Jacqueline Fernandez 2009-2013: Debut and breakthrough What is most memorable about Jacqueline Fernandez's career? Mahesh Bhatt's thriller Murder 2 was Fernandez's first commercial success and marked a turning point in her career. Is there any thing interesting about Jacqueline Fernandez's career? ]". Despite the negative reviews, Fernandez received a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the 14th IIFA Awards for her performance. What makes Jacqueline Fernandez unique? While Gaurav Malini praised her for her looks, NDTV called her a "blathering bimbo" who "find[s] no pleasure in [her role]". What year is most memorable for Fernandez? 2013
When did Fernandez have her breakthrough?
When did Jacqueline Fernandez have her breakthrough?
In 2009, Fernandez traveled to India for a modeling assignment. She studied acting under the mentorship of theatre director Barry John, and successfully auditioned for Sujoy Ghosh's fantasy film Aladin (2009) her acting debut. She played the love interest of Riteish Deshmukh's character, a role based on the character of Princess Jasmine. and Rajeev Masand of CNN-IBN felt that she was: "easy on the eyes and appears confident but has precious little to do". Although the film was a critical and commercial failure, she won the IIFA Award for Star Debut of the Year - Female.  In 2010, Fernandez appeared opposite Deshmukh in the science fiction romantic comedy Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai. She was cast as a girl from Venus, who lands on Earth in search of love. The film, along with Fernandez's performance, received poor reviews; Rediff.com's Sukanya Verma noted: "She gamely makes a fool of herself whilst aping the actions of movie stars, ranging from Sridevi's Naagin dance, Mithun Chakravarthy's Disco Dancer moves, to Big B's violent headshake in Hum. Her Tara could be a keeper if only Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai wasn't so intent on turning her into a love-struck Barbie." Critic Anupama Chopra also criticized Fernandez, calling her "a pin-prick on a balloon". Later that year, she made a special appearance in the song "Dhanno" for Sajid Khan's comedy Housefull.  Mahesh Bhatt's thriller Murder 2 was Fernandez's first commercial success and marked a turning point in her career. She took on the role of Priya, a lonely model who is in a confused relationship with Arjun Bhagwat (played by Emraan Hashmi). Fernandez was praised for her performance, and for the boldness and sex appeal she displayed in the film. Gaurav Malini of The Times of India stated that she was "tastefully tempting" but noted that her romance with Hashmi was "literally half-baked". The following year, Fernandez appeared in the ensemble comedy Housefull 2 alongside Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, and Asin. It became one of the top grossing productions of India that year and earned Rs1.86 billion (US$28 million) worldwide. Fernandez received mostly negative reviews for her performance. While Gaurav Malini praised her for her looks, NDTV called her a "blathering bimbo" who "find[s] no pleasure in [her role]". Despite the negative reviews, Fernandez received a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the 14th IIFA Awards for her performance.  Fernandez's first release of 2013 was Race 2, an ensemble action thriller (alongside Saif Ali Khan, John Abraham and Deepika Padukone), described as the "cinematic equivalent of a trashy novel" by critic Rajeev Masand. She played Omisha, a femme fatale, a role which required her learn fencing and some acrobatics. The film emerged as a commercial success, with the domestic gross of more than Rs1 billion (US$15 million). In a particularly scathing review, Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV wrote that both Fernandez and Padukone "strut around like wound-up automatons that are all decked-up but have nowhere to go." Also that year, Fernandez appeared in an item number, titled, "Jaadu Ki Jhappi", for Prabhu Deva's romantic comedy Ramaiya Vasta Vaiya. CANNOTANSWER
Mahesh Bhatt's thriller Murder 2 was Fernandez's first commercial success and marked a turning point in her career.
Jacqueline Fernandez (born 11 August 1985) is a Sri Lankan actress, model and the winner of the Miss Universe Sri Lanka pageant of 2006 who predominantly works in Hindi films. In 2009, she debuted with Aladin and since then has established a career in the Hindi film industry. Fernandez was born and raised in Bahrain to a multiracial Eurasian family of Sri Lankan, Canadian, and Malaysian descent. After graduating in mass communication from the University of Sydney and working as a television reporter in Sri Lanka, she joined the modeling industry. She was crowned Miss Universe Sri Lanka in 2006, and represented her country at Miss Universe 2006.

