Another ‘John’ likes Ellen Adarna
“I’m a fan, I follow her on Instagram,” John Estrada said of Ellen Adarna, his co-star in John En Ellen, a new sitcom premiering at 7 p.m. today, 24 January, on TV5.
In a video conference with media, John pointed out that he was involved in the casting for the series and he personally recommended Ellen.
“We (the production team) talked about it,” John recalled. “We thought she wouldn’t do it because we heard her priority is her son Elias. But thank God she agreed.”
Ellen was last seen in the ABS-CBN sitcom Home Sweetie Home which starred John Lloyd Cruz, with whom she was romantically linked.
The couple left the show in 2017, lived together, but split in 2019. Their union bore a son, Elias.
Return to acting
Ellen said of her return to acting: “At first, I was kind of nervous because it’s been so long — it’s been three years.”
She cited the John En Ellen cast and crew as a factor in easily adjusting to doing tapings again: “They’re warm. It doesn’t feel like work at all.”
John Estrada said, “It’s because she knows that this project is for her only. It’s light and fun.”
Ellen admitted she’s still not open to projects that require much of her time and energy which she devotes to Elias.
But John En Ellen came at the right moment.
“I think it was a sign because when it was offered to me, Elias was scheduled to be here (Manila) and I was supposed to be with him for one month,” she said.
John En Ellen had only five days of locked-in taping.
John said of Ellen as a private person: “She’s different. We know that she’s controversial and all that, but there’s more to her than that. She’s bubbly, she’s a good soul. I’m glad to have met this beautiful human being.”
He added: “She brings great energy on the set. She’s a character. She speaks her mind. She’s honest. If you have any ‘bad image’ of Ellen Adarna, throw that away because that’s not who she really is.”
John Estrada on his ‘John En Ellen’ co-star: She’s different. We know that she’s controversial and all that, but there’s more to her than that. She’s bubbly, she’s a good soul. I’m glad to have met this beautiful human being.
The show is about John Lennon Kulantong and his wife Ellen who deal with modern-day problems with their kids Valentino (Yogo Singh) and Camille (Angelina Cruz).
John En Ellen also stars Ronaldo Valdez as Don Lucky de la Suerte, Ellen’s father who dislikes John; Long Mejia as Yñigo Tange, Don Lucky’s mischievous assistant; and Haiza Madrid as Mimi, Don Lucky’s nurse.
The show airs Sundays starting today at 7 p.m. on TV5. It can also be seen on Cignal TV channel 202 HD and Channel 60 SD.