Biography
Maria Eleanor Rodriguez also known as Elle Rodriguez (and Tiny Rodriguez) is a Filipino-Canadian actress known for her work in the 2023 Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner "When you left me on that Boulevard" and the French Canadian Comedy series "J'adore le Jus".
Elle Rodriguez is a lawyer in both Canada and the Philippines, but her passion for acting began in high school. She received her first acting training in 1983 with the Sunday Artists Company in the Philippines, which led to roles in television and film. Despite her grandmother's disapproval and encouragement to pursue a legal career instead, Elle continued to nurture her acting dreams. After practicing law in the Philippines for six years, she moved to Canada with her children and continued her legal career. She spent nine years as a Federal Prosecutor in the Niagara Region before deciding to pursue her dream of becoming an actor.
Elle Rodriguez began her acting journey by attending Livingstone Beaumont's Acting Workshop in Niagara Falls in 2019. That same year, she landed a role in the student short film "Seph and Danny Were Here," filmed in Ontario, Canada. In October 2019, she returned to the Philippines to enroll in the Star Magic Acting Workshop. Her first TV guest appearance came in December 2019 on the popular series "Kadenang Ginto," where she played a surgeon. A few months later, in February 2020, she appeared as a lawyer in five episodes of the long-running TV series "FPJ'S Ang Probinsyano."
Elle returned to Canada in July 2021, where she completed two online acting workshops: Level 2 of the Star Magic Acting Workshop and the AB Masterclass with award-winning actress Angeli Bayani. She also finished a script writing workshop with Philippine director and screenwriter Denise O'Hara. Before the year ended, Elle secured two acting projects in Ontario: she played Mrs. Stein in the short film "The Art of Quiet" and the mother of the lead character in the TV pilot "Where are your really from."
In 2021, Elle Rodriguez enrolled at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in Los Angeles, California, where she studied Method Acting full-time. She was mentored by renowned acting teachers, including Sharon Angela from The Sopranos and actor Dig Wayne. While still in acting school, Elle auditioned for roles through Backstage and Actors Access. She also did voiceover work for the short film "Karagatan" in Los Angeles, voicing the mother of the main character, Diana.
In 2022, Elle Rodriguez ventured into script writing and directing. She wrote, co-directed, and co-produced the short film "Get Her Back," which was filmed in Los Angeles. This dream project was designed to provide herself and the other actors with a platform to showcase their talents. Her rationale was, "Why wait for others to give us a break when we can give ourselves one?"
In 2022, Elle landed the role of Auntie Pinky, a lead character in the short film "When you left me on that Boulevard," which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. This role allowed her to showcase both her comedic acting and singing skills. At the festival, she met award-winning French Canadian director Alec Pronovost, who played a key role in her casting as Daniella Ramos in the French Canadian comedy series "J'adore le jus."
In "J'adore le jus," Elle portrays Daniella Ramos, one of the lead characters. The series is primarily in French, but Daniella's dialogue is delivered in English. This role has been one of Elle's most challenging yet, as she does not speak or understand French. To effectively portray her character, she had to memorize her co-stars' lines to react appropriately and stay in sync with the dialogue. The series was shot in Montreal, Quebec, and is available on Noovo.ca.
Another notable role Elle Rodriguez took on was in the University of the Philippines student short film "King hindi na dumating ang bukas" (If Tomorrow Does Not Come), where she portrayed Badine, a butch lesbian reuniting with her first love and childhood sweetheart. Elle had to adopt a masculine appearance and demeanor for the role while keeping her long hair.
2023 was a busy year for Elle Rodriguez, with several acting projects surpassing those of previous years. She appeared in two episodes of the TV series "Tadhana," playing Dr. Valerie Sergio in one episode and Mrs. Opella Cruz, a guidance counselor, in another. Elle also took on the lead role in the student short film "Una't Huli" and appeared in a scene of the Netflix movie "I am not Big Bird," portraying Mrs. Martinez, the nosy neighbor of the lead character. Her most recent acting project is the student short film "Between Our Paths," where she plays the role of a school director.
Elle Rodriguez believes that this is her time to shine being more confident about herself and her acting skills. She is still looking for representation who will help her achieve her goal of getting into Hollywood. She is actively auditioning for roles and pursuing opportunities to achieve her dream of becoming a working actor and making acting her primary source of income. Meanwhile, she remains actively engaged in her legal profession.
