Ella Cruz
Gabriela Annjane Umali Cruz[1][2] (Tagalog pronunciation: [ʊˈmalɪ ˈkɾus]; born August 17, 1996)[3] and is professionally known as Ella Cruz, is a Filipino actress, product endorser, host, commercial & promotional model, and dancer. 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 August 17, 1996 Angat, Bulacan, Philippines |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Agent(s) | Viva Artists Agency Viva Entertainment Star Magic (2007–2009; 2012–2015) |
| Height | 1.53 m (5 ft 0 in) |
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.[4]
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.[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.
Filmography
Television
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Martyr or Murderer | Irene Marcos |
| 2022 | Rooftop | |
| Maid in Malacañang | Irene Marcos | |
| 2021 | Biyernes Santo | |
| Steal | ||
| 2019 | Edward | Agnes |
| 2018 | Cry No Fear | Wendy |
| Squad Goals! | Leigh | |
| 2017 | Fangirl, Fanboy | Aimee |
| Darkroom | Maine | |
| 2015 | Hawa | |
| The Prenup | Mocha Cayabyab | |
| 2014 | Dilim | Mia |
| Somebody to Love | Amelie | |
| 2013 | A Moment in Time | Mai-Mai Javier |
| 2012 | Shake, Rattle & Roll 14 | Linda |
| 2007 | Resiklo | Kiara |
| The Promise | Young Andrea | |
| Angels | Kerubina |
Awards and nominations
| 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
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| As lead artist | ||
| "Tamis" | 2016 | Tamis |
| "Sabi Na Sayo Eh" | 2017 | Sabi Na Sayo Eh |
| Collaborations | ||
| "Tumalon" with Julian Trono | 2017 | Tumalon |
| "Isang Tingin" with Julian Trono | 2017 | "Fangirl, Fanboy" Soundtrack |
| NEMALAYA | 2017 | "Operation: Break The Cassanova's Heart" Soundtrack |
References
- GOC-ONG-VILLARIASA, RHONA (March 30, 2015). "Meet and greet with Ella Cruz". Sun.Star Davao. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
- "Getting to know Ella Cruz". Tempo. June 26, 2012. Archived from the original on November 18, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
- "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.
- TEAM, PUSH. "WATCH: Ella Cruz impresses BLACKPINK during her dance performance". push.abs-cbn.com. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
- Marfori, M. J. "Ella Cruz plays a member of the first family in film". Philstar.com. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
- "Ella Cruz draws flak for calling history "tsismis"; Xian Gaza posts open letter to her". PEP.ph. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
- "Jinggoy, Lorna lead 56th FAMAS awards". The Philippine Star. Retrieved November 21, 2013.