Inside John Travolta’s VERY close bond with his model daughter Ella, 22

While John Travolta has not found love again since the tragic passing of his wife of 29 years, Kelly Preston, there is one woman who seems to have a strong place in his heart – his stunning daughter, Ella Bleu Travolta.

The actor has long enjoyed a very close bond with his daughter, so it’s no surprise that when he celebrated his 69th birthday in Las Vegas last weekend, he wanted 22-year-old Ella by his side.

The father-daughter duo jetted off to the Sin City together, alongside some of his friends, and they had a glamorous weekend filled with dinners in five-star restaurants, tickets to some of Las Vegas’ coveted shows, and of course, gambling in the city’s famous casinos.

At just 22, Ella has already taken major strides in her career. Not only has she made waves in the modeling industry in recent months – attending numerous New York Fashion Week events last fall in a slew of stylish looks – but she is also a successful actress and singer too.

She landed her first role on the big screen when she was only nine years old – thanks to her famous father – and she has since gone on to star in numerous movies and shows. 

She also stepped into the world of music, releasing her first single last year – and her father couldn’t be more ‘proud’ of how far she has come.

Doting dad John has continuously gushed over Ella on social media, and has cheered her on every step of the way.

While Ella has certainly accomplished a lot, she didn’t have the easiest childhood. She tragically lost her older brother, Jett, when she was just nine years old – after he had a seizure and hit his head on the bathtub.

She then suffered from another devastating blow when her mother, Kelly, passed away from breast cancer in 2020.

Despite being plagued with heartbreak and loss throughout her upbringing, Ella has continued to prevail – and she has become a strong force in numerous industries.

As she and John continue to display their strong bond online, FEMAIL has gone ahead and rounded up everything you need to know about the talented fashionista, musician, and movie star. 

From her close relationship to her famous father to all of her impressive achievements, here’s everything we know about John’s only daughter, Ella, as she continues to propel herself into the spotlight. 

Ella’s tragic childhood: How the model prevailed despite losing her brother at a young age – followed by mother years later

John met Ella’s mom, late actress Kelly, while filming The Experts in 1988, and the movie star later revealed that she was instantly attracted to John. 

‘I see, no lie, coming across the hall with his two dogs – this really hot guy,’ she recalled to Us Weekly in 2018 of their first meeting.

‘Then he stops and says, “Hello.” And I was like, “Oh s**t. Kill me now.” You know, like, “Oh, my God.”‘

The couple got engaged on New Year’s Eve in 1990, and by 1991, they were married. 

Together, they welcomed three children over the years – son Jett in 1992, daughter Ella in 2000, and son Benjamin in 2010 – however, the family faced tragedy in January 2009, when Jett died at age 16.

The teenager was on vacation in the Bahamas when he had a seizure and hit his head on the bathtub. 

He reportedly had suffered from a disorder called Kawasaki disease from the age of two, which resulted in him getting regular seizures.

John and Kelly were together for 29 years before Kelly passed away at age 57 in July 2020, following a two-year battle with breast cancer.

In April 2021, John opened up about grieving the loss of his wife to Esquire Magazine, explaining that every one has a ‘different path’ while mourning.

‘Grief is personal and finding your own path is what could lead to healing. It’s different than someone else’s journey,’ he said.

‘The most important thing you can do to help people going through grief is allow them the space to live it and not complicate their journey with your own.’

During an appearance on Kevin Hart’s show Hart to Heart, he also spoke out about a very hard conversation he had to have with his then-young son Ben, who was 10 at the time, regarding his mother’s passing.

He explained that Ben voiced concerns that John would die too, to which he told him, ‘It’s a very different thing.’ 

‘I went through the differences about my longevity and her limited life,’ John recalled. 

‘I said, “But you know, Ben … you always love the truth and I’m going to tell you the truth about life. Nobody knows when they’re gonna go or when they’re going to stay.”

‘Your brother [Jett] left at 16. Too young. Your mother left at 57. That was too young. But who’s to say? I could die tomorrow. You could. 

‘Anybody can, so let’s look at it like it’s part of life. You don’t know exactly – you just do your best at trying to live the longest you can.’

Ella’s impressive career: How she broke out into acting, singing, and most recently, modeling, after becoming obsessed with performing at a young age thanks to her famous parents

Ella began her career in 2009, just after Jett’s death – when she landed a role in the movie Old Dogs (alongside her parents, Robin Williams, Matt Dillon, Justin Long, Seth Green, Rita Wilson, Dax Shepard, Lori Loughlin, and Bernie Mac).

According to The Hollywood Reporter, she told her dad she wanted to be in a movie at age seven, and he made it happen by pitching her to various directors.

She then went on to star in crime thriller The Poison Rose in 2019, which her dad also acted in, before she landed the starring role in the upcoming movie Get Lost.

Described by Deadline as a ‘re-imagining of Alice in Wonderland,’ Ella is set to play Alicia, ‘who goes on a wildly magical trip into the wonderland that is Budapest.’

‘Alicia is backpacking through Europe to fulfill her mother’s last wish, and a chance encounter with a strange girl forces Alicia to go on a mind-bending overnight adventure,’ the outlet reports. 

‘There, she meets not only a mysterious young man, but a whole menagerie of individuals that take her on an odyssey that will open her heart and mind. In the end, her journey ends with a revelation, and freedom.’

She previously told People that her love for performing started a young age, which stemmed from growing up with her famous parents. 

