued to act until recently, with a role in the 2024 film Mananambal and an appearance in the legal drama Lilet Matias, Attorney-at-Law. In 2022, she was honoured as a National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts, the Philippines’ highest accolade in the field.
Her nomination had previously been denied in 2014 by then-President Benigno Aquino III, reportedly due to a 2005 drug-related arrest in the United States. Her lawyer clarified that the item in question was found in a bag she did not pack, and that charges were dropped after a diversion programme was completed in 2007.
Aunor was married to actor Christopher de Leon from 1975 to 1996. She is survived by their children Ian, Lotlot, Matet, Kiko and Kenneth de Leon.
