Gloria Galla, born in 1933 in Denver, Colorado, to a Filipino father, Pedro Galla, and an American mother, Mary Borrego, began her elementary education in Mabini Elementary School and graduated from Riverview High School in Mabini, Pangasinan.
She married actor Juancho Gutierrez after meeting him during a movie. Her uncle, Nario Rosales, was the Chief Editor at Sampaguita Studios, making it easy for her to visit movie sets. She started her career as an "extra" in Sampaguita Pictures, before being noticed in Kasintahan sa Pangarap (1951),starring Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran.
Galla's early career was marked by bit roles in films such as Bernardo Carpio (1951),Dugong Bughaw (1951),and Rebecca. Her fifth movie, Ramon Selga (1951),featured her in a speaking role as a nurse.
As her popularity grew, she was given a new, more dramatic name: "Gloria Romero." She landed her first memorable role in Palasig (1952) opposite Cesar Ramirez, but it was her lead role in Monghita (1952) opposite Oscar Moreno that cemented her bankability and popularity.
Throughout her career, Galla appeared in numerous films, including Apat na Taga (1953),Recuerdo (1953),Musikong Bumbong (1954),Pilya (1954),Dalagang Ilocana (1954),and Lupa sa Lupa (1960) opposite Luis Gonzales.
She also ventured into television, appearing in shows such as Palibhasa Lalake (1991),Fifty Carats, O Di Ba? (1993),Familia Zaragosa (1995),Labs ko si Babes (2000),Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan (2001),and Sana'y Wala ng Wakas (2003).
Galla received numerous awards and nominations for her performances, including the FAMAS Best Actress award for Dalagang Ilocana (1954),Best Supporting Actress for Nagbabagang Luha (1988) and Best Actress for Tanging Yaman (2000). She was also honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards from various organizations, including the Gawad Urian, the FAP, and the CineManila International Film Festival.
