Artists rarely follow a linear trajectory towards their dreams. The paths they forge are treacherous, with countless twists, turns, and hurdles that’ll have them wondering if they’re even meant for this unshakeable calling. For Maris Racal, however, the road less taken will always be worth pursuing, and she’s more than ready to make every detour count.
Photo: Dennis Sulit (via Maris Racal)/Instagram
The homestretch of 2026 has been nothing short of a whirlwind for Maris so far, packed with blessings upon blessings that’ve added a sprinkle of magic to her year-end “plot twists.” No one knows exactly what the future holds for her next, but after all her back-to-back Best Actress awards for Antoinette Jadaone’s Sunshine, it’s safe to say she’s about to have the ride of her life.
Though 2027 is still two months away, Maris already has her heart set on making the most of her jam-packed year ahead with newfound breakthroughs in tow.
Last October, she won her first-ever Gawad Urian Award, honoring her longevity as an actress and the many chapters of her story she had yet to write. And after earning the Actress of Distinction title from the Film Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS), she now looks forward to reaching new heights with the same passion that has kept her going since childhood.
Maris has rekindled her zest for life through characters and acting milestones that harbor universal truths. Her forthcoming work attests that the sky is truly the limit for her and the world she’s building for her craft.
A Winning Streak for the Books
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“I still can’t believe it,” Maris admits, her monumental wins engraved fondly in her memory. “There’s always so much warmth and love in my heart when I’m called onstage!”
Not everyone can say they’ve earned multiple Best Actress awards for one life-changing role all in the same year. That explains the “pure bliss” that Maris experiences whenever she adds a new feather to her cap for her remarkable performance in Sunshine. Her character alone has done wonders for Philippine cinema on a global scale, and it warms our hearts to witness her dedication manifest in her notable accolades.
“I didn’t make the trophies my sole inspiration,” Maris explains, grateful for the opportunities she had to highlight artists’ hindrances, struggles, and rejections in her recent acceptance speeches. “When I was a kid, I used to watch a bunch of acceptance speeches at international award shows. I always got excited when the Oscars, FAMAS, and Gawad Urian Awards came around.”
One of Matthew McConaughey’s winning speeches, in particular, helped Maris stay focused and committed to achieving her goals in the long run. She adds, “I return to [McConaughey’s speech] sometimes to keep the fire burning. Acceptance speeches are so important to me. They help me stay hungry and inspired!”
An International Run That Broke Boundaries
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Since its international premiere in 2024, Sunshine has proven that Filipinos’ perspectives and identities have long deserved large-scale recognition. As the film continues to help young women thrive and remind them of the powerful voices they’ve always wielded, Maris still remembers the sheer joy that overcame her when she first watched it with Antoinette Jadaone, endearingly known by many as Direk Tonet.
“Watching [Sunshine] for the first time has to be one of my most memorable experiences yet,” Maris shares. “In my head, I was like, ‘Wow. We really did that.’ And I was so proud of our director’s leadership.”
The nationwide premiere of Sunshine last year, which fans called the film’s “homecoming,” also filled Maris’s heart with unmatched fulfillment. Even amid local audiences’ chaotic energy, the meaningful conversations Filipinos gained from each screening ushered in an exciting new era for her, the movie, and its incredible team to explore.
The Road to Center Stage
Everyone and their mothers have seen Sunshine on the big screen and on streaming by now. But have you ever wondered how our beloved gymnast’s story would play out live and in real time?
The upcoming Sunshine immersive stage adaptation, directed by Mikko Angeles and written by Mikaela Regis, hopes to answer this burning question by mid-2027. Maris is gearing up to reprise her awe-inspiring role from the original film in a live production where agency and artistic growth run deep.
Unlike the usual set-ups in musicals and plays, where actors face a sea of people on a centerpiece, immersive storytelling involves unique perspectives and audience interactions—two standout elements that Maris has highlighted throughout her initial preparations for the all-new Sunshine, which also marks her theatrical debut.
“I’m excited to embody Sunshine Francisco again and portray her in a new way!” Maris shares, already adding more stretching and yoga sessions to her everyday routine. “I immediately thanked Direk Tonet for thinking of this. I can’t wait to be a student and learn the ropes of theatre. I need to be as flexible as possible because this is all live, no editing.”
The Sunshine immersive play gives audiences a thoughtful glimpse into each of the original story’s characters. It maximizes an open space and narrative structure to give audiences varying experiences each time they watch. Tackling the live show’s boundless nature won’t be easy, but Maris welcomes the opportunity as a learning curve and a much-awaited reunion with her co-stars, Elijah Canlas (Miggy) and Xyriel Manabat (Thea).
Before Maris enters her theatre era next year, she encourages future audience members of the Sunshine immersive play to learn more about the art form itself. She cites the critically acclaimed interactive production Sleep No More, a film-noir-esque reinterpretation of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, as a helpful reference.
“[In Sleep No More], you can follow the actor from start to finish and watch the play from a five-storey building,” Maris explained. “So you won’t just observe Sunshine’s life, but also Miggy’s, and everyone else in the play.”
Beyond the unconventional yet intriguing storytelling platform, Maris hopes that Filipinos will keep adding to the conversations surrounding Sunshine even after the play’s closing night: “Discussions about abortion, autonomy, and womanhood can enlighten so many people. I love that [Sunshine] encourages more people to talk about these taboo topics now.”
A New Milestone for Filipina Storytellers
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None of these highly anticipated developments for Sunshine could’ve been possible without the film studio behind them, Ilaya Ilaya, led by Direk Tonet herself.
After working closely with the award-winning filmmaker on the original movie, Maris is now a proud member of Ilaya Ilaya’s women-led roster of local creatives, together with Eugene Domingo, Angelica Panganiban, and Kaila Estrada, whose first major film under Ilaya Ilaya, Birdsong, is already slated for a nationwide premiere.
“This is huge. These are the women of our industry with amazing bodies of work,” Maris says. “I’m so thankful to be part of a team that doesn’t hesitate to believe in women and champion their stories.”
Maris’s new journey with Ilaya Ilaya proves that nothing is impossible with a support system that celebrates you wholeheartedly. As long as she keeps her heart and mind open to new learning environments, her dream role as a journalist spearheading a documentary might come true sooner than we think.
“I want to explore different lives through acting and studying,” she shares, ready to take us down more roads that’ll put her passion and acting prowess front and center.
ALSO READ: The Old Billy Is Gone! Kathryn Bernardo Enters a New Era in “Someone, Someday”
Are you excited for Maris’s new projects next year? Sound off and share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
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