The Biography

Elvira Reyes (born Gloria Madisson; August 24, 1925 – March 7, 1982) was a Filipina film actress whose career flourished from the mid-1940s to the 1960s. She was introduced in Orasang Ginto (1946), topbilled by Mila del Sol and Bimbo Danao, under LVN Pictures—the first film produced after the Liberation following World War II. Over the next two decades, Reyes appeared in more than 60 films, establishing herself as one of the most recognisable actresses of her generation. Her breakthrough came through a series of costume epics, many of which paired her with actor-director Manuel Conde. She also gained fame for portraying the iconic villain Armida, the Lady Hawk, in the 1952 sequel Darna at ang Babaeng Lawin. Her performances earned critical acclaim, and she received two FAMAS Best Supporting Actress nominations—first in 1959 for Ang Nobya Kong Igorota (1958) and again in 1962 for Mga Yapak na Walang Bakas (1961).