With a career spanning nearly 50 years, she was dubbed the "La Primera Contravida" ("The Prime Villain") for her acting prowess which landed her numerous antagonistic roles on film, television, and even on stage.

[2][3][4][5] Gil was a FAMAS Award winner,[6] a recipient of Ani ng Dangal by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts[7] and a Hall of Famer at the Metro Manila Film Festival in the Best Supporting Actress category.

[11] She began her career as a child actress at the age of 9, and was best known for her role as Lavinia Arguelles in Bituing Walang Ningning (1985) where she uttered the iconic line "You're nothing but a second-rate, trying hard copycat!"

However, she was given a lead star status in Bubot na Bayabas in 1978 opposite another newbie, Ronald Bregendahl (Rita Gomez and Ric Rodrigo's son).

[citation needed] But in 1979, film matriarch Lily Monteverde relaunched her via Problem Child with the then-current teen sensation, Lloyd Samartino.

In 1982, Gil portrayed a naïve lass affected by World War II in Bacolod in the now classic film Oro, Plata, Mata.

[citation needed] Gil resurfaced as a villain in 1985 via Viva Films' Bituing Walang Ningning, providing the lead actress Sharon Cuneta formidable support in the role of Lavinia Arguelles, a famous but insecure singer.

[20] In 2000–2001, she starred in her first soap May Bukas Pa that aired on PTV-4 as part of Viva Entertainment TVs block timer and in 2002–2003 on ABS-CBN's Bituin, where she resumed her vocal talents and in 2004 TV series, Marina.

[21] In early 2011, she joined the cast of the comedy fantasy series, Magic Palayok co-starred by Carla Abellana, and Geoff Eigenmann.

[22] Gil was part of 83 awardees of the Ani ng Dangal award by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), represented the cinema category on February 29, 2016.