‘Since I was very little, I’ve loved performing, singing, dancing, and putting on shows at home for my family and friends,’ she explained. 

‘In our house in Maine, we have this stage area set up with a little red curtain and my friends and I would perform there… We did [everything] from the Hulk to Christmas shows and one year we all played different Housewives of Maine.’

She also told the outlet that having her dad on set ‘helped so much’ since it was ‘so comforting.’

‘He’s the best mentor ever,’ she gushed. ‘When I have any questions, my mom and dad have the best advice, and that’s amazing… I love that it’s sort of the family business.

‘Whatever I would have chosen to do they would have supported me. But they’re really proud of me for [acting] and that makes me proud too.’

While previously chatting with Entertainment Tonight, John reflected on starring in the two movies with his daughter, and he admitted that he got a little too involved.

‘I am ridiculous. I’m behind the camera mouthing every word she says, doing her moves,’ he joked. ‘My wife gets hysterical watching me watch her, because I just want it to go great.’ 

The pair teamed up again to film a commercial for the video game God of War Ragnarok. 

‘I always jump at the opportunity to do something with my dad and we always have the most fun doing something together,’ she told People recently.

‘So, hopefully we’ll do something soon again. Maybe another project or movie. I’m always up for that.’

Ella is also a musician – her first single, called Dizzy, premiered in January 2022, followed by her second song, No Thank You, which premiered in December 2022.

Last year, she also revealed that she gearing up to release her first EP that’s set to come out sometime this year – but didn’t specify when exactly it would be released.

‘There is something I’ve been working on for the past year that is very dear to my heart,’ she wrote in an Instagram post while promoting Dizzy.

‘I wanted to share a part of a song that I wrote that will be on my EP coming out next year. Very excited (and nervous). Hope you like it!’

Supportive dad John quickly left a supportive comment on the post, writing, ‘I’m so very proud of you Ella, it’s amazing – your thrilled dad.’ 

‘Ever since I was little, I’ve really loved singing and performing – whether it was acting, dancing, singing,’ she recently told People, while discussing her music career. 

‘About two years ago at the beginning of the pandemic, I was like, “Oh, I have some ideas for songs that I’ve just recorded as voice memos. I should try finishing them.” 

‘So I started completing those songs and writing them. I was like, “Oh, I really like this.”‘

Ella also stepped into the world of modeling last year, making waves at New York Fashion Week.

She attended the Kate Spade Presentation in a lacy, white crop top and matching skirt, and was invited to Karl Lagerfeld’s party celebrating the release of Cara Loves Karl Capsule Collection days later, during which, she rocked a black, corset top, as well as a dark jacket and pants set.

Most recently, she became the face of Silk Next Milk – a plant-based milk brand.

Her strong bond with her dad: John and Ella can’t stop gushing over each other on social media and in interviews

John previously opened up to People magazine about his relationship with Ella, while calling her ‘gracious, generous, poised, graceful, and gorgeous.’

‘She is her own person. She is gracious, generous, poised, graceful and gorgeous. I don’t know how she came to be, and I don’t take any credit other than just adoring her,’ he said. ‘And maybe that’s a valid contribution.’

The father-daughter-duo have also supported one another on social media many times, and in honor of Father’s Day back in June 2022, Ella shared a sweet tribute to her dad.

‘Happy Father’s Day to the smartest, kindest, most generous man I know,’ she wrote. 

‘Just by being yourself, you have taught me the most important lessons in life. Thank you for everything you do and for being my friend. I love you, Daddy.’

And when his birthday rolled around in February 2022, she called the Grease alum her ‘role model’ and ‘best friend’ in a touching post.

‘Happy Birthday to my role model, my best friend, the person who has taught me one of the most valuable lessons in life – kindness. I love you with all my heart, Daddy,’ she said.

‘Daddy, you make parenting look so easy, though it not always is. You make everyday better than the one before it,’ she also gushed in her Father’s Day post from the previous year. 

‘You bring joy to us when we are down. You are our best friend and we love you to the moon and back around. 

‘I hope to be even half as good of a parent as you someday. Happy Father’s Day to this incredible man.’

In another Instagram post, Ella opened up about what she admires about John the most – the fact that he ‘never ceases to love and help’ her.

‘You are gracious and selfless and that inspires me to be a better person everyday,’ she added. 

‘Thank you for raising me with so much love and kindness. I am forever thankful to have you in my life and I love you so much.’

‘Happy Birthday to the most incredible man I have ever known. You are not only the best Dad ever, but you are also my best friend,’ she also wrote in 2021. 

‘Thank you for raising us, helping us and loving us and thank you for all of the good you do every day. The world is so lucky to have you and so are we. I love you Daddy.’

Most recently, she shared a selfie from their Vegas trip, which she captioned, ‘Yesterday marked the birthday of my hero. The most incredible father, friend and role model anyone could ask for. I love you, Daddy.’

She has also remembered her late mother many times online, calling her a ‘wonderful role model’ in a sweet Mother’s Day post back in May 2022.

‘I’ve learned a lot from all of the strong and powerful women in my life, I thank you all for being such wonderful role models,’ she captioned a throwback shot of her and her mom.

‘I miss and love you, mama. Happy Mother’s to all of the wonderful moms out there.’

One year earlier, she wrote, ‘Mama, thank you for all you have done for us and for this world. I miss you and love you very much – but your smile, warmth, and love is ever lasting. Wishing all of the moms a Happy Mother’s Day.’