Will Ashley De Leon, now popularly known by his screen name Will Ashley, has captured viewers’ attention with his presence as one of the Sparkle housemates in the ongoing Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition. Prior to this, Will had already been in the entertainment industry for 11 years, having started his acting career as one of GMA-7’s child actors, usually playing “young” roles in most of his TV shows.
Now referred to as the “Nation’s Son” or “Nakshie ng Bayan,” did you know that Will has consistently embraced the role of a son and best friend in several shows since his childhood?
Let’s take a look back at Will Ashley’s TV shows as a child actor:
1. Villa Quintana (2013)
In Villa Quintana, Will portrayed young Isagani, the younger version of the male lead, Elmo Magalona. Isagani comes from a poor family and falls in love with young Lynette, played by Mona Alawi (formerly Mona Louise Rey), who is from a rich family. Will’s performance as young Isagani sets up the story by showing the early challenges of his character’s life.
2. Innamorata (2014)
In the 2014 Kapuso romantic fantasy drama Innamorata, Will Ashley plays the younger version of Dencio Manansala, the character played by Dion Ignacio. Will’s role shows viewers Dencio’s early years, which helps explain his character’s growth throughout the series.
3. Niño (2014)
In Niño, Will portrayed the younger version of Niño Innocente, played by Miguel Tanfelix. His portrayal showed the early life of Niño, a boy who was separated from his biological parents due to an accident and was later adopted by Leny and David Innocente.
4. Little Nanay (2015)
In the drama series Little Nanay, Will portrayed the young version of Peter Parker Batongbuhay, a character whose adult counterpart was played by Mark Herras. Peter is the half-brother of Tinay (Kris Bernal), and Will’s portrayal of young Peter established the foundation of their sibling relationship.
5. Alyas Robin Hood (2016)
In the 2016 series Alyas Robin Hood, Will played the younger version of Jericho “Jekjek” Sumilang, a character later portrayed by Gio Alvarez. Jekjek is the loyal best friend of Pepe de Jesus Jr., who was played by Dingdong Dantes.
With his experience, Will Ashley continues to make a name for himself in the industry by taking on various acting projects. His recent portrayal as Marian Rivera’s son in Balota has garnered recognition, with viewers acknowledging him as a promising talent to watch in the future.
Photos: via GMA Network YouTube channel
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