Carla Abellana

Carla Angeline Reyes Abellana was born on June 12, 1986,^[3][4] in Manila. Abellana is the daughter of actor Rey "PJ" Abellana and Rea Reyes. Her maternal grandmother is veteran actress, Delia Razon. She graduated cum laude from De La Salle University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology.^[5][6]

Abellana began her career modeling for different TV commercials, including CreamSilk Leave-on in 2002 and Palmolive Conditioner in 2005 (with the appearance of Ricky Reyes). In 2009, she auditioned for Zorro, but GMA Network instead cast her for the lead role in Rosalinda—a remake of the Mexican telenovela of the same name. In the same year, she subsequently became a model for Bench.^[7] In 2011, Abellana had a spread in Philippine Tatler photographed by America's Next Top Model judge Nigel Barker.^[8] She also appeared in the Philippine Fashion Week 2011, where she modeled clothes by Michele Sison.^[9] She has co-hosted SOP Rules,^{[citation needed]} StarStruck,^[10] Party Pilipinas,^[11] the cooking show Del Monte Kitchenomics,^[12] and Karelasyon, a drama anthology series,^[13] as well as hosting several pageants such as Binibining Pilipinas 2010^[14] and Miss World Philippines 2013.^[15] In 2013, she joined Sunday All Stars as a judge.^[16]

Abellana is a contract star of Regal Films, signing a 12-picture contract with the company. Her first film under Regal Films was Mamarazzi.^[17] Abellana appeared in her first horror film which was an entry to 2010 Metro Manila Film Festival, Shake, Rattle & Roll XII.^[17] In September 2011, Abellana starred in the Regal Films film My Neighbor's Wife, and by the end of 2011, appeared in two films—both of which were entries to the 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival—Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow and Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story. In 2014, she starred in the ensemble romantic comedy by Jose Javier Reyes Somebody to Love alongside Matteo Guidicelli, and So It's You with JC de Vera and Tom Rodriguez. In 2015, she starred in the film No Boyfriend Since Birth, again with Rodriguez, and was her second film with Reyes.

In 2024, Abellana was part of the main cast on Widows' War, portraying the main antagonist, Georgina "George" Balay-Palacios. Prior to that she was cast as Lucy Rigor in Stolen Life with Gabby Concepcion and Beauty Gonzalez in 2023.

Abellana married actor Tom Rodriguez in October 2021. In June 2022, the marriage was dissolved by a United States decree, which was confirmed by the Philippine courts in June 2024.^[18] In December 2025, she married Reginald Santos, a doctor.^[19]

In September 2024, Abellana revealed she suffered hypothyroidism since 2019 and was perimenopausal at age 37.^[20] She was also diagnosed with kidney stone disease and urinary tract infection.^[21]