1970s: Early work and career beginnings Soriano started acting at the age of six in the 1971 film
My Heart Belongs to Daddy with
Tirso Cruz III and fellow child actress
Snooky Serna. She was brought by her paternal grandmother to
Sampaguita Pictures search for a child actress who will portray Tirso Cruz, III's younger sister. She had grabbed the role with her dancing, singing and acting skills. Soriano developed her comic skills under the guidance of the veteran comedians
Dolphy and
Nida Blanca, both of whom she considered second parents, especially when she grew up acting in
John en Marsha where she was a regular cast.
1980s: Rise to prominence In 1980, Soriano was signed up by
Regal Films and became part of the movie production company's pioneering batch of contract stars who were collectively called
Regal Babies along with Snooky Serna,
Dina Bonnevie,
Gabby Concepcion,
Albert Martinez,
Alfie Anido, Jimi Melendez and her loveteam partner,
William Martinez. Aside from working in
John en Marsha, which spawned several movie spinoffs, and other
Dolphy productions, Maricel starred in the youth-oriented TV program
Kaluskos Musmos, which started airing in 1984. She was eventually introduced in the coming-of-age movie,
Underage (1980). In their first film together, Oh, My Mama!, Soriano and Martinez showed great chemistry and became a love team on and offscreen. They went on to star more projects throughout the decade including the comedies
Pabling (1981),
Galawgaw (1982), and
Inday Bote (1985), as well as the dramas
Hindi Kita Malimot (1982),
Teenage Marriage (1984), and
The Graduates (1986). She was also paired with other leading men such as Gabby Concepcion in
Pepe en Pilar (1983),
Ronnie Ricketts in
John & Marsha (1986),
Fernando Poe Jr. in
Batang Quiapo (1986), and
Randy Santiago in Taray and Teroy (1988). Soriano also headlined a string of hit musical-variety TV shows, such as
I Am What I Am,
Maricel Live!, and
Maria! Maria!, before starring in her first drama anthology,
Maricel Regal Drama Special, which aired on
ABS-CBN from 1987 to 1992. The PMPC honored her with six awards as Best Actress in a Drama Anthology (
The Maricel Soriano Drama Special) in 1988, 1989 and 1992. Soriano is also considered the "Dancing Queen" of the 1980s, and her signature dance numbers, "
I Am What I Am", "Body Dancer", "O La La", "
Rico Mambo", Angela Clemmons' "
Give Me Just a Little More Time" and Shalamar's "
A Night to Remember", among others have continued to be associated with her even to this very day. While not a professional singer, she even managed to record two songs, the theme song of the movie,
Oh, My Mama! and the gold record hit "Ngayon at Habang Panahon". Aside from a sold-out concert at the
Smart Araneta Coliseum entitled "Hello, Hello Maricel" in 1987, she has appeared in hit concerts locally and abroad in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
1990s: Breakthrough Soriano reached greater heights in her career, thus establishing herself as the "Diamond Star". She top billed a string of critically acclaimed and blockbuster films such as
Ikaw Pa Lang ang Minahal (1992),
Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin (1994),
Vampira (1994),
Separada (1994),
Dahas (1995),
Inagaw Mo ang Lahat sa Akin (1995), and
Soltera (1999). She remained visible on television through her drama anthology
The Maricel Drama Special which ran for the next seven years. She was also named as "Drama Anthology Queen" in the early 1990s because of her successful weekly drama show (produced by Regal Films and
ABS-CBN) topped the primetime ratings game since its airing in October 1986. In July 1988,
Freddie M. Garcia acknowledged that Soriano was the number one star of ABS-CBN, of which he was then the general manager. After two years, she with sister Maria Victoria and former manager Manny Valera established Excellent Productions and took the helm of producing the show. The drama show lasted for ten years and was awarded by the Catholic Mass Media Awards in 1988 and 1989 and the KBP's Golden Dove Media Awards in 1992 and 1993 as outstanding drama anthology. As main performer, she received
Star Award's best actress for drama honors in 1988, 1989 and 1992.
2000s: Continued success Soriano continued to dominate the big and small screens at the turn of the new millennium with the blockbusters
Mano Po (2002) and
A Love Story (2007), and the top-rating sitcom
Kaya ni Mister, Kaya ni Misis (opposite Cesar Montano), which was eventually retitled
Bida si Mister, Bida si Misis. In 2006, Soriano was back with Regal Films as the lead star of
Bahay Kubo, a movie intended for the 2007 Metro Manila Film Festival. In September 2009, Soriano appeared in
Florinda, the third and final episode of
Sineserye Presents: The Susan Roces Cinema Collection.
2010s: Hiatus and comeback Soriano went on a two-year hiatus in 2009 following the death of her mother. In early 2010s, Soriano became a freelancer and made several guest appearances in GMA-7 shows. She made her comeback following her short hiatus in 2011 with her movie
Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, which was an entry for the
Metro Manila Film Festival in 2011. In 2014, she inked a program contract with her home station,
GMA Network, after backing out of ABS-CBN's
Bukas na Lang Kita Mamahalin, which was supposed to be her teleserye comeback but
Dawn Zulueta eventually replaced her role in the said show. She finally made her comeback in 2014 through the hit television series, Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real. It was her first major project as a Kapuso actress which also marked her return on the small screen and then did guesting in
Bubble Gang and
Sunday PinaSaya. The Society of Entertainment (Enpress) thru their Golden Screen Awards for TV, the OFW Kakampi Awards and the EduKCircle TV Awards gave her the Best Actress for Drama trophies for her compelling performance in GMA Network's
Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real. She also took on supporting roles in the comedies
Momzillas (2013);
Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy (2013); and
My 2 Mommies (2018). I In 2017, she eventually returned to showbiz through her home network, ABS-CBN. ==Acting style and reception==