While on a modelling assignment in India in 2009, Fernandez successfully auditioned for Sujoy Ghosh's fantasy drama Aladin, which marked her acting debut. Fernandez had her breakthrough role with the psychological thriller Murder 2 (2011), her first commercial success. This was followed by glamorous roles in the commercially successful ensemble-comedy Housefull 2 (2012) and the action thriller Race 2 (2013), which garnered her an IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actress nomination. Fernandez went on to star in the top-grossing action film Kick (2014) and the comedies Housefull 3 (2016) and Judwaa 2 (2017).

Alongside her screen acting career, Fernandez has worked as a judge in the ninth season of the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa (2016–2017), is a popular celebrity endorser for various brands and products, has participated in stage shows, and is active in humanitarian work.

Early life and modeling career
Jacqueline Fernandez was born on 11 August 1985, in Manama, Bahrain, and was raised in a multi-ethnic family. Her father, Elroy Fernandez, is a Sri Lankan Burgher, and her mother, Kim, is of Malaysian and Canadian descent. Her maternal grandfather is Canadian. Her father, who was a musician in Sri Lanka, moved to Bahrain in the 1980s to escape civil unrest between the Sinhalese and Tamils and subsequently met her mother, who was an air hostess. She is the youngest of four children with one elder sister and two elder brothers. After receiving her early education in Bahrain at Sacred Heart School, she studied mass communication at the University of Sydney in Australia. After graduating she did a couple of television shows in Sri Lanka. She also attended the Berlitz school of languages, where she learned Spanish and improved her French and Arabic.

According to Fernandez, she had aspired to become an actress at a young age and fantasized about becoming a Hollywood movie star. She received some training at the John School of Acting. Although, she was a television reporter, she accepted offers in the modeling industry, which came as a result of her pageant success. In 2006, she was crowned the winner of the Miss Universe Sri Lanka pageant and represented Sri Lanka at the world Miss Universe 2006 pageant held in Los Angeles. In a 2015 interview, Fernandez described the modeling industry as "a good training ground" and said: "It is a medium that is about shedding your inhibitions, knowing your body, confidence". In 2006, she appeared in a music video for the song "O Sathi" by music duo Bathiya and Santhush and young female singer Umaria Sinhawansa.

Acting career

2009–2013: Debut and breakthrough
In 2009, Fernandez traveled to India for a modeling assignment. She successfully auditioned for Sujoy Ghosh's fantasy film Aladin (2009) her acting debut. She played the love interest of Riteish Deshmukh's character, a role based on the character of Princess Jasmine. and Rajeev Masand of CNN-IBN felt that she was: "easy on the eyes and appears confident but has precious little to do". Although the film was a critical and commercial failure, she won the IIFA Award for Star Debut of the Year – Female.

In 2010, Fernandez appeared opposite Deshmukh in the science fiction romantic comedy Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai. She was cast as a girl from Venus, who lands on Earth in search of love. The film, along with Fernandez's performance, received poor reviews; Rediff.com's Sukanya Verma noted: "She gamely makes a fool of herself whilst aping the actions of movie stars, ranging from Sridevi's Naagin dance, Mithun Chakravarthy's Disco Dancer moves, to Big B's violent headshake in Hum. Her Tara could be a keeper if only Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai wasn't so intent on turning her into a love-struck Barbie." Critic Anupama Chopra also criticized Fernandez, calling her "a pin-prick on a balloon". Later that year, she made a special appearance in the song "Dhanno" for Sajid Khan's comedy Housefull.

Mahesh Bhatt's thriller Murder 2 was Fernandez's first commercial success and marked a turning point in her career. She took on the role of Priya, a lonely model who is in a confused relationship with Arjun Bhagwat (played by Emraan Hashmi). Fernandez was praised for her performance, and for the boldness and sex appeal she displayed in the film. Gaurav Malini of The Times of India stated that she was "tastefully tempting" but noted that her romance with Hashmi was "literally half-baked". The following year, Fernandez appeared in the ensemble comedy Housefull 2 alongside Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, and Asin. It became one of the top grossing productions of India that year and earned  worldwide. Fernandez received mostly negative reviews for her performance. While Gaurav Malini praised her for her looks, NDTV called her a "blathering bimbo" who "find[s] no pleasure in [her role]".  Despite the negative reviews, Fernandez received a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the 14th IIFA Awards for her performance.

