We'll be seeing more of actress Bela Padilla once again and that's for sure. Bela confirmed her acting comeback this 2025 in a lengthy Instagram post.
But along with her return to the Philippines to continue her flourishing acting career comes—not the end, but—a pause in her life in London. ICYDK, Bela once decided to build a life in London away from the cameras.
In her Instagram post uploaded on January 25, Bela shared an IG Reel packed with photos and videos of her spending the time of her life as a London girlie. She began her caption with the lines, "A few seconds of my life in London since 2021. I am temporarily closing this chapter as I prepare to work full-time again."
Although it was relatively closer to her Swiss boyfriend Norman Bay, who's also based in Europe, Bela openly shared that she, for the most part, was alone in London. "On days when I forgot what I sounded like because I wasn't talking to anybody, I had the flowers to remind me that God wanted me happy by giving me the most beautiful flowers just around my neighborhood," she said.
Her post was so detailed and personal that she even described just how every season in London has taught her something new about the world and about herself. "Because of London, my instincts are now sharper. I stayed as healthy as I could while navigating my autoimmune disorder. I very quickly learned to walk, ride my bike, and eventually drive cars on the left side. The education I got from in and out of the classrooms, is imbedded in me now."
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Bela also recounted the day when she received the news of her dad's passing while she was in her London house. "I had to figure out grief alone in my high-ceiling bedroom when I got the call that my dad had passed away…so my first house in London will always be the one I hold dearest to me. [...] I will still have my house in London and maybe one day, I will call it home again," Bela shared.
In the end, she beautifully wrote. "London is polite but shouts when you're wrong. Beautiful but rough around the edges. Kind but has a darkness that could scare the tough...my friend, London."
Bela Padilla teases upcoming project
There's no confirmation yet from any management but Bela has already teased about a new project. In a January 2 Instagram post, Bela mentioned that it will be a project that she will be creating with friends (!).
The post included a video of her printing pages of a script. No one knows if it's a film or a series just yet. What we do know is that it's entitled Love Hate Relationship, and it's written by Bela herself! ;)
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Bela Padilla's career
Bela is best known for her films like 100 Tula Para Kay Stella, Meet Me In St. Gallen, and more. In 2021, she decided to move to London since the pandemic was still ongoing at the time. There, she explored life outside of showbiz—but she didn't entirely close her doors to it.
Throughout her stay in London, Bela didn't shy away from the social media world. She was actively updating the big and small things about her off-cam life.
In 2023, Bela took the risk of pursuing her passion for filmmaking. The 33-year-old actress was enrolled at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London.
"Every time I was invited to do talks in Manila, for students, whether they were interested in filmmaking or I was invited for something else, I always made sure to advocate [for] studying non-stop. I honestly believe that even when you're already hired for your dream job, you should always find ways to keep on learning," Bela underscored in an Instagram post commemorating her back-to-school decision.
She added, "So here I am, happily taking my own advice. From buying books on new acting techniques and taking online courses, to finally setting foot in my dream school."
At the moment, Bela is in the Philippines as a guest host for the noontime show, It's Showtime together with her celebrity bestie, Kim Chiu. Recently, Bela also launched her own beauty brand called BELA by Bela.
There's no news yet as to what project she will be working on in the future. But we're super excited about what's to come for you, Bela!
