2001–2004: Early work and career beginnings Martin started his career in one of the
ABS-CBN's talent agencies,
Star Magic, as part of the Star Circle Batch 9 in 2001 alongside
Angel Locsin,
Rafael Rosell,
Janus Del Prado,
Heart Evangelista,
Princess Schuck, and
Alwyn Uytingco. He made his acting debut under his real name, Rodel Nacianceno, with a cameo appearance in the 2001 film
Luv Text starring
Judy Ann Santos. Later that year, he got a minor role in the 2001 film
Lakas at Pag-ibig under the name Rodel Salvador. After minor roles in films, Martin began appearing in TV advertisements and print ads. He got his big break in 2004, when the TV personality
German Moreno included him as a star on his reality show
Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman. He was later scouted for a role in an independent film.
2005–2008: Indie films and career breakthrough At the behest of the manager Ed Instrella, Nacianceno adopted the
stage name Coco Martin, combining the names of singers
Coco Lee and
Ricky Martin. Martin's breakthrough came with the lead role in the 2005
indie film,
Masahista (The Masseur), directed by
Brillante Mendoza in his directorial debut under Gee Films Productions International and Centerstage Productions. The film, which explored the life of a young man providing massages to gay men, received critical acclaim. It won Best Movie and earned Martin his first Best Actor Award at the 2006 Young Critics Circle. Additionally,
Masahista was honored with the prestigious Golden Leopard Award at the 58th
Locarno International Film Festival in
Switzerland. The film garnered multiple nominations at the
FAMAS Awards and
Gawad Urian Awards, winning the critic's prize for the
Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) at the 2007
Jeonju International Film Festival in
South Korea. Notably, Martin top-billed '
Tirador,' another indie film directed by Brillante Mendoza, which delved into the political undertones of Filipino life in poverty. In the same year, Martin appeared in various indie films such as
Pi7ong Tagpo and
Nars under Carl & Carl Productions and CCM Creatives. He also acted in his first
Cinema One Originals entry,
Tambolista, directed by Adolfo Alix, Jr. The film received critical acclaim and premiered at the
Rotterdam Film Festival in 2008, with additional screenings at international festivals in
Germany and
Spain. In 2007, Martin took on a supporting role in the mainstream film
Batanes: Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan under
GMA Films alongside
Iza Calzado and
Taiwanese actor
Ken Chu of
F4, marking his first appearance in a mainstream film. He also ventured into TV series with
Daisy Siete: Isla Chikita under
GMA Network, his inaugural television project. Returning to indie films in 2008, Martin starred in
Condo under Breaking The Box Productions, portraying an idealistic security guard named Benjamin Castro Jr. The film offered viewers a unique perspective on the life of a security guard and his interactions on the job. In 2008, Martin starred again in another critically acclaimed indie film
Daybreak, a Philippine gay film written by Charliebebs Gohetia and directed by Adolfo Alix Jr. Martin portrayed the role of a boatman who becomes sexually and romantically involved with another man played by Paolo Rivero. In the same year, Martin once again top-billed alongside
Jaclyn Jose and
Gina Pareno in an award-winning film,
Serbis directed by Mendoza. The film competed for the
Palme d'Or in the main competition at the
2008 Cannes Film Festival and became the first
Filipino film to compete in Cannes since
Lino Brocka's
Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim in 1984. The film won numerous awards at the 2008 Gawad Urian Awards and at the
3rd Asian Film Awards. Martin returned to the Cinemalaya film festival in 2008 with the film
Jay alongside
Baron Geisler. The film was directed by Francis Pasion and tackles how media is able to create its own version of the truth. It challenges the audience to be critical and discerning of whatever they see on television or film. This film gave Martin his three Best Supporting Actor Awards at the 2009
Gawad Urian Awards, 2009 ENPRESS Golden Screen Awards, and 2009 Gawad Genio Awards. His contributions to the Philippines independent filmmakers led the media to dub him the "Prince of Philippine Independent Films."