Fernandez's first release of 2013 was Race 2, an ensemble action thriller (alongside Saif Ali Khan, John Abraham and Deepika Padukone), described as the "cinematic equivalent of a trashy novel" by critic Rajeev Masand. She played Omisha, a femme fatale, a role which required her learn fencing and some acrobatics. The film emerged as a commercial success, with the worldwide gross of more than  and a net domestically of over  . In a particularly scathing review, Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV wrote that both Fernandez and Padukone "strut around like wound-up automatons that are all decked-up but have nowhere to go." Also that year, Fernandez appeared in an item number, titled, "Jaadu Ki Jhappi", for Prabhu Deva's romantic comedy Ramaiya Vasta Vaiya.

2014–present: Commercial success
In 2014, Fernandez appeared in Sajid Nadiadwala's directorial debut—the action film Kick, a remake of a 2009 Telugu film of same name. She starred opposite Salman Khan, playing Shaina, a psychiatrist. She retained her real voice for the first time in Kick. While Sneha May Francis commented that she is: "incredibly dazzling, and moves like a magic", Raja Sen of Rediff.com was more critical of her dialogue delivery, calling it "unfortunate." The film received mixed reviews from critics, but with worldwide revenue of over , it became the fourth highest-grossing Bollywood film. The film established Fernandez as one of the most popular Bollywood actresses.

In 2015, Fernandez featured in Vicky Singh's Roy, a romantic thriller, which critic Sarita A. Tanwar described as a "boring, exhausting and pretentious" film. Fernandez played dual roles, Ayesha Aamir, a filmmaker in a relationship with another filmmaker (played by Arjun Rampal) and Tia Desai, a girl in love with a thief (played by Ranbir Kapoor). While India TV called it "her best act till date", critic Rajeev Masand felt that she "appears miscast in a part that required greater range." Roy failed to meet its box-office expectations, and was a commercial failure. Later that year, she appeared in a guest appearance for the comedy-satire Bangistan.

Karan Malhotra's action drama Brothers was Fernandez's next release. Co-starring alongside Akshay Kumar and Sidharth Malhotra, Fernandez played Jenny, a fearless mother struggling for her child, a role which she described as "challenging", "intense", and "difficult". The role marked a departure from the glamorous characters that she had a reputation for portraying. Dhriti Sharma of Zee News called her character "soft, timid and promising", and praised her for: "convincingly pull[ing] off a pleasing character of a street fighter's wife". Film critic Subhash K. Jha noted that she: "...in a limited role gives her finest emotive shot", while critic Raja Sen remarked: "[she] plays Kumar's long-sobbing wife who gets so deliriously happy on seeing a text message that it may well have contained news about a Kick sequel." Later that year, she starred in the horror thriller Definition of Fear, which marked her Hollywood debut.

Fernandez began 2016 with a role in Housefull 3 which is the third installment to the Housefull Series's. The ensemble comedy film paired her with Akshay Kumar as her love interest. The critic for Firstpost was disappointed with the picture and criticized Fernandez for her inclination towards a film, where she is treated as nothing more than a "visual attraction". Nevertheless, the film was a commercial success, grossing  worldwide. Her next film—the action adventure Dishoom—also grossed   worldwide at the box-office. 
Later that year, she served as a judge to the ninth season of the dance show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa.

In 2017, Fernandez appeared in Chandran Rutnam's English-Sri Lankan crime-thriller According to Mathew. The film was her maiden cinematic appearance in Sri Lankan cinema as well. The film was released in Sri Lanka on 7 April 2017 in CEL Theatres with the title Anuragini. Her next film was the action-comedy A Gentleman, with Siddharth Malhotra from the director duo Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K.. The film was poorly received by critics and was a box-office flop. Later that year, she appeared in David Dhawan's comedy film Judwaa 2, opposite Varun Dhawan and Taapsee Pannu. It was a sequel to the 1997 comedy film Judwaa. The film proved to be a box-office success earning   worldwide.   In 2018, she starred alongside Salman Khan in Race 3, the third addition to the Race Franchise. Race 3 was a box office success earning more than   worldwide despite mixed reviews. 

