Gabriela Annjane "Ella" Umali Cruz[1][2] (Tagalog pronunciation: [ʊˈmalɪ ˈkɾus]; born August 17, 1996)[3] is a Filipino actress. She played the title character in the 2012 fantasy drama Aryana.

Ella Cruz
Ella Cruz in 2014 promotional short about the making of Dilim
Born
Gabriela Annjane Umali Cruz

(1996-08-17) August 17, 1996 (age 28)
Angat, Bulacan, Philippines
Occupations
Years active2006–present
Agents
Height1.53 m (5 ft 0 in)

Career

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She started her career on GMA Network in 2006, her first project being Majika. Cruz moved to rival network, ABS-CBN in 2007. In 2009, she returned to GMA Network for Panday Kids and Ilumina. She once again moved to ABS-CBN to appear in Maalaala Mo Kaya, Cruz made another return to GMA Network in 2011, but later quickly moved to TV5 for Inday Wanda, but officially transferred to ABS-CBN and Star Magic as a contract artist.[citation needed]

She was known for playing the teen character of Cristine Reyes in the TV series Dahil sa Pag-ibig. Cruz was often paired with Francis Magundayao who played the teen Piolo Pascual in the same TV series. She starred in Aryana as Philippines' first teen mermaid. She also played as a teen mom in Bagito.[citation needed]

She starred in several shows on TV5 like #ParangNormal Activity and played the role of Avah Chen in TV5's Wattpad Presents: Avah Maldita (Oh! Aarte pa?). She also became a host in a Sunday variety show, Happy Truck HAPPinas. Cruz made her last appearance as part of the Kapamilya Family in Ipaglaban Mo in 2016.[citation needed]

She recently[when?] became popular when a video of her dancing to "Twerk It Like Miley" turned viral[clarification needed][citation needed] on YouTube.

In 2017, she got her very first leading role in her movie Fangirl, Fanboy with Julian Trono. Within the same year, she alongside Trono published a book, under VRJ Books Publishing, entitled Jump In where past photos and stories of their love team, JulianElla, can be found, as well as some of the poems that Trono made for her on Twitter. Also, Cruz and her team Daphny Red and Eunice Creus were the representative in a Jakarta Indonesia Competition[clarification needed] with South Korean girl group Blackpink.[4]

In 2019, she returned to the Kapamilya network and is currently appearing as Lisa in FPJ's Ang Probinsyano.[citation needed]

In 2022, she was cast to play the role of Irene Marcos in the film Maid in Malacañang, a historical drama telling an alternative account of the last 72 hours of the Marcos family in the Malacañang Palace before their exile to Hawaii in the wake of the People Power Revolution in 1986. The film is directed by Darryl Yap and produced by Viva Films.[5] During an interview with The Philippine Star on July 2, 2022, in the context of the film, she described Philippine history as "tsismis" (gossip), calling it "filtered" and "biased",[5] drawing controversy from Filipinos on social media.[6]

She is currently a freelancer signed to Viva Artists Agency.[citation needed]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role
2007 Angels Kerubina
The Promise Young Andrea
Resiklo Kiara
2012 Shake, Rattle and Roll Fourteen: The Invasion Linda (segment "Lost Command")
2013 A Moment in Time Mai-Mai Javier
2014 Somebody to Love Amelie
Dilim Mia
2015 The Prenup Mocha Cayabyab
Hawa
2017 Darkroom Maine
Fangirl, Fanboy Aimee
2018 Squad Goals! Leigh
Cry No Fear Wendy
2019 Edward Agnes
2021 Steal
Biyernes Santo Grace
2022 Maid in Malacañang Irene Marcos
Rooftop
2023 Martyr or Murderer Irene Marcos

