Ella Balinska
Jane Kano in Charlie's Angels (2019); Resident Evil series
Ella Balinska (born October 4, 1997) is a British-Polish actress and model who rose to prominence with her role as one of the Angels in the 2019 reboot of Charlie's Angels, where she played Jane Kano, a resourceful and skilled operative. Balinska brought charisma and action-film credibility to the ensemble cast, participating in elaborate action sequences and demonstrating her range across comedic and dramatic moments. Beyond Charlie's Angels, she has appeared in various television projects and films, building her career as a multi-talented performer in both dramatic and action-oriented roles. She gained additional recognition through her role in the Resident Evil live-action series, where she demonstrated her ability to anchor a complex narrative in a prestige television context. Balinska's career reflects the evolving landscape of action cinema where female leads are increasingly given opportunities to be the center of major studio productions rather than supporting characters. Born to a Polish mother and British father, she brings diverse cultural perspective to her roles and has spoken about her multicultural upbringing influencing her worldview. Her modeling background, combined with her acting talent and willingness to perform her own action sequences, has positioned her as a modern action star appealing to contemporary audiences. Balinska represents a generation of actors who have grown up with female action heroes as norm rather than exception.
Ella Enchanted
Protagonist of Ella Enchanted; cursed with obedience but fights for agency
Ella Fitzgerald
Jazz legend; 'First Lady of Song'; master of scat singing
Ella Maillart
Travel writer, photographer, and adventurer; pioneer of travel journalism
Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Poet; author of 'Solitude'; inspirational verse
Entertainment
British
1997
Thinking about the name
Ella
Greek origin
“Derived from Eleanor and Helen, meaning 'bright' or 'shining one' in Greek. Ella gained prominence in the early 1900s and experienced a major revival in the 2000s, becoming one of the most beloved names globally. The name has a lilting, musical quality and suggests both elegance and approachability.”