Fernandez is filming Tarun Mansukhani's next, Drive opposite Sushant Singh Rajput. She is set to star in the Netflix original film, Mrs. Serial Killer, directed by Shirish Kunder. She is also set to feature with Akshay Kumar for the fourth time in a gangster drama Bachchan Pandey.

Personal life and other work

Fernandez shares a close bond with her family, and admits that she misses being around them. She says: "I miss them so much everyday. You don't realise when you live away from home how difficult life can be [...] At the same time, staying away from them has taught me to be more responsible. It has taught me so many things about myself, about priorities and time management."

In 2008, Fernandez started dating Bahraini prince Hassan bin Rashid Al Khalifa, whom she met at a mutual friend's party; they separated in 2011. While filming Housefull 2 in 2011, Fernandez began a romantic relationship with director Sajid Khan. The relationship attracted media coverage in India and there was speculation of an impending wedding. However, the relationship ended in May 2013.

Fernandez has supported charitable organisations and a number of causes. For advocating the welfare of animals, Fernandez was named "Woman Of The Year" by PETA (India) in 2014.

Fernandez has participated in several concert tours and televised award ceremonies. In 2013, she performed at the Temptations Reloaded  in Auckland, Perth, and Sydney alongside Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, and Madhuri Dixit. She also performed at the live talent show "Got Talent World Stage Live" with Khan, Priyanka Chopra and Varun Dhawan the following year. In July 2014, Fernandez opened a restaurant in Colombo, Kaema Sutra, in collaboration with chef Dharshan Munidasa, which specialises in contemporary Sri Lankan cuisine. In July 2018, Fernandez co-founded her activewear clothing line-up, Just F.

In the media

In 2008 and 2011, Fernandez featured in the UK magazine Eastern Eye "World's Sexiest Asian Women" list, ranking twelfth. She was ranked third on The Times of India listing of the "Most Desirable Woman" in 2013 and 2014, after being ranked eighth, seventh and fourteenth, respectively, in the preceding three years. In 2013, Rediff.com placed her on their list of "Bollywood's Best Dressed Actresses". The following year, she held the sixty second position in the Indian edition of the Forbes Celebrity 100, a list based on the income and popularity of India's celebrities.

In early 2013, Fernandez became the ambassador for HTC One, which she endorses in India. She was the face of Indian Bridal Fashion Week—IBFW of 2013.
Later that year, she became the spokesperson for Gareth Pugh's designed Forevermark Diamonds in Mumbai, and was at the inaugural opening of the Forever 21 store in Mumbai.
That year, she also launched Gillette Shaving System with Arbaaz Khan and Aditya Roy Kapur. While analysing Fernandez's career, India TV noted: "Slowly and steadily Jacqueline Fernandez is climbing up the ladder of success [...] Jacqueline is comfortably grasping every aspect of the work, which an actress is required to do and is accordingly giving results." On the contrary, Charu Thakur of India Today criticized her acting skills, but remarked that: "[she has] managed to find her feet in Bollywood now by banking on glamorous roles".

In 2017, Fernandez invested  in Rakyan Beverages' Raw Pressery. The company claim that with this investment, Fernandez became India's first celebrity to part-finance a consumer products firm.

Money laundering case

Since December 2021, Fernandez is subjected to an investigation into a money laundering case involving $200 million. The investigation is being carried out by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) who questioned Fernandez for 10 hours in relation to the case on 9 December 2021. On 22 December, ED rejected Fernandez’s request to downgrade the Lookout Circular (LOC) which was issued against her in the case which blocks her to travel outside India.

Fernandez was removed from the upcoming movie The Ghost which will star Nagarjuna. It is speculated that the eviction from the movie happened due to the money laundering case.

