''Darna'' is a 2005

Philippine television drama Philippine television drama, also known as ''teleserye'', Filipino telenovelas or P-drama, is a form of melodramatic, serialized, televised fiction in the Philippines. ''Teleserye'' is derived from two Filipino words: "tele", short for "''telebi ...

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy literature and d ...

action Action may refer to: * Action (narrative), a literary mode * Action fiction, a type of genre fiction * Action game, a genre of video game Film * Action film, a genre of film * ''Action'' (1921 film), a film by John Ford * ''Action'' (1980 fil ...

series broadcast by

GMA Network GMA Network (Global Media Arts or simply GMA) is a Philippine free-to-air television and radio network. It is the flagship property of publicly traded GMA Network, Inc. Its first broadcast on television was on October 29, 1961. GMA Network (f ...

. The series is based on

Mars Ravelo Marcial "Mars" Ravelo (October 9, 1916 – September 12, 1988) was a Filipino comic book cartoonist and graphic novelist who created ''Darna, Dyesebel, Captain Barbell, Lastikman'', '' Bondying'', ''Varga'', ''Wanted: Perfect Mother'', ''Hiwa ...

's Philippine fictional character of the same name and a loose adaptation of the 2003 ''Darna'' comic miniseries published by Mango Comics. Directed by

Dominic Zapata Dominic Zapata (born February 14, 1971), is a Filipino television and film director. He is a graduate of the De La Salle University-Manila and Don Bosco Technical Institute-Makati. He took up AB Communication Arts and BSC Marketing Management (CAM ...

and

Eric Quizon Enrico "Eric" Smith Quizon (born January 20, 1967) is a Filipino actor, director, producer, writer and comedian. He is the 12th child of the late comedian-actor, Dolphy. He is also a co-owner of Café Famous in Greenbelt, Makati. In late 2022, ...

, it stars

Angel Locsin Angelica Locsin Colmenares (born April 23, 1985) is a Filipino actress and humanitarian. She is known for her dramatic roles and portrayals of heroines and mythological characters in film and television. She is a recipient of various accolades ...

in the title role. It premiered on April 4, 2005 on the network's Telebabad line up. The series concluded on November 25, 2005 with a total of 170 episodes.

Cast and characters

;Lead cast *

as Darna / Narda ;Supporting cast * Alessandra De Rossi as Valentina *

Wendell Ramos Wendell Xavier Ramos (born August 18, 1978) is a Filipino actor and model who is currently under GMA Network after ABS-CBN and TV5. Biography and early career Ramos started his showbiz career in 1995 when he joined the cast of '' Bubble Gang ...

as Jeric Frias *

Dennis Trillo Abelardo Dennis Florencio Ho (born 12 May 1981), known professionally as Dennis Trillo (), is a Filipino actor, model and recording artist. He is currently a contract star of GMA Network. He was known for his role as Eric del Mundo in the firs ...

as Efren / Lalaking Ahas * Jeremy Marquez as Jun *

Eddie Garcia Eduardo Verchez Garcia (; May 2, 1929 – June 20, 2019), known colloquially as Manoy, was a Filipino actor, television personality, film director and producer. With almost 600 film and television roles and a career spanning seven decades, he ...

as Oscar /

Mambabarang Filipino witches are the users of black magic and related practices from the Philippines. They include a variety of different kinds of people with differing occupations and cultural connotations which depend on the ethnic group they are associat ...

Christopher de Leon Christopher Strauss de León (born October 31, 1956) is a Philippine film actor and politician. He is recognized as the “''King of Philippine Drama''” has appeared in over 120 films since the early 1970s. Regarded as an "acting genius" and ...

as Ted / Dr. Zombie *

Celia Rodriguez Cecilia Rodriguez (born June 21, 1938) is a multi-awarded Filipina actress. She appeared in more than 130 movies and television shows. She won four FAMAS Awards in the films ''Kulay Dugo ang Gabi'', ''The Passionate Strangers'', ''Lilet'' and ' ...

as Braguda *

Gina Pareño Gina Pareño (; born Geraldine Acthley; October 20, 1947) is a Filipina actress. Early life Pareño was born to a German American father and a Filipina mother. Career She started her career in the 1960s as an extra in several films and then lat ...

as Milagros *

Sandy Andolong Melisande "Sandy" Andolong-de Leon (born Melisande Pinga Andolong; January 16, 1959) is a Filipino actress and producer, where she is mostly seen on GMA Network. She has also been currently seen on ABS-CBN TV programs. Personal life Sandy An ...

