GMA artist Ashley Ortega, who at 25, is as Gen Z as you can get.
Last May 30, she has proven that she’s not just another pretty face. She bagged an international award – her first – at the 2024 Harlem International Film Festival, where she won Best Actress for the Cinemalaya entry As If It’s True opposite Khalil Ramos, (the film is on Netflix’s Top 10 Movies in the Philippines Today list).
She’s athletic. At three, when most girls were playing with dolls, Ashley was gliding in the skating rink where her parents (mom is Filipino-German and dad is Spanish-Filipino) brought her. “You’re free to do anything on ice,” she explains. “It’s so smooth! When you glide, no one teaches you what to do!”
No wonder joining the Olympics was her childhood dream. And she represented the Philippines in tournaments held in Thailand, Malaysia, China, and Japan.
But God had another plan. She appeared in TV commercials at 12 and was named Ms. Olive-C 2014 Campus Model.
Showbiz beckoned. A string of film and TV assignments followed. She co-hosted Willie Revillame’s variety show Wowowin. Lately, she made a mark as anti-hero in GMA 7’s Widows’ Web. She will soon be seen in the historical drama Pulang Araw starring Barbie Forteza and Alden Richards.
But one can’t have it all. Behind that sunny disposition is the story of a girl who never knew her father, and grew up without a dad. “My parents separated when I was five,” she recalls. “It was hard at first. We had no communication with my dad.”
But age was on hers – and her older brother and younger sister’s side. They were too young to bear the emotional scars of a broken home. They bounced back. That’s because they had their mom and each other.
Instead of rebelling, Ashley lost herself doing what she loves. Figure skating being a performance sport as well as a training ground for athletes, Ashley never developed stage fright. She joined school performances. She was never shy. Talking came naturally.
Today, she doesn’t skip a beat when fellow celebrities and media interview her. At a recent event, Ashley, looking smart in black and white and a bejeweled purse, admitted to media that her love life is on hold. She’d rather focus on herself and enjoy life on her own.
Love came knocking thrice. The first time – and she hopes her last – was with a showbiz guy. Like most actresses who prefer a more private relationship, Ashley wants someone whose work has nothing to do with her high-profile job.
She tells actor-host Paolo Contis that her ideal guy must be taller (she stands 5’6”). Since she loves going to the gym, he must also be athletic. He must be as attractive inside. For Ashley, this means being God-fearing, prayerful, family-oriented and respectful. But the guy musn’t be a pushover. Otherwise, he’ll bore Ashley to death.
“He must be an alpha male who can handle my stubborn side,” she explains. That’s a tall order. But for someone like Ashley Ortega, the extra effort is worth it.
Photos courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/AshleyOrtegaUnlimited
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