Filmography

Films

All films are in Hindi unless otherwise noted.

Television

Music videos

Awards and nominations
Fernandez has won numerous awards mainly for her works in Housefull 2, its sequel Housefull 3, Murder 2, and Race 3.

References

Further reading

External links

 
 
 

1985 births
Living people
People from Manama
Actresses in Hindi cinema
Miss Universe 2006 contestants
Sri Lankan beauty pageant winners
Indian film actresses
Sri Lankan film actresses
Bahraini film actresses
Sri Lankan female models
Burgher models
Bahraini female models
Bahraini people of Sri Lankan descent
Bahraini people of Malaysian descent
Sri Lankan people of Malaysian descent
Sri Lankan people of Canadian descent
Sri Lankan people of Dutch descent
Sri Lankan Malays
Sri Lankan Roman Catholics
University of Sydney alumni
Maria Cielito "Pops" Lukban Fernandez (born December 12, 1966) is a Filipina singer, entertainer, entrepreneur, TV host and actress.

Biography
Maria Cielito "Pops" Lukban Fernandez was born on December 12, 1966, in Lucban, Quezon, to the late action star Eddie Fernandez and Dulce Lukban.

Fernandez began her music career at age 16 when she signed a contract with OctoArts Records (now PolyEast Records) in 1981. In 1982, Fernandez released her first album and co-hosted the Philippine television series The Penthouse Live! with Martin Nievera. She became a popular celebrity in the Philippines. She has appeared on the covers of several Philippine magazines.

In 1995, Fernandez joined the cast of another television program, ASAP together with her former husband Martin Nievera, along with Dayanara Torres and Ariel Rivera.

Fernandez was awarded the Best Female Musical Variety Show Host at the Philippine KBP Golden Dove Awards in 1999. She has also toured the United States, Japan, Hong Kong, Guam, and Italy promoting her music to Philippine audiences. She also released her album Shindig Live in 2001.

In 1998, Fernandez appeared in the TV drama, Nagmamahal Pa Rin Sa Iyo with Albert Martinez and Gary Estrada a mini TV series and the title of her hit album.

From 1999 to 2006, Fernandez went back to acting this time without her husband Martin Nievera in 1999 she did the film, Linlang with Richard Gomez and Joyce Jimenez which earned her much respected praise. In 2001, she started in another Maryo J. de los Reyes thriller and political film, Gusto Ko Nang Lumigaya in which the singer-actress shed some skin for the role starring Albert Martinez, Diether Ocampo and Bojo Molina and also Anton Bernardo under Viva Films in 2002 she did her first Star Cinema Movie Videoke King with Robin Padilla and in 2006 started in the superhero movie Zsa Zsa Zaturnah under Regal Entertainment.

In June 2007, Fernandez co-hosted a Philippine show with Kuh Ledesma in Las Vegas. She was preparing for her December concert at the Araneta Coliseum marking her 25th anniversary in the Philippine entertainment industry.

In 2008, she performed with other Philippine singers such as Regine Velasquez, Kuh Ledesma and Zsa Zsa Padilla at the Araneta Coliseum called Divas 4 Divas.

During her divorce in 1999, she ventured into doing movies such as Linlang starring Richard Gomez and Joyce Jimenez about a wronged wife out for revenge after learning of her husband's infidelity. The movie was directed by multi-awarded director, Maryo J. de los Reyes, which won her the Box Office Queen Award. In 2000, she did another movie under Reyes' direction in the suspense/thriller, Gusto Ko Nang Lumigaya. These two movies showed her acting prowess and boosted her acting career.

2009–present

In 2009, Fernandez performed in the US leg of her The Divas 4 Divas Tour together with Regine Velasquez, Kuh Ledesma and Zsa Zsa Padilla. She released a new album under MCA Universal entitled Hope, which is a collection of cover versions including a new version of her 1983 song "Little Star".

After appearing in I Love Betty La Fea, Fernandez became a judge in GMA Network's Are You the Next Big Star?, a singing contest/reality show. She also did a major concert with ex-husband Martin Nievera, entitled Missing You held at the Araneta Coliseum.