as Prospera *

Caridad Sanchez Caridad Yuson Sanchez-Babao (born August 1, 1933 in Mandaue) is a Filipina actress, mostly seen on GMA Network. In 1977, she played the role of Nanay Idad in the revival TV drama series based from the very successful radio soap opera (first he ...

as Aio *

Carmina Villarroel María Carmina Muñiz Villarroel-Legaspi (; August 17, 1975) is a Filipinos, Filipino actress, television presenter, and product endorser. Personal life Villarroel was previously married to Rustom Padilla in 1994; the two had no children, and ...

as Sabrina / Sulfura *

Tonton Gutierrez Eduardo Antonio Winsett Gutierrez, Jr. (born March 20, 1968), professionally known as Tonton Gutierrez, is a Filipino film and television actor best known for his role as Governor Eduardo Buenavista in the original hit teleserye ''Pangako Sa ...

as Mulong / Nosferamus *

Maureen Larrazabal Maureen Larrazabal (born September 23, 1979) is a Filipino actress, singer and commercial model who is one of the popular and regular mainstays of the TV sitcom ''Bubble Gang'' of GMA Network. Before venturing into movie and television, Larraz ...

as Aio *

Karen delos Reyes Karen delos Reyes (born Glomirose Anarna delos Reyes on September 29, 1984) is a Filipina actress and comedian of GMA Network. Karen became famous because of the McDonald's ad. She started her acting career when she joined the cast of '' Click'' ...

as Alice / Babaeng Tuod / Babaeng Impakta / Babaeng Lobo *

Katrina Halili Maria Katrina Iren Pe Halili (born January 4, 1986) is a Filipino actress and commercial model of Chinese descent. She made her screen debut through the reality talent search '' StarStruck'' in 2003, and became more popular playing several role ...

as Carol / Black Darna *

Cristine Reyes Ara Cristine Pascual Klenk (born February 5, 1989), known professionally as Cristine Reyes, is a Filipino actress, model, dancer and endorser. She is often called as the "Ultimate Star" by the local media for her acting prowess and popularity. ...

as Molecula *

Ella Guevara Ella Guevara (born Janella Denise Yuson Guevara; August 19, 1998, Quezon City) is a Filipina child actress. She rose to fame through her appearance on a talent search on television called '' StarStruck Kids'' that aired on the Filipino televisi ...

as Lenlen * Ryza Cenon as Louella / Divas Impaktitas *

C. J. Muere Caesar Joseph L. Muere (born February 18, 1988), popularly known simply as C. J. Muere, is a former Filipino actor. He is best known for being in the Final Four of '' StarStruck'' season two and portraying Ding in the 2005 television series of ...

as Ding *

Francis Magundayao Francis Elmer Cabalteja Magundayao (born May 14, 1999) is a Filipino actor and commercial model. He was first known as Iking in the series, ''Darna''. He is also known for portraying young Travis (adult version portrayed by Gerald Anderson) in ...

as Iking *

Nadine Samonte Nadine Burgos Eidloth-Chua (born March 2, 1988), known by her stage name Nadine Samonte, is a Filipino-German actress and model. She participated as an Avenger of the first season of '' StarStruck''. Career Samonte first ventured into show bus ...

as Ava ;Guest cast *

Lorna Tolentino Victoria Lorna Perez Aluquin-Fernandez (born December 23, 1961), better known by her stage name Lorna Tolentino, sometimes known as ''L.T.'', an abbreviation of her screen name, is a Filipino people, Filipino actress, Television presenter, host ...

Queen Adran Queen Adran is the queen of the Adranika race, a fictional race in Darna created by Filipino comics writer Mars Ravelo. Character Description Queen Adran (another anagram of Darna) was the benevolent queen of the surface-dwelling race c ...

Lani Mercado Lani Mercado-Revilla (born Jesusa Victoria Garcia Hernandez; April 13, 1968) is a Filipino actress and politician serving as representative of Cavite's 2nd district, which comprises only the city of Bacoor, from 2010 to 2016. Personal life She ...

as Ising * Cogie Domingo as Daniel *

Ara Mina Ara Mina (born Hazel Pascual Reyes-Almarinez; May 9, 1979) is a Filipino people, Filipino actress, singer, endorser, and entrepreneur. Career Mina became part of the Philippine entertainment industry at 14 years of age via the youth-oriented ...

