Elia Ilano

Elia Maria Norelle "Elia" Ilano (born 24 March 2010) is a Filipino TV, movie and theater actress , TV host and an international non-profit organization Youth Leader for State of Youth by KidsRights Foundation where she became the youngest chapter leader in the world. She is labelled as a "Future Super Actress" by the Filipino-American Community Newspaper, Asian Journal.

She began her acting career as a child actress and became known for her performances in a variety of television shows and movie genres. She rose to fame for playing the young Nadine Lustre in Ulan and as Ningning in La Luna Sangre.

She has received numerous accolades, including a FAMAS Award , a PMPC Star Awards for Movies , a Campinas International Film Festival Best Actress award at Brazil, an Amader International Short Film Festival Best Actress award at India including two nominations from Aliw Awards.

She is also a short story writer and poet whose works were published through The Department of Human and Family Development Studies' (DHFDS) Tsikiting Stories Samut Saring Kwento Volume 3.

Early life and background Elia Maria Norelle Ilano was born on March 24, 2010, in Marikina City, to Sheng Ilano and Paulo Xavier Ilano.

In April 2026, Ilano completed junior high school at NCD Integrated School Inc. with flying colors.

Career 2015-2017: Early career and breakout She started with small roles in television series such as The 700 Club.

In 2016, she made her primetime television debut as Gigi in Ang Probinsyano.

In 2017, she was part of the main cast of Viva Cinema's (formerly Viva TV) very first original TV series, "Oh My Guardians!" as Ela (The White Guardian). Her notable performance as Young Ningning in the hit TV series La Luna Sangre marked her rise to fame allowing her to be a guest celebrity/performer in top-rated shows such as ASAP (TV program) and Gandang Gabi, Vice!.

2018-2021: Established child star During this period, she appeared in major films like the top-grosser film Ulan (film) (2019) and the award-winning thriller The Housemaid (2021). Elia played the young version of Nadine Lustre’s character in Ulan which was screened at the San Diego Asian Film Festival in the United States and premiered at the prestigious Copenhagen Asian Film Festival 2020. . While in The Housemaid (2021), which is the first Filipino film to be shown in the theaters of the United Arab Emirates and Europe since the pandemic started, she played the role of "Nami" that gained praises from the press and recognition from the viewing public.

She was a mainstay in the daytime television show Sana Dalawa ang Puso as Tamarra "Tamtam" Tabayoyong where she won a recognition from RAWR Awards. The award clearly indicates being active or maybe the brightest child star the public has come to endear with.

Elia won back-to-back "Bibo of the Year" awards which is the best child artist through the combined public vote, online presence and metrics from LionhearTV, Dailypedia, and PH Entertainment, and a pool of bloggers, PR practitioners, and brand partners at the LionheartTV RAWR Awards in 2018 and 2019 that solidified her status as a child star in the Philippine entertainment industry.

2022-2024: Award-winning years and theater musical and hosting breakthrough Elia took on more breakthrough and challenging roles, such as Young Lyra in the techno-horror film Deleter (2022).

Her role in Pinoy Ghost Tales (2023) earned her the Best Child Actress trophy at the 2024 FAMAS Awards , Gawad Dangal Filipino Awards and 2nd Dangal ng Lahing Filipino Awards.

In October 2023, she was nominated for the International Children's Peace Prize for her work as a youth leader focusing on Youth Development and Welfare with KidsRights Foundation.

In November 2023, Elia portrayed the younger version of Nadine Lustre in the Amazon Prime Video miniseries Roadkillers. This role marked her third time, following Ulan (film) and Deleter, playing Nadine’s younger counterpart.

In 2024, her portrayal of "Malena" in SM Supermalls' 5th Sine Sindak Film Festival, Nanay Tatay movie, earned her two acting awards: Best Child Performer and Best Child Actress at the Rising Filipino Awards and the 13th OFW Gawad Parangal , respectively. In the same year, Elia joined the main hosting team of the Artsy Craftsy program on the People's Television Network. The show is an informative, Anak TV Seal Awards awardee series that focuses on arts, crafts, and educational trivia for young audiences.

