Dina Bonnevie - Early Life and Background

Early Life and Background

Bonnevie was born January 27, 1961 to Honesto Bonnevie (Her Paternal Grandfather was half French and half Italian) and Jeannette Schaer (a Swiss settler). Her grandmother is pre-World War II actress Rosita Rivera. She is also from Bicol. She is a cousin of singer Lou Bonnevie. She has two children from her previous marriage with comedian Vic Sotto, Oyo Boy Sotto and Danica, both of whom are now in the entertainment industry as well.

She began her schooling in St. Theresa's College, Manila, but finished her elementary and secondary education at St. Agnes' Academy in Legazpi City, where she was very active in drama guilds. In 1980 she enrolled in Communication Arts at the Ateneo de Manila University and, later, the University of the Philippines. Introduced by young actor Alfie Anido to director Joey Gosiengfiao, she first appeared in teen dramas Underage (1980) and Temptation Island (1981), but her breakout movie was Katorse (1980) with Anido and Gabby Concepcion. This film established her as one of the "Regal Babies" (named after the studio, Regal Films). She then appeared in a longer slew of teenage love or growing-pains dramas. Bakit Ba Ganyan? (1981) was a film where she herself sang the theme song and popularized it thus.