In 2010, Fernandez and Nievera reunited once again for a Valentine's Day concert entitled One More Time held at the SMX Convention Center. Aside from that, Fernandez was also a special guest in Sharon Cuneta's 'Up Close' U.S. concert. In 2011, she and Ogie Alcasid staged a back to back 2011 Valentine concert, 'I Valentine U' at Crowne Plaza Hotel. On June 14, she held a fabulous, fashion/style one-night concert, 'Pops in Fashion' at the Newport Performing Arts Theatre. In July, Fernandez and Ai-Ai delas Alas paired up for the 'Unstoppable' concert at the Grand Theatre in Reno, Nevada. In August, she also guested in Erik Santos' 'Power Ikons' concert at the Music Museum.

In 2012, Fernandez was an in-demand artist abroad along with Martin Nievera and friend, Ai-Ai delas Alas. They staged in Three's the Company, a musical love triangle in California on April 20. Fernandez and Nievera also did a series of shows, 'Twogether' in Toronto and Calgary on May 4 and 6. They also released an all duet covers album entitled No More Words. Back in the Philippines, Fernandez along with Jim Paredes hosted the one-night all-star OPM icons concert 'ICONS at MOA' on June 16. She was also invited to perform in Yokohama, Japan for the Philippine Barrio Fiesta in September. In the same month, she also hosted the PMPC Star Awards for Music and was given a special award, Natatanging Alagad ng Musika along with some OPM veterans. She also signed up to a contract with Viva Entertainment Group in November. In December, along with Lani Misalucha, she was given an honor of Walk of Fame by Kuya Germs in Eastwood City. Aside from singing and performing, Fernandez is also a businesswoman who created Cheapipay, a one-stop-shop online store.

In 2019, she is one of the 50 panelists around the world to participate in a new American reality talent show The World's Best by CBS. She is the first Filipina to be featured as a judge in an American reality talent show, She was not a judge. Bryan Boy who is a Filipino was a judge for ANTM USA.                                                         
                                     In 2020, Fernandez became the guest judge in The Clash season 3 while Misalucha did not return due to health reasons.

Discography

Albums
1982: Pops (Canary Records)
1983: Pops Fernandez in Love (Canary Records)
1984: Heading for the Top (Canary Records)
1986: The Best of Pops Fernandez (OctoArts International)
1989: Awesome (Sunshine Records)
1991: Change (Sunshine Records)
1994: Pops (Dyna Music)
1996: Colours (Star Music)
1999: Nagmamahal Pa Rin Sa 'Yo (Star Music)
1999: Moments (Viva Records)
2001: Shindig Live (Viva Records)
2001: The Story of Pops Fernandez (EMI Philippines, Inc.)
2002: The Way I Feel Inside (Viva Records)
2004: When Words Are Not Enough (Viva Records)
2006: Silver (Viva Records)
2006: Don't Say Goodbye (re-release) (Vicor Music Corporation)
2009: Hope (MCA Music)
2012: No More Words (collaboration with Martin Nievera) (PolyEast Records)

Collaborations
"Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang" with Freestyle (live)
"I Say a Little Prayer" with Janno Gibbs
"Points of View" with Joey Albert
"Nanliligaw Naliligaw" with Mulatto
"It's You" with Kris Lawrence
"Come What May" with BLISS
"Kumusta Ka" with Robin Padilla
"Always & Forever" with Martin Nievera
"Goodbye" with Martin Nievera
"Goodbye Girl" with Martin Nievera
"High on Love" with Martin Nievera
"One Heart" with Martin Nievera
"Pagdating Ng Panahon" with Martin Nievera
"Nandito Ako" with Martin Nievera
"Forevermore" with Martin Nievera
"Hands To Heaven" with Martin Nievera
"Smile" with Martin Nievera
"Umagang Kay Ganda" with Martin Nievera
"Reunited" with Martin Nievera
"You've Got a Friend" with Dr. Manny Calayan
"Friends" with Robin Nievera 
"You'll Be in My Heart" with Robin Nievera
"Cruisin" with Keempee de Leon (live)
"Give Me Five" with Tito, Vic and Joey