For its November 2024 issue, Bisaya Magasin, published by Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation, featured her as its cover girl, marking Elia’s first national magazine cover in the Philippines.

She starred as the lead in Maria Goretti: The Musical by the National Mobile Theater Company of the Philippines, Philstagers Foundation. This performance earned her a nomination for Best Child Performer (Female Category) at the 37th Aliw Awards. US-based writer and producer, Barbara Oleynick, with nearly 25 years of productions in the United States and the Dominican Republic, brought The Miracle of Fatima: The Musical in the Philippines where Elia portrayed one of the lead roles, Lucia dos Santos.

2025-present: Transition to teen roles and international recognition in acting Now transitioning into teen actress territory, she starred as Theresita Agbayani in the Viva One series I Love You Since 1892 (2025).

She continued to receive acting awards in 2025 from multiple awarding giving bodies here in the Philippines for her role as Malena in Nanay Tatay. In total, she won three awards from prestigious organizations for the said movie: the 4th Primetime Media Choice Awards , the World Icon of Excellence and Leadership Awards, and the 2025 Manila Film Critics Circle Awards.

In same year, her acting skills received international recognition by winning two Best Actress awards in international film festivals: first at the 5th Campinas International Film Festival held in Brazil , and second at the 2025 Amader International Short Film Festival in India , for her lead role in Teresa (2025 film) who is a young girl from an underprivileged community who dreams of becoming an engineer.

In early 2026, she was named "Distinct Teenage Actress of the Year" by the Philippines Distinct Men and Women Excellence Awards.

In June 2026, she took the lead in an internationally-produced film "Violet" which is a powerful movie about a 15-year-old girl navigating a difficult domestic situation. The following month, she was selected as one of the official cast members of Philstagers Foundation's musical theater production, "Rizal 3000," which is set for a nationwide tour, staging performances in various parts of the Philippines.

In August 2026, Elia has graced the inside pages of the oldest and leading Tagalog weekly magazine in the Philippines established in 1922, Liwayway Magazine under Manila Bulletin for its Buwan ng Wika Issue as its featured model.

Filmography Film Year Title Role 2016 Higanti Young Jean 2018 Distance Young Therese 2019Ulan Young MayaMina-AnudGrace 2020 You With Me Chi Chi 2021 The Housemaid Nami 2022 Ang Babaeng Nawawala sa sarili Young Albina Deleter Young Lyra 2023 Mary Cherry Chua Student Pinoy Ghost Tales Lea 2024 Nanay Tatay Malena 2025 Arapaap Young Sarah Magkapatid, Dreamers in Tandem Christina delos Santos Teresa (2025 film) Teresa Agbayani 2026 Violet (2026 short film) Violet

Television/web series Year Title Role 2015 The 700 Club Young Amparo Magallanes 2016 Ang Probinsyano Gigi Langit Lupa Young Corazon/Heart The 700 Club Young Teresa Pastera 2017 Maalala Mo Kaya: Mansanas at Juice Young Kathy Ipaglaban Mo: Lihim Young Letlet Gandang Gabi, Vice Herself/Guest with La Luna Sangre Kids La Luna Sangre Young Ningning ASAP Herself/Guest Performer Oh My Guardians Ela 2018 Sana Dalawa ang Puso Tamtam Tabayoyong 2019 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Rattle Young Anna Love You Two Yumi Batungbakal Ghost Adventures Gab-Gab Mars Herself/Guest 2020 Unconditional Young Agnes Martinez 2022 Abot-Kamay na Pangarap Young Grace Villar 2023 Roadkillers Young Stacey 2024 Rise and Shine Pilipinas Herself/Guest Chasing in the Wild Sofia Camero 2024–present Artsy Craftsy Herself/Host 2025 I Love You Since 1892 Theresita

Theater Year Title Role Producer 2024 Maria Goretti The Musical Maria Goretti Philippine Stagers Foundation 2024 The Miracle of Fatima The Musical Lucia dos Santos The Miracle of Fatima Foundation Inc. USA 2026 Rizal 3000 Eden Zaragoza Philippine Stagers Foundation

Awards and honors