Dyesebel ''Dyesebel'' () is a Filipino comic book character, conceived by Mars Ravelo and drawn by Elpidio Torres. Dyesebel is a mermaid, who eventually gains full human form through a deal with a sea-witch. Aside appearing in Pilipino Komiks, Dyesebe ...

Alice Dixson Alice Dixson (born Jessie Alice Dixson; ; July 28, 1969) or often misspelled Alice Dixon, is a Filipino American actress, commercial model, and former beauty queen. Biography Born to an American father and a Filipino mother, she was the Philipp ...

as Dyangga *

Rochelle Pangilinan Rochelle Pangilinan-Solinap (born May 23, 1982) is a Filipino dancer, actress and recording artist. She was one of the founding members of the popular group SexBomb Girls. In 2007, she repackaged herself as a short-term rap and hip-hop artis ...

as Corella *

Iya Villania Raelene Elaine Villania(born June 29, 1986), known professionally as Iya Villania-Arellano (), is a Filipino-Australian singer, television presenter, and actress. She has been widely known for her work as a VJ in the music channel MYX. Early a ...

as Racquel *

Charee Pineda Charee Pineda-Soledad (born Crissha Charity Morrison Pineda on 27 September 1990) is a Filipina actress, politician and one of ABS-CBN's Star Magic artists. Her career began when she was cast as the "sweetilicious" girl on ABS-CBN's defunct tee ...

as Harrietta *

Sid Lucero Timothy Mark Pimentel Eigenmann (; born March 12, 1983), better known by his stage name Sid Lucero (), is a Filipino television and film actor and model. He won the 31st Gawad Urian Best Actor award for his role in ''Selda''. Career Tim's ...

as Jomar *

Anita Linda Alice Bueñaflor Lake (November 23, 1924 – June 10, 2020), better known by her stage name Anita Linda, was a Filipino film actress. A romantic lead in her youth, she later gained critical acclaim for her portrayals in maternal or elderly r ...

as Nacyfe *

Lloyd Samartino Lloyd Samartino Jr. (born February 2, 1960) is a Filipino actor. Personal life Samartino's mother is Carmen Soriano, an actress and singer. Samartino's wife was Jo Ramos, a singer and daughter of former Philippines President Fidel V. Ramos. T ...

as Ramos *

K Brosas Maria Carmela Brosas (born 15 July 1975), better known by her screen name K Brosas, is a Filipina actress, comedian, singer and television host. She was born in the Philippines to an American father and a Filipina mother and was a band member ...

as Divina Demonica *

Bearwin Meily Bearwin Meily (born April 4, 1976) is a Filipino comedian actor, TV host and a recent vlogger. Early career He started his career as an extra ''Palibhasa Lalake'' in ABS-CBN and eventually became regular. Current career But later on he moved ...

as Toy Master *

Maggie Wilson Margaret Nales Wilson, known as Maggie Wilson (born March 15, 1989), is a Filipino-British beauty queen, TV personality, actress, model and entrepreneur. Early life Wilson was born in Bacolod City and raised in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. One of t ...

Manananggal The ''manananggal'' is a mythical creature in the Philippines that separates from their lower part of its body and their fangs and wings give it a vampire-like appearance. Mythology The ''manananggal'' is described as scary, often hideous, u ...

Production

Actress

Iza Calzado Maria Izadora Ussher Calzado-Wintle (born August 12, 1982), known professionally as Iza Calzado (), is a Filipino actress, television host, dancer and model. She is dubbed as the "''Goddess of Horror Films''" by local media for her acting prowes ...

was first approached for the role of Darna. However, due to the requirement for Calzado to lose weight to wear a costume, the role eventually went to Angel Locsin.

Ratings

According to

AGB Nielsen Philippines AGB Nielsen Media Research Philippines, commonly called AGB Nielsen, is a market research firm in the Philippines specializing in broadcast media. AGB Nielsen conducts audience measurement of television ratings for certain areas in the Philipp ...

' Mega Manila household television ratings, the pilot episode of ''Darna'' earned a 47.1% rating, the highest rating for a pilot episode in Philippine television. The series had its highest rating on April 7, 2005 with a 52.1% rating.

References

External links

* {{Darna 2005 Philippine television series debuts 2005 Philippine television series endings Darna Fantaserye and telefantasya Filipino-language television shows GMA Network drama series Philippine action television series Superhero television series Television shows based on comics Television shows set in the Philippines