Sue Anna Garina Dodd (born July 20, 1996), professionally known as Sue Ramirez (), is a Filipino-American actress, model and singer. Her first major role was as supporting cast member on the ABS-CBN remake of the TV drama Mula sa Puso (2011). She appeared in the television dramas Angelito: Batang Ama (2011–12), Angelito: Ang Bagong Yugto (2012), Annaliza (2013–2014), Pangako Sa 'Yo (2015), Dolce Amore (2016), La Luna Sangre (2017), Hanggang Saan (2017–18), FPJ's Ang Probinsyano (2018) and A Soldier's Heart (2020). She was nominated in the 32nd PMPC Star Awards for Movies as New Movie Actress of the Year for the film Just the Way You Are.
Early life
Sue Anna Garina Dodd was born in Parañaque, Philippines. Her Filipino mother Concepcion Garina is from Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, and her father James Peter Dodd was a White American retired senior officer of the US state department. Sue is the youngest among her siblings, with two sisters and two brothers; only she has dual Filipino and American citizenship. She attended high school at Sacred Heart School in Parañaque. Ramirez's father died in 2013.
Career
2010–2012: Early work
In 2010, Ramirez auditioned for Star Magic with the song "Angels Brought Me Here" by Guy Sebastian, and was accepted, with her first project with ABS-CBN being teen variety show Shoutout! She entered show business with the hopes of paying for her father's medical expenses.
Ramirez began her acting career playing Nicole Matias in the ABS-CBN remake of Mula sa Puso. Her character is the only child of the antagonists Ysmael Matias and Selina Pereira-Matias, who goes against her parents and becomes associated with the protagonist, Olivia "Via" Pereira-Amarillo. The series premiered in March 2011 and ran for one season with ninety-eight episodes. Anna Larrucea was originally cast for her role. In the same year, Ramirez made her film debut with a minor role in Aswang, followed by a supporting role in ABS-CBN's drama television series Angelito: Batang Ama.
Ramirez's lead role in ABS-CBN's 2012 remake of !Oka Tokat is often cited as her second major role. She portrayed Luna, the clairvoyant haunted by her ability of foresight, who strives to hone and accept her ability while experiencing difficulties in belonging in the community. She was paired with Paul Salas as her first "love team" partner. The series premiered in February 2012 and ran for one season with fifteen episodes. In the same year, Ramirez reprised her role in the sequel to ABS-CBN's drama television series Angelito: Batang Ama, followed by a supporting role in an episode in ABS-CBN's anthology drama Maalaala Mo Kaya – Baul.
2013–2014: Further acting
In 2013, Ramirez starred as Luisa "Louie" Celerez in ABS-CBN's Annaliza, the remake of the television series of the same name produced by GMA Network. She was announced to be part of the supporting cast after ABS-CBN's announcement that they have received the rights to remake the television series from the original director, Gil C. Soriano.
In 2014, Ramirez appeared in another episode in ABS-CBN's anthology drama Maalaala Mo Kaya – Panyo, followed by a supporting role in an episode in ABS-CBN's dramatization of actual cases brought and settled in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, as well as a special participation in ABS-CBN's comedy drama Dream Dad.
2015–2017: Breakthrough
In 2015, Ramirez starred as Michelle Gutierrez in a series of episodes in ABS-CBN's Wansapanataym, followed by a special participation in the Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita remake of the film of the same name. In the same year, Ramirez participated in the fourth batch of the fifth season of Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal, hosted by Luis Manzano, where she was chosen to play in the May 13, 2015 episode and received ₱100,000. Ramirez once again appeared in two episodes in Maalaala Mo Kaya – Shattered Dreams and Maalaala Mo Kaya – Selfless Love and a supporting role in the afternoon drama series All of Me as Kristel Sebastian.
Ramirez gained further popularity after joining the second half (Book 2) of the teleserye Pangako Sa 'Yo (2015) as Joy "Ligaya" Miranda, the "third wheel" of the show's primary "love team" Yna Macaspac (Kathryn Bernardo) and Angelo Buenavista (Daniel Padilla). In the same year, Sue Ramirez received her first nomination in the 32nd PMPC Star Awards for Movies as New Movie Actress of the Year for the film Just the Way You Are (2015).