Compilation appearances

Filmography

Film
Love Ko 'To (1980)
Pag-ibig Pa (1982)
Just Say You Love Me (1982)
Paano Ba ang Magmahal (1984)
Give Me Five (1984)
Bilanggo...Prisons No. 10069 (1985)
Payaso (1986)
Always and Forever (1986)
Si Mister at Si Misis (1986)
Shoot That Ball (1987)
Stupid Cupid (1988)
Sa Puso Ko Hahalik Ang Mundo (1988)
Twinkle, Twinkle Magic Star (1988)
Magic to Love (1989)
Kung Maibabalik Ko Lang (1989)
Tamis ng Unang Halik (1989)
Linlang (1999)
Gusto Ko Nang Lumigaya (2000)
Videoke King (2002)
Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Moveeh (2006)

Television

Awards

See also
Rico J. Puno
Kuh Ledesma
George Canseco
Martin Nievera
Gary Valenciano

References

External links
Pops Fernandez World's Best Talent Recap Interview
Pops Fernandez on FHM.com.ph
Philippine Post: Pops Fernandez
Pops Fernandez at Pinoycentral.com

gmanews.tv/video, Pops Fernandez (in Filipino)

1966 births
Living people
Actresses from Metro Manila
Filipino child actresses
Filipino child singers
Filipino dance musicians
Filipino film actresses
Filipino television actresses
Filipino television personalities
Filipino women pop singers
MCA Music Inc. (Philippines) artists
People from Quezon
People from Quezon City
Singers from Metro Manila
Star Magic
Viva Artists Agency
Viva Records (Philippines) artists Raymond Martinez Fernandez (December 17, 1914 – March 8, 1951) and Martha Jule Beck (May 6, 1920 – March 8, 1951) were an American serial killer couple. They were convicted of one murder, are known to have committed two more, and were suspected of having killed up to 20 victims during a spree between 1947 and 1949. 

After their arrest and trial for serial murder in 1949, they became known as "The Lonely Hearts Killers" for meeting their unsuspecting victims through lonely hearts ads. A number of films and television shows are based on this case.

Before the murders

Raymond Fernandez
Raymond Martinez Fernandez was born on December 17, 1914 in Hawaii to Spanish parents. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut. As a teenager, he went to work on his uncle’s farm in Spain, married a local woman in Spain, named Encarnación Robles, at the age of 20, and had four children, all of whom he abandoned later in life.

After serving in Spain's Merchant Marine and then British Intelligence during World War II, Fernandez decided to seek work. Shortly after boarding a ship bound for the United States, a steel hatch fell on him, fracturing his skull and injuring his frontal lobe. The damage caused by this injury may well have affected his social and sexual behavior. Upon his release from a hospital, Fernandez stole some clothing and was subsequently imprisoned for a year, during which time his cellmate converted him to a belief in voodoo and black magic. He later claimed black magic gave him irresistible power and charm over women.

Martha Beck
Martha Beck was born Martha Jule Seabrook on May 6, 1920 in Milton, Florida. Allegedly due to a glandular problem (then a common explanation for obesity), she was overweight and underwent puberty prematurely.  At her trial, she claimed to have been raped by her brother. She went on to claim that, when she had told her mother what happened, her mother had beaten her, claiming that Martha was responsible. As a teen, Beck ran away from home to join a traveling circus. In 1978 writer Truman Capote said that he had also joined her for a short time when he was 10.

After Martha finished school, she studied nursing but had trouble finding a job due to her weight. She initially became an undertaker's assistant and prepared female bodies for burial. She then quit that job and moved to California, where she worked in an Army hospital as a nurse. While living in California as a hospital nurse, she eventually became pregnant. She tried to convince the father to marry her, but he refused. Single and pregnant, she returned to Florida.

Martha told people the father was a serviceman she had married, later claiming he had been killed in the Pacific Campaign. The town mourned her loss, and the story was published in the local newspaper. Shortly after her daughter was born, she became pregnant again by a Pensacola bus driver named Alfred Beck. They married quickly and divorced six months thereafter, and she gave birth to a son.