2009–2014: Television projects and rise to fame Martin having
typecast for "bold" or erotic roles in indie films like
Masahista was an initial obstacle for him to land a role in
ABS-CBN's television series. ABS-CBN offered him roles such as a character in a love triangle with
Shaina Magdayao and
Rayver Cruz roles as well as a gay friend to
Judy Ann Santos's character. In both instances the offer for the roles were withdrawn after the production staff learned Martin's history as a "sexy star". With
Jaclyn Jose's encouragement and an endorsement with director
Andoy Ranay, Martin managed to land the role in ABS-CBN's
Ligaw na Bulaklak. Despite Ranay's sudden withdrawal from the production staff, Martin received praised from one of the series' directors who he credits for his television break. After
Tayong Dalawa, he starred in a remake of a 1990 film titled
Nagsimula sa Puso, alongside
Maja Salvador,
Jason Abalos and
Nikki Gil. Because of these projects, Martin was offered contract with
Star Magic, ABS-CBN's biggest talent agency. In 2010, he became part of the cast of ABS-CBN's primetime drama ''
Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo, and had his first leading role in the action series Tonyong Bayawak. The action series is the third installment of ABS-CBN weekly mini-series Agimat: Ang Mga Alamat ni Ramon Revilla (Amulet: The Legendary Chronicles of Ramon Revilla). He also starred in his first mainstream film under Star Cinema, Sa 'yo Lamang, and in the primetime series 1DOL'' with
Sarah Geronimo and
Sam Milby. Despite his success in television, Martin starred in another award-winning, critically acclaimed indie film,
Kinatay directed by Brillante Mendoza in 2009. the first Filipino film to do so. The film gave Martin his Best Actor Award at the 7th Golden Screen Award and Presidential Jury Award for Excellence in Acting at the 2009 Gawad Tanglaw Awards. He was also nominated for Best Actor at the 2009
FAMAS Award. The following year, Martin got his first top billing in an indie film,
Noy, produced by Star Cinema and directed by Dondon Santos. but did not make the shortlist. It was a story about a journalist commissioned to come up with a documentary following the campaign of the character's namesake,
Benigno Aquino III, who later became 15th
president of the Philippines. In 2011, he led the acclaimed television series
Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin, wherein he received the Dekada Award in the
Gawad Urian ceremony. He was nominated for multiple awards for his portrayal as Alexander and Javier del Tierro in the series, and won Best Actor in the
20th KBP Golden Dove Awards and Best Drama Actor at the
25th Star Awards for TV. In 2012, Martin starred in another ensemble series titled
Walang Hanggan, an adaptation of the 1991 film
Hihintayin Kita sa Langit. He was paired with
Julia Montes, as his first official love interest. Because of the success of the series, Coco Martin was dubbed the "Prince of Philippine TV Series". Later, he was cast in a romantic-comedy film directed by John D. Lazatin, Mae Czarina Cruz-Alviar, Frasco Santos Mortiz and Dado C. Lumibao titled,
24/7 in Love. In the same year, a script for a film called
Juan dela Cruz was submitted to the
2012 Metro Manila Film Festival but failed to make the final list of entries. The entry, directed by Richard Somes, was one of the 7 rejected scripts. Because of this, Cinemedia Films Production Incorporated and ABS-CBN Dreamscape Entertainment unit head Deo Endrinal decided to retool the cancelled film as a
television series, which was aired in 2013 with
Erich Gonzales. The series had positive reviews and Martin became a household name. The series earned him another Best Actor Award at the 27th Star Awards for Television and at the 12th Gawad Tanglaw Awards. In 2012, Martin starred in a film by Emmanuel Quindo Palo titled
Sta. Niña along with
Alessandra de Rossi,
Anita Linda and
Irma Adlawan. The film was an official entry for the New Breed Full Length Feature Category at the
8th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival. The film also won "The Golden Crow Pheasant Award for Best Feature Film" aka
Suvarna Chakoram at the 17th
International Film Festival of Kerala in
India. Having worked with Director Palo in Sta. Nina, Martin was chosen to star in a 2013 film
A Moment in Time together with
Julia Montes as his leading lady. The film was shot in
Amsterdam and
Paris, and was produced by
Dreamscape Cinema and Star Cinema. His performance earned him, a nomination for Best Drama Actor at the
2014 FAMAS Awards. In 2014, Martin starred in
Maybe This Time, a film with singer-actress
Sarah Geronimo produced by
Star Cinema and
VIVA Films. In the same year, Martin starred with
Kris Aquino in his first ever
Metro Manila Film Festival film. The film was a sequel to a
2004 film of the same title also starring Aquino. The film became the second-highest-grossing film at the 2014 Metro Manila Film Festival behind
The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin and holds the title of having the highest opening gross of any Filipino horror film. It earned a total of ₱235.0 million at the box office. In the same year, Martin also starred in the
period drama television series entitled
Ikaw Lamang with Julia Montes, Kim Chiu and
Jake Cuenca. The series earned Martin "Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series" at the 13th Gawad Tanglaw Awards and "Best Drama Actor" at the
28th PMPC Star Awards for Television.
