Rafael Rosell IV was born in Stavanger, Norway on November 10, 1982 to Filipino parents; his dad Rafael Rosell III is a geologist from Cebu and his mom Amelia Quimpo, a nurse from Bicol. He was raised in Norway, while his grandfather Rafael Rosell, Jr. and his great-grandfather Rafael Rosell, Sr. were both raised from Cebu. Rosell has two siblings and he is the eldest amongst them.
Career
During a vacation with his family in 2000, his mom found out about the auditions at ABS-CBN while surfing through web. Rosell auditioned and got a TV commercial job for Close-Up toothpaste and signed a contract with Star Magic later that year. In 2002, he was introduced as one of the leading men of Jolina Magdangal, in Star Cinema's Kung Ikaw ay Isang Panaginip. Rosell's big break came in 2004 when he was paired with Claudine Barretto on the ABS-CBN fantaserye Marina. In 2006, he was launched as a member of the all-male group Coverboys with Zanjoe Marudo, Jon Avila, Victor Basa, and Jake Cuenca. In 2007, he won the Best Supporting Actor Award at the 30th Gawad Urian Awards for his work in the indie filmRome & Juliet. Rosell also became a part of projects like Rounin, Prinsesa ng Banyera and Maligno. He starred in Status: Single under Viva Films. Rosell started getting recognition in 2010 when he played Brandon Brazil in the ABS-CBN afternoon drama Midnight Phantom opposite his good and close friendDenise Laurel. After the success of Midnight Phantom |Midnight Phantom and his team-up with Laurel, ABS-CBN paired them up again in Kristine. The team-up came to an abrupt end when Laurel took a one-year hiatus due to pregnancy, leaving Rosell to be paired up with Jodi Sta. Maria in 100 Days to Heaven. In 2012, Rosell was reunited with Laurel in another ABS-CBN drama Dahil sa Pag-ibig. In August 2012 his contract with Star Magic expired, and he decided to move to GMA Network. He starred on Temptation of Wife with Marian Rivera. He returned to ABS-CBN after seven years with GMA Network. His resurgence in the said network was in an Ipaglaban Mo! episode.
Personal life
In 2009, Rosell confirmed that he and girlfriend Malaya Lewandowski had broken up after being together for three years. At a press conference, Rosell said that he was shocked by his former girlfriend's decision to end their long relationship. He admitted that Lewandowski left him for another guy.
