Derek Ramsay


Derek Arthur Ramsay Jr. is a British-Filipino model, actor, and TV host. He has an exclusive contract with GMA Network. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ramsay froze his contract with GMA Network. Ramsay is currently inactive in showbiz to focus on his personal and married life.

Early life and education

Ramsay was born on December 7, 1976, in Enfield, England, and he was raised in Cainta, Rizal, Philippines. His Filipina mother, Remedios Paggao, was the head of the housekeeping unit of 11 Cadogan Gardens in London, and his British father, Derek Arthur Ramsay Sr., was an inspector for the Metropolitan Police Service stationed at Scotland Yard. He was educated in the Philippines at Maria Montessori High School and at a boarding school in England. He studied for an undergraduate degree in marketing in New Hampshire and Boston.

Career

Modelling

Early in the 2000s, Ramsay found work as an MTV VJ, a model, as well as TV commercial actor.

Television and film

Ramsay first came into wider public attention in Eat Bulaga! as a co-host of the segment Pool Watch from 2001 to 2004 on GMA Network.
In April 2012, he signed a three-year contract and transferred to TV5.
His first show on TV5 was The Amazing Race Philippines. After his contract expired in February 2015, he signed another three-year contract with TV5 on 28 April 2015.
After months of speculations about network transfer, Ramsay returned to GMA Network and signed a five-year exclusive contract with the network on 3 April 2019. He started in the network as a co-host of Eat Bulaga! from 2001 to 2004. His first comeback Kapuso project was The Better Woman that garnered high ratings aired in 2019.
In 2020, he was supposed to topbill a project Kapuso project entitled Sanggang Dikit, however, because of the pandemic, the production was halted. In 2022, he received an offer to do with To Love and To Hold, but he declined the role due to lock-in taping.

Showbiz hiatus

In December 2021, Ramsey and GMA Network have agreed that the actor would take an "indefinite leave" and "freeze the contract" from showbiz to attend to "personal matters and family".

Sports

Basketball

Ramsay also played basketball competitively. In 2004, he played for the Toyota Otis–Letran Knights in the now-defunct Philippine Basketball League. He made his return to the sport, after joining the Batangas City Athletics of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League for the 2019–20 MPBL Lakan Season. He debuted for the team in Batangas' 80–67 win against the Caloocan Supremos in July 2019.

Beach soccer

Ramsay is currently the head ambassador of the Philippine national beach soccer team, and was set to participate in the 2013 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Asian qualifiers, but ultimately did not because of his commitment to Kidlat, where he played the lead role.

Golf

He also plays golf, a sport he took up after his involvement in the 2014 film Trophy Wife. Along with John Estrada, Ramsay won the 2017 Jack Nicklaus International Invitational, a recreational golf tournament in Dublin, Ohio.

Ultimate

Ramsay has also been a competitor for the Philippines national ultimate frisbee team. He was the ninth top scorer at the 13th World Ultimate and Guts Championship 2012.
He represented the Philippines again as part of the Boracay Dragons in the 2017 World Championships of Beach Ultimate.

Personal life

Ramsay married fellow actor Ellen Adarna on November 11, 2021. Ramsay revealed on December 11, 2023, that Adarna had a miscarriage. He and Adarna are coparenting Cruz' son. Adarna gave birth to a child with Ramsay in October 2024.

Filmography

Television

Film

Awards and nominations

YearAward-Giving BodