Biography

Ellia English was born the middle of nine children to a Baptist Minister (Rev. Calvin English) and a Domestic worker (Ella Mae English) in Covington Georgia.

After graduating high school early, Ellia attended Clark College in Atlanta, majoring in music. She later transferred to Georgia State University, where she studied speech and drama, and soon became an ensemble player at the prestigious Alliance Theatre, where she became thoroughly dedicated to a professional life of acting and singing. The next step was to travel to New York City, where auditions were plenty and the hustle was challenging. Yet and still with a song in her heart and dreams in her eyes, Ellia courageously left her native Georgia, heading for New York. Becoming the first member of her family to travel so far, to such a big city, all alone.

After starring in several Theatrical productions On and Off Broadway, such as "Haarlem Nocturne", "Ain't Misbehavin", "Downhearted Blues" (The Bessie Smith Story), "Cotton Club Gala", "Dreamgirls", "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom", "Colored Museum", "Romeo and Juliet", "Spunk", "Showboat", "Barnum", "Nunsense", "One Mo Time", to name a few, and singing with the New York Community Choir as one of their solo artists; Ellia also landed the role of Sheila on the television pilot production of "Fame".

Ellia became a series regular (as Helen King) on "The Jamie Foxx Show". Beginning September 9, 2007 Ellia can be seen as a series regular (as Auntie Rae) on Larry David's"Curb Your Enthusiasm", on HBO. Some of her other television credits include: "Martin", "Empty Nest", "Sinbad", "The Five Mrs Buchanans", "Love & War", "Get Smart", and "Thea". She was also featured in the made for television movies, "The Innocent", "Based On an Untrue Story" and "The Barefoot Executive". On the silver screen Ellia was featured in "Good Luck Chuck", Wildcats"," "Woman Thou Art Loosed", "Sidewalk Stories", "Rain Without Thunder" and the soon to be released "Semi-Pro".

Ellia continues to enjoy a professional life of Acting and Singing.

- IMDb mini biography by: ESE