Elizabeth Oropesa

**Elizabeth Oropesa**

Elizabeth Oropesa Freeman, known as Elizabeth Oropesa, was born on July 17, 1954, in Albay, Philippines. Her journey into the limelight began in 1972 when her mother, seeking to help her enter the Miss RP pageant, altered her birth registration to make her appear 18. Although Elizabeth won the Miss RP Luzon title, she was swiftly dethroned upon the revelation of her true age. This controversy marked the start of her acting career, which took flight with her film debut in 1973's *Daredevil Rider*.

By the mid-1970s, Oropesa had secured her status as a prominent actress, gaining wide recognition for her performances in *Mister Mo, Lover Boy Ko* and *Lumapit, Lumayo Ang Umaga* (both released in 1975). Her role in the latter earned her the prestigious FAMAS Best Actress award, a recognition she would again receive in 2000 for her outstanding work in *Bulaklak ng Maynila*. In total, she has received five FAMAS nominations and various accolades from organizations such as the Young Critics Circle and Gawad Urian Awards.

In addition to her cinematic achievements, Elizabeth took a significant break from acting to delve into alternative medicine, becoming a Master of Tetada Kalimasadam and earning a Doctorate of Philosophy in Alternative Medicine from the International Open University for Complementary Medicine in Sri Lanka. Today, she operates a clinic in Quezon City, specializing in psychic healing, while continuing to act in films and television under the name Dr. Elizabeth Freeman.

On a personal note, Elizabeth married at 16 and became a widow by 23, raising her daughter alone. She later wed martial arts actor Meng-Fei, but the marriage was short-lived. Currently, she shares her life with bodybuilder and physical therapist Joe Valdez.