Derek Ramsay semi-retiring from show biz: ‘I can’t be away from my family’

Derek Ramsay and Ellen Adarna | Image: @maria.elena.adarna IG

Derek Ramsay said he is semi-retiring from show biz so that he could be with his family, wife Ellen Adarna and her son Elias.

Sitting down with Toni Gonzaga for Toni Talks, Ramsay said that he is getting more picky with the projects he works on, noting he doesn’t want to be away from his family.

The actor had a whirlwind romance with Adarna. After dating for a month, the actor popped the question that led to a six-month engagement, and now two years and counting of being married.

“Like, I will do a movie if it’s really… but I’m really picky now with what I do. Like TV, definitely, I wouldn’t do it. I can’t be away from my family. I’ve said that since nung panahon natin. Kapag nagpakasal ako, goodbye na showbiz,” he said.

Ramsay revealed that there were doubts about settling down in his past relationships, but with Adarna, “when you know, you know” prevailed.

“Relationships are great. The purpose of the relationship may be magkatuluyan kayo. You discover things about each other. But in all my relationships, it doesn’t make them wrong. It doesn’t make them bad. It’s just that I could never pull the trigger because there was doubt,” reflected the actor.

“With Ellen, when I met her, walang best foot forward where I had to show the good side of myself only, which is normal in any relationship. Most of the time ganon, you put your best foot forward. With her, we showed everything about each other,” shared Ramsay.

The actor shared that his conversion to his wife not wanting to get married made him realize that he actually wanted to.

“We’re both very honest, and I’m okay not getting married. She has Elias. I have a son. We’re happy with our lives. We had the talk about marriage; it’s not really important for us. But the next day, I’m like, my God,” he said.

Elias is Adarna’s son with John Lloyd Cruz.

“Usually you talk about marriage, and my brain will be freaking out, scared, like, ‘Oh my God. Then I’d put up a wall. But with her, I’m comfortable with this. Even though sinabi ko, ‘Okay nako, kuntento na ako hindi magpakasal. Then I told her, “I’m going to marry you,” he further said.

Ramsay revealed he asked permission from his own son from a previous relationship, and his parents to marry Adarna, despite dating her for a very short time.

“I asked permission first from my son. He gave me the green light. Then kinausap ko naman parents ko. My mom said, ‘We love her, we like her, but why so fast?’ And ang sagot ko sa kanya, ‘In my 40-something years, when did I come to you talking about marriage?’ And she’s (mother) like, ‘Good point, okay,'” he said.

Ramsay then gave advice to young men who are considering settling down at an early age, considering he married at the age of 40 and is happy.

“Guys get married when you’re in your 40s. Sa babae, I would say early 30s para magkababy pa. But for guys, tapusin niyo muna mga gusto niyong gawin. Make sure may direction ang buhay mo so that ma-enjoy mo ang marriage,” said the actor.

“Because it’s hard when you jump into a marriage but you’re still looking for food to feed yourself. And then now you’re responsible for another individual. And then you go through those hard times; it can make or break you,” he said.