Ella Cruz

Gabriela Annjane "Ella" Umali Cruz (; born August 17, 1996) is a Filipino actress. She played the title character in the 2012 fantasy drama Aryana.

Career 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.

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.

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.

She recently became popular when a video of her dancing to "Twerk It Like Miley" turned viral 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 with South Korean girl group Blackpink.

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

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. 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",

She is currently a freelancer signed to Viva Artists Agency.

Filmography Film 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 MarcosRooftop 2023 Martyr or Murderer Irene Marcos

Television Year Title Role Notes 2006 Majika Young Sabina First TV appearance Now and Forever: Dangal Flor Now and Forever: Duyan Ella2007 Super Twins Tin-tin MariMar Young Marimar Maalaala Mo Kaya: Panyo Flor first ABS-CBN project 2008 Goin' Bulilit Herself Maalaala Mo Kaya: Sopas Grace Maalaala Mo Kaya: Isda Jonah Maalaala Mo Kaya: Sumbrero Young Rhea 2009 Only You Andrea Mendoza Maalaala Mo Kaya: Bangka Young Odette Maalaala Mo Kaya: Karnibal Baleleng Maalaala Mo Kaya: Blusa Young Nemie 2010 Carlo J. Caparas' Panday Kids Jenny Ilumina Czarina Maalaala Mo Kaya: Videoke Priscilla 2010–2011 Inday Wanda Tonifirst TV5 project 2011 Tropang Potchi Herself/Host Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin Britney Maalaala Mo Kaya: TV young Mavic 2012 Wansapanataym: Somewhere Over the Bahaghari Ana Dahil sa Pag-ibig Teen Jasmin Valderama 2012–2013 Aryana Aryana Mendez 2013–present ASAP Herself/Performer/Co-host 2013 Wansapanataym: Finding Nilo Beauty Luv U Mariana Juan dela Cruz Rebecca Maalaala Mo Kaya: Box (My Sister's Bestfriend) Dua Wansapanataym: OMG (Oh My Genius) Minerva "Minnie" Tomas 2014 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Dos Por Dos Jessa Ikaw Lamang young Guadalupe "Lupe" Roque Ipaglaban Mo: Lalaban Ang Tatay Para Sa'yo Connie Wansapanataym: Nato De Coco Hazel Maalaala Mo Kaya: Kumot (The Fighter) Young Leng Bagito Vanessa Bueno Main cast / Anti-Hero2015 Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal Briefcase No. 7 Wattpad Presents: Hot and Cold Chloe Mendez Wattpad Presents: Love Encounters Lisa Miranda Inday Bote Teen Fiona Vargas Ipaglaban Mo!: Ang Bintang Mo Sa Akin Rowena 2015–2016 #ParangNormal Activity Charlie2016 Wattpad Presents: TV Movie: Avah Maldita Avah Chen Happy Truck HAPPinas Herself/Host Carlo J. Caparas' Ang Panday Phoebe Young Hearts Presents: Bebeng Pabebe Meets Super Jiro "Bebe" Wattpad Presents: TV Movie: I'm His Tutor Mikaela Maghirang With Julian Trono Ipaglaban Mo!: Bugaw Mylene2017 #LIKE Herself/Celebrity ContestantKapuso Mo, Jessica SohoHerself/GuestUnang HiritHerself/Guest Performerwith Julian TronoKarelasyon: She Maid It!Aidafirst comeback project with GMA NetworkReal TalkHerself/Guestwith Julian TronoWish Ko Lang: Hanggang Sa HuliEllaEpisode guestBulagaan OlympicsHerself/PlayerGuest PlayerThe Lolas' Beautiful ShowHerself/Guestwith Julian Trono Road Trip Herself/Guestwith Marlon Stockinger & Joyce Pring Ipaglaban Mo!: Groufie Anna MarceloOperation: Break The Cassanova's HeartNaomi Mikael "Nami" Perezwith Julian Trono 2018 Aja Aja Tayo! Herself/Guest 2019 FPJ's Ang Probinsyano Lisa Supporting Cast Ipaglaban Mo!: Pariwara Jacky Episode Guest 2020 Ipaglaban Mo!: Yes Sir Jessica Episode Guest 2025 Edens Zero Happy (voice) Main Cast

Microdrama Year Title Role Notes 2026 The Borrowed Life Comeback series

Awards and nominations Year Award giving body Category Nominated work Results2008 56th FAMAS Awards Best Child Actress Resiklo 2nd Gawad Genio Awards Best Film Child Performer 2011 25th PMPC Star Awards for TV Best Children Show Host (shared with Tropang Potchi hosts) Tropang Potchi 2019 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival Best Supporting Actress Edward

Singles