Kira Marie Pacifico Balinger (born August 3, 2000) is a British-Filipino actress and performer. She is best-known for her portrayals in Ang sa Iyo ay Akin and Darna.
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Early life
Balinger was born on August 3, 2000, in Hong Kong to a British father and a Filipina mother. Her family moved to Addlestone, England, where she spent most of her childhood. She has an older sister. During her childhood, Balinger was an acrobatic gymnast.
Balinger and her parents moved to the Philippines in 2010. Her parents separated when she was eleven; they remained married, and her father visited regularly from Hong Kong. She was scouted by ABS-CBN’s Star Magic talent agency while at a mall in 2014.
Career
After signing with Star Magic in 2014, Balinger participated in workshops. In 2016, she made her main screen debut as part of the cast of the soap opera The Story of Us. Johnny Manahan recalled that when Balinger first approached his office, she didn't speak Tagalog. He advised her, "If you want to be an artist, you have to learn the language." After eight months, Manahan noted that "she had workable Tagalog" and that no accent was detectable.
In 2017, Balinger was part of ASAP project girl group, BFF5. The group launched their book, Sugar & Spice, a manual for teens, at the 2017 Manila International Book Fair, where they also held a book signing. The following year, the group disbanded, and Balinger joined the cast of the new season of the Cine Mo! comedy series Funny Ka, Pare Ko alongside Grae Fernandez. She also made a special appearance on the fantasy comedy film Fantastica, portraying the younger version of Jaclyn Jose's character, Fec. In addition, Balinger was one of the cover stars for Metro Magazine's 28th anniversary issue.
In 2019, Balinger joined the cast of the primetime family series Pamilya Ko, portraying Lemon, a quiet and often overlooked member of the family.
In late 2020, Balinger signed an exclusive contract with ABS-CBN. That year, she was cast as Hope Villarosa in the revenge melodrama Ang sa Iyo ay Akin, where she reunites with co-star Fernandez. In describing her experience working with Balinger, co-star Iza Calzado shared, “Working with her for this soap was like watching a flower bloom. I still remember what she was like on the first day and how she progressed and came into her own.” In 2021, Balinger and Fernandez were nominated for Loveteam of the Year at the RAWR Awards.
In 2022, Balinger made her return to acting, with the role of school valedictorian Erika Aguador in the television miniseries Beach Bros. She was also featured in OPM artist Zack Tabudlo's Pano Trilogy, starring in his "Pano", "Anghel", and "Yakap" music videos. The same year, Balinger was revealed as part of the cast ensemble of the Mars Ravelo's Darna remake. In an interview with TV5, she revealed that she auditioned for the show three times—first for the titular role, then for Valentina, and finally for the character she ultimately portrayed, Luna.
Other ventures
Advocacy and philanthropy
In July 2024, Balinger helped deliver relief goods to victims of Super Typhoon Carina, inspired by a quote from Darna, a role she once auditioned for. She shared on Instagram:“Darna once said, ‘Ang pinakamalaking kasalanan ay kapag may kakayahan kang tumulong pero wala kang ginawa.’ (transl. The greatest sin is when you have the ability to help but choose to do nothing)... I’m not Darna, but just a simple person who wanted to share my blessings to those who were affected by Super Typhoon Carina.”Balinger visited Marikina, where she had previously filmed Padyak Princess, to personally deliver relief boxes to affected residents.
Endorsements
In July 2023, Balinger was announced as the brand ambassador for RDL. She called it an honor to represent a brand that had empowered Filipinos for generations, adding that she looked forward to how RDL would continue to inspire people around the world. She also serves as a brand ambassador for Bench's underwear line.
In 2025, Balinger was a part of National Book Store's "National Hunt" campaign.
Personal life
She shows her artwork on an Instagram account, Galleria De Kira. In a 2025 interview Balinger said that she and co-star LA Santos had been in a past relationship.