2015–2022: Ang Probinsyano and critical success In 2015, he starred in an episode of the fantasy anthology television series
Wansapanataym entitled "Yamishita's Treasures" alongside his leading lady Julia Montes. He also appeared in an episode of
Maalaala Mo Kaya co-starring Angel Locsin and
Ejay Falcon that was dedicated to the memory of
Special Action Force members killed in the
Mamasapano clash. In September 2015 with an ensemble cast, Martin starred in his most successful television series to date, the TV adaptation of
Fernando Poe Jr.'s film ''
FPJ's Ang Probinsyano. To portray the role, he had to train in martial arts such as Kickboxing, Arnis, and MMA. The program was originally set as a year-long series, but due to its continuous success and consistent top rating, it was extended indefinitely and finally ended on August 12, 2022. The longest-running television series lasted from September 28, 2015, to August 12, 2022, with a total of 1,696 episodes. Martin was given a certificate of appreciation for his portrayal of a highly dedicated CIDG Police officer. On 14 September 2016, Surigao congressman Robert Ace Barbers filed House Resolution No. 358 at the 17th Congress of the Philippines which commended the show for its efforts to promote crime awareness and prevention among viewers and endorsed Martin as "Celebrity Advocate for a Drug-Free Philippines." However, in 2018, the Philippine National Police (PNP) withdrew its support for "Ang Probinsyano" following its negative portrayal of the PNP in the television series. PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Bong Durana said that an internal memorandum, signed by Director General Eduardo Garado, chief of the PNP Community Relations, was issued ordering all units, offices and personnel to refrain from assisting the producers of the series. In response to this, ABS-CBN has drafted a Memorandum of Understanding and has submitted it to the PNP for its comment, leading to a meeting with Martin, ABS-CBN Management, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año along with PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde to resolve the issues. Due to the success of Ang Probinsyano
, Martin was dubbed as the "King of Philippine Television" by various press and given numerous awards including the "Fernando Poe, Jr. Memorial award" at the 63rd FAMAS. and in his second MMFF entry, Beauty and the Bestie'' with
Vice Ganda, the third
highest-grossing Filipino film of all time. In 2016, he starred with superstar
Nora Aunor in an indie film titled
Padre de Familia directed by Adolf Alix Jr. The film was based on Martin's experiences working overseas. It premiered at selected cinemas in
Europe and the
Middle East via
The Filipino Channel. In the same year, he starred in his third Metro Manila Film Festival entry,
The Super Parental Guardians, along with
Vice Ganda and
Awra Briguela under Star Cinema. It was the second-highest grossing Filipino film of all time. In 2017, Martin launched his own production company, CCM Productions, and had his first directorial and producer debut in the film
Ang Panday, a
2017 Metro Manila Film Festival entry. The role was first popularized by late actor
Fernando Poe Jr., hence, making it the second time Martin portrayed one of his roles. In 2018, he produced another film
Jack Em Popoy: The Puliscredibles, a
2018 Metro Manila Film Festival entry and starred alongside
GMA Network artists
Maine Mendoza and
Vic Sotto. In 2019, he produced, wrote, directed and starred in the
2019 Metro Manila Film Festival entry
3pol Trobol: Huli Ka Balbon! with
Jennylyn Mercado and
Ai-Ai delas Alas. In 2021, Martin starred in a romantic comedy film
Love or Money with
Angelica Panganiban under CCM Productions and Star Cinema. The movie was filmed on various locations in
Dubai,
United Arab Emirates.
2022–present: Batang Quiapo and other projects In July 2022,
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority announced the 4 initial entries for
2022 Metro Manila Film Festival, and Martin's film
Labyu with an Accent together with Jodi Sta. Maria was included. Martin is set to appear again in the
Brillante Mendoza film
Apag alongside
Lito Lapid,
Gladys Reyes,
Gina Pareño,
Joseph Marco,
Shaina Magdayao and Mercedes Cabral, an official entry for the
2023 Metro Manila Summer Film Festival. The role was initially pitched to
Aljur Abrenica. He will also lead an indie horror film directed by Mendoza titled,
Pola, together with Julia Montes. The film was shot in
Pola, Oriental Mindoro, hence the title and is set to be released early 2023. In February 2023, Martin together with actress
Lovi Poe and an ensemble cast returns in the
TV adaptation of the 1986 film
Batang Quiapo. It was created by Pablo S. Gomez and starred Fernando Poe, Jr. Martin will also serve as the series' co-director, co-writer, and co-producer under his film production company. During a
TV Patrol interview on February 21, 2026, Martin announced that
Batang Quiapo will conclude on March 13, 2026, and he and his longtime partner, Julia Montes, will star in a role for an upcoming action-comedy drama series,
Sigabo, which is set to air later in 2026. ==Personal life==