Unemployed and the single mother of two young children, Beck escaped into a fantasy world, buying romance magazines and novels, and watching romantic movies. In 1946, she found employment at the Pensacola Hospital for Children. She placed a lonely hearts ad in 1947, which Raymond Fernandez answered.

Murders
Fernandez visited Beck and stayed for a short time; she told everyone they were to be married. He returned to New York City while she made preparations in Milton, Florida, where she lived. When she was abruptly fired from her job, she packed up and arrived on his doorstep in New York. Fernandez enjoyed the way she catered to his every whim, and when he learned she had left her children for him, he thought it was a sign of an unconditional love. He confessed his criminal enterprises to Beck, who quickly sent her children to the Salvation Army in order to assist Fernandez without hindrances. 

She posed as Fernandez's sister, giving him an air of respectability. Their victims, feeling more secure knowing there was another woman in the house, often agreed to stay with the pair. Beck also convinced some victims that she lived alone and that her "brother" was only a guest. Beck was extremely jealous and went to great lengths to make sure Fernandez and his "intended" never consummated their relationship. When he did have sex with a woman, Beck subjected both to her violent temper.

In 1949, the pair committed the three murders for which they later were convicted. Janet Fay, 66, became engaged to Fernandez and went to stay at his Long Island apartment. When Beck caught her in bed with Fernandez, she brutally attacked Fay's head with a hammer in a murderous rage. Fernandez then strangled Fay. Fay's family became suspicious when she disappeared, and Fernandez and Beck fled.

Beck and Fernandez traveled to Byron Center Road in Wyoming Township, Michigan, a suburb of Grand Rapids, where they met and stayed with Delphine Downing, a 28-year-old widow with a two-year-old daughter. On February 28, Downing became agitated, and Fernandez gave her sleeping pills to calm her. The daughter witnessed Downing's resulting stupor and began to cry, which enraged Beck. Panicked, Beck choked the child but didn't kill her. Fernandez thought Downing would become suspicious if she saw her bruised daughter, so he shot the unconscious woman. The couple then stayed for several days in Downing's house. Again enraged by the daughter's crying, Beck drowned her in a basin of water. They buried the bodies in the basement, but suspicious neighbors reported the Downings' disappearances, leading the police to arrive at the door on March 1, 1949 and arrest Beck and Fernandez.

Trial and executions
Fernandez quickly confessed. The pair vehemently denied committing 17 murders that were attributed to them, and Fernandez tried to retract his confession, saying he made it only to protect Beck.

Their trial was sensationalized, with lurid tales of sexual perversity.  Newspaper reporters described Beck's appearance with derision, and she wrote protesting letters to the editors. Fernandez and Beck were convicted of Janet Fay's murder—the only one for which they were tried—and sentenced to death. They were executed on March 8, 1951.

In media 
"Lonely Hearts Killers", a 1960 episode of the American TV show Deadline, released on DVD in 2019
The Honeymoon Killers, 1970 American cult classic about the same events
Deep Crimson, 1996 Mexican film about the same events
Lonely Hearts, 2006 American film about the same events
Alleluia, 2014 Belgian-French film inspired by the same events
 A 2006 episode of the tv series Cold Case was called "Lonely Hearts", featuring a pair of killers named Martha Puck and Ramon Delgado.

See also
Lonely hearts scam
List of serial killers in the United States
List of serial killers by number of victims

References

Sources
Lane, Brian and Gregg, Wilfred [1992]. The Encyclopedia Of Serial Killers. Berkley Books.
Fuchs, Christian [1996] (2002). Bad Blood. Creation Books.

External links
https://web.archive.org/web/20150209235409/http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/partners/fernandez/1.html at Crime Library (archived 2013)
 Martha Beck and Raymond Fernandez at Frances Farmers Revenge

20th-century executions by New York (state)
20th-century executions of American people
American murderers of children
American people convicted of murder
American people of Spanish descent
Criminal duos
Criminals from New York City
Executed American serial killers
People convicted of murder by New York (state)
People executed by New York (state) by electric chair
Violence against women in the United States
Executed people from New York (state)
Inmates of Sing Sing
1951 deaths
Women sentenced to death
American female serial killers
Male serial killers
People executed for murder