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Network
2020 Ipaglaban Mo!: Yes Sir Jessica Episode Guest ABS-CBN
2019 Ipaglaban Mo!: Pariwara Jacky Episode Guest
FPJ's Ang Probinsyano Lisa Supporting Cast
2018 Aja Aja Tayo! Herself/Guest TV5
2017 Operation: Break The Cassanova's Heart Naomi Mikael "Nami" Perez with Julian Trono Sari-Sari Channel (Cignal TV)
Ipaglaban Mo!: Groufie Anna Marcelo ABS-CBN
Road Trip Herself/Guest with Marlon Stockinger & Joyce Pring GMA Network
The Lolas' Beautiful Show Herself/Guest with Julian Trono
Bulagaan Olympics Herself/Player Guest Player
Wish Ko Lang: Hanggang Sa Huli Ella Episode guest
Real Talk Herself/Guest with Julian Trono CNN Philippines
Karelasyon: She Maid It! Aida first comeback project with GMA Network GMA Network
Unang Hirit Herself/Guest Performer with Julian Trono
Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho Herself/Guest
#LIKE Herself/Celebrity Contestant
2016 Ipaglaban Mo!: Bugaw Mylene ABS-CBN
Wattpad Presents: TV Movie: I'm His Tutor Mikaela Maghirang With Julian Trono TV5
Young Hearts Presents: Bebeng Pabebe Meets Super Jiro "Bebe"
Carlo J. Caparas' Ang Panday Phoebe
Happy Truck HAPPinas Herself/Host
Wattpad Presents: TV Movie: Avah Maldita Avah Chen
2015–2016 #ParangNormal Activity Charlie
2015 Ipaglaban Mo!: Ang Bintang Mo Sa Akin Rowena ABS-CBN
Inday Bote Teen Fiona Vargas
Wattpad Presents: Love Encounters Lisa Miranda TV5
Wattpad Presents: Hot and Cold Chloe Mendez
Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal Herself/#7 Lucky Star (Batch 3) ABS-CBN
2014 Bagito Vanessa Bueno Main cast / Anti-Hero
Maalaala Mo Kaya: Kumot (The Fighter) Young Leng
Wansapanataym: Nato De Coco Hazel
Ipaglaban Mo: Lalaban Ang Tatay Para Sa'yo Connie
Ikaw Lamang young Guadalupe "Lupe" Roque
Maalaala Mo Kaya: Dos Por Dos Jessa
2013 Wansapanataym: OMG (Oh My Genius) Minerva "Minnie" Tomas
Maalaala Mo Kaya: Box (My Sister's Bestfriend) Dua
Juan dela Cruz Rebecca
Luv U Mariana
Wansapanataym: Finding Nilo Beauty
2013–present ASAP Herself/Performer/Co-host
2012–2013 Aryana Aryana Mendez
2012 Dahil sa Pag-Ibig Teen Jasmin Valderama
Wansapanataym: Somewhere Over the Bahaghari Ana
2011 Maalaala Mo Kaya: TV young Mavic
Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin Britney GMA Network
Tropang Potchi Herself/Host
2010-2011 Inday Wanda Toni first TV5 project TV5
2010 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Videoke Priscilla ABS-CBN
Ilumina Czarina GMA Network
Carlo J. Caparas' Panday Kids Jenny
2009 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Blusa Young Nemie ABS-CBN
Maalaala Mo Kaya: Karnibal Baleleng
Maalaala Mo Kaya: Bangka Young Odette
Only You Andrea Mendoza
2008 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Sumbrero Young Rhea
Maalaala Mo Kaya: Isda Jonah
Maalaala Mo Kaya: Sopas Grace
Goin' Bulilit Herself
2007 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Panyo Flor first ABS-CBN project
MariMar Young Marimar GMA Network
Super Twins Tin-tin
2006 Now and Forever: Duyan Ella
Now and Forever: Dangal Flor
Majika Young Sabina First TV appearance

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Giving Body Category Nominated Work Results
2008 56th FAMAS Awards Best Child Actress[7] Resiklo Won
2nd Gawad Genio Awards Best Film Child Performer Won
2011 25th PMPC Star Awards for TV Best Children Show Host
(shared with Tropang Potchi hosts)
Tropang Potchi Nominated
2019 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival Best Supporting Actress Edward Won

Singles

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Year Title Album
As lead artist
2016 "Tamis" Tamis
2017 "Sabi Na Sayo Eh" Sabi Na Sayo Eh
Collaborations
2017 "Tumalon" with Julian Trono Tumalon
2017 "Isang Tingin" with Julian Trono "Fangirl, Fanboy" Soundtrack
2017 NEMALAYA "Operation: Break The Cassanova's Heart" Soundtrack

References

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  1. ^ GOC-ONG-VILLARIASA, RHONA (March 30, 2015). "Meet and greet with Ella Cruz". Sun.Star Davao. Archived from the original on June 29, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  2. ^ "Getting to know Ella Cruz". Tempo. June 26, 2012. Archived from the original on November 18, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  3. ^ "Birthday girl Ella Cruz's Facebook page seized by hackers". Philippine Entertainment Portal. August 17, 2020. Archived from the original on August 18, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2020 – via MSN. Twenty-fourth birthday ni Ella ngayong Lunes, August 17.
  4. ^ TEAM, PUSH. "WATCH: Ella Cruz impresses BLACKPINK during her dance performance". push.abs-cbn.com. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Marfori, M. J. "Ella Cruz plays a member of the first family in film". Philstar.com. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  6. ^ "Ella Cruz draws flak for calling history "tsismis"; Xian Gaza posts open letter to her". PEP.ph. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  7. ^ "Jinggoy, Lorna lead 56th FAMAS awards". The Philippine Star. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
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