Popularly dubbed as “The Optimum Star” by various media outlets, Barretto has won 3 FAMAS Award including 2 Best Actress wins and a German Moreno Youth Achievement Award. She is arguably the “Queen of Teleserye,” a title she shares with showbiz rival Judy Ann Santos. She is also recognized as one of the actresses that helped define pop culture of the 90s, dominating movies, TVs, ads, and every place imaginable. Yes! Magazine ranked Barretto as the 6th Star Who Ruled the Decade (2000-2009). In 2008, she was inducted at Eastwood City Walk of Fame.Claudine Margaret Castelo Barretto was born on July 20, 1979 in Manila, Philippines. She is the youngest of seven children born to Miguel and Estrella "Inday" Barretto. Claudine has two sisters who are also actresses: Gretchen Barretto and Marjorie Barretto.In March 2002, a month after the box-office success of their movie Got 2 Believe, Barretto lost her on-screen and real-life partner of four years, Rico Yan. The actor died of acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis and his death was considered one of the most shocking in Philippine showbiz.Barretto married actor Raymart Santiago on March 27, 2006, but divorced in 2013, They had two children, Sabina and Santino Santiago. In 2015, she adopted a child and named her Quia Barretto.In 2013, Claudine and sisters Marjorie and Gretchen were involved in a highly publicized feud between them and their family. In February 2019, Claudine reconciled with Gretchen.On October 7, 2021, Claudine formalized her bid to run as a city councilor for Olongapo City in the 2022 elections under the PDP–Laban political party. On April 12, 2022, Claudine expressed her support for presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos in the elections.Barretto first appeared in ABS-CBN's youth-oriented variety show, Ang TV. She then was cast in sitcom Home Along Da Riles that same year in which the film adaptation of the TV show became her official film debut in 1993. She landed her first television drama lead role in 1997's Mula sa Puso which ran for two years and established her as a household name in Philippine entertainment.In the Primetime Television richness she has done 11 Primetime projects such as Mula Sa Puso (1997-1999), Saan Ka Man Naroroon (1999-2001), Sa Dulo Ng Walang Hanggan (2001-2003), Marina (2004), Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin (2005), Walang Kapalit (2007), and both Maligno and Iisa Pa Lamang respectively in 2008 before her departure from her mother station in 2009, leading to several planned projects such as Magkaribal (2010), which was set to be her next project, to be offered to Bea Alonzo as a replacement for the role of Angela Agustin.Barretto was discovered by talent manager Douglas Quijano in 1992 through older sister, Gretchen Barretto, also an actress. That same year, she landed her first major role on television when she was cast for ABS-CBN's youth-oriented variety show, Ang TV.In 1993, she starred at television series Home Along Da Riles with Dolphy which further introduced her to local media. She also appeared in television shows like Oki Doki Doc (1993–2000), Palibhasa Lalake (1993–1998) and movie May Minamahal (1993).In 1993 she starred in Pare Ko with Mark Anthony Fernandez and in Oki Doki Doc: The Movie.In 1996, she starred in various films with Star Cinema which includes, Radio Romance, her first film with Rico Yan, Mangarap Ka, her first major film role with Mark Anthony Fernandez, and Madrasta with Christopher de Leon and Sharon Cuneta.Barretto landed her first ever television drama series in 1997 titled Mula sa Puso. The series ran for three consecutive years on ABS-CBN. That same year she starred in films like Home Along Da Riles 2 with Dolphy, Calvento Files: The Movie with Rio Locsin and Diether Ocampo, and F.L.A.M.E.S.The Movie with Rico Yan, Paula Peralejo, and Boots Anson-Roa.In 1998, she portrayed Mela in the film Dahil Mahal na Mahal Kita which was directed by Wenn V. Deramas, alongside Rico Yan and Diether Ocampo.Then came 1999's Saan Ka Man Naroroon where she portrayed as triplets in the name of Rosario, Rosenda and Rosemarie which earned her a nomination for Best Actress in the Asian TV Awards. Also the same year she starred in films like Soltera with Diether Ocampo and Maricel Soriano, and the film adaptation of Mula sa Puso.She also co-starred Vilma Santos in the highly commended 2000 movie Anak directed by Rory Quintos.In 2001, she was cast as the lead role in the drama series Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan (2001–2003) with Carlos Agassi, Luis Alandy, and Mylene Dizon and film Oops! Teka Lang... Diskarte Ko 'To with Robin Padilla.Barretto shocked the local media in November 2009 when she broke ties with her long-time network ABS-CBN and transferred to rival company GMA Network.[8]In 2010, she started her own weekly drama anthology, Claudine with GMA Network. Also that same year she was a part of a movie produced by GMA Films and Viva Films titled In Your Eyes co-starring Anne Curtis and Richard Gutierrez.In 2011, she played lead in the television drama Iglot co-starring Jolina Magdangal and Marvin Agustin.