When discussing great actors and actresses, the focus often starts and ends with Hollywood, but the global cinema is more than just Hollywood. Certain countries are underrated in the entertainment industry, and the Philippines is certainly one among them that has witnessed some of the greatest actors of all time, and Ellen Adarna is one of the most celebrated former Filipino actresses.
Though coming from an affluent family, Ellen paved her own path to a different career and established herself. However, she is not active in her acting career, but has already left a mark with her striking looks and great acting range. Apart from her family’s wealth, she has earned her own money, and we will discuss her life, career, and net worth today.
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Early Life
Born on 2nd April, 1988 in Cebu City, Ellen Adrana was named Ellen Meriam Go Adarna. She was born into an established and wealthy family, and her father, Alan Modesto Adarna, and mother, Meriam Go-Adarna, were involved in running a real-estate business as well as a chain of motels mainly in Cebu and other parts of the country. She was raised along with her 4 siblings, and the family was close-knitted with the business influence and luxurious lifestyle.
Adarna went to St. Theresa’s College in Cebu for her primary and secondary education, which was an all-girls school between the 1990s and early 2000s. After completing her school education, she got enrolled in the University of Carlos and pursued a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. However, she dropped out and did not complete her degree.
Evolution of Career
After dropping out of college, Adarna worked as a secretary in her father’s business for a brief period, but eventually pursued modelling as her career. She began with modelling for magazines and was constantly featured in magazines like Candy, UNO Preview, FHM, and Esquire. Her modelling career’s big break came in 2010 when she became a regular face for FHM Philippines and was ranked among the “100 Sexiest Women” from 2010 to 2015. This also led her to land roles in the television industry.
She debuted on television in 2010 with GMA Network’s comedy show “Bubble Gang,” where her comic timing was appreciated, and later was featured in a fantasy-action series “Captain Barbell” in 2011. She continued to appear in small supporting roles, but it helped her build an acting career and become a known face. Adarna then signed up with ABS-CBN in 2013, and this became the turning point of her career as she became a prominent part of the show “Banana Split,” in 2013, followed by roles in sitcoms like “Home Sweetie Home” and “Toda Max.”
In 2013, her debut film “Si Agimat, Si Enteng Kabisote at Si Ako” was released in the Metro Manila Film Festival, where she played a supporting role, but this opened up new opportunities for her, and she was cast in movies like “You’re Still the One” in 2015, “The Escort” in 2016, and “Moonlight Over Baler” in 2017. Adarna was balancing both television and films together, but in 2017, she decided to quit the showbiz industry to focus on her personal life.
Shot to Fame
Adarna shot to fame when she was constantly featured among “100 Sexiest Women” from 2010 to 2015, which led her to make a career in television. Another breakthrough moment came when she was cast for the comedy show “Banana Split” as she became a household name.
Relationships
Adarna was involved in several high-profile relationships, but the one that became the talk of the town was with John Lloyd Cruz, which began in 2017. The couple had a son, Elias Modesto Cruz, in June 2018, but separated in 2019. However, they both decided to co-parent. In 2021, Adarna entered a new relationship with Derek Rasay, and they got engaged shortly in the same year and married on 11th November in 2021. Post her marriage, Adarna has kept a low profile away from all the exposure, and there are no reports of another child from the marriage.
Net Worth and Source of Income
An exact figure about Ellen Adarna’s net worth is not confirmed, but it is estimated to be between $3 million and $5 million, which she made from her modelling, television, and movie careers. She also has a share in her family business and earns from brand deals and endorsements.
