Ellen Adarna found herself steeped in controversy after nude outtakes from a photo shoot she did for a men’s magazine were leaked online.
“Of course I felt violated— just because I do sexy photo shoots doesn’t mean I’m okay with that,” she told the Inquirer in an interview.
She was distraught when she learned that the images had surfaced—without her or the magazine’s knowledge—on the Internet. But she’s over it, she said.
The 26-year-old would rather look back on that incident with lightheartedness, more than regret. “At least I can say that those photos weren’t [enhanced],” she quipped, laughing.
She didn’t stop doing sexy shoots; she’s just more careful now. She is Ginebra San Miguel’s 2015 calendar girl, replacing Marian Rivera.
Expectedly, her work draws the ire of bashers or conservative groups. She takes that in stride, having “mastered the art of deadma.”
Adarna is bent on proving that beauty isn’t her defining quality.
Her performance in Gil Portes’ indie movie, “Ang Tag-Araw ni Twinkle” was cited by the Actors Guild of the Philippines and the Film Academy of the Philippines. “I loved that experience, working on an indie movie,” Adarna said. Hindi puro pa-cute, and no one gets special treatment.”
She is thankful that she joined ABS-CBN workshops. “You have to study before you act in front of the cameras,” she said.
She has become aware that, in the fickle world of show biz, everyone is dispensable. “You can’t afford not to take your job seriously because you can be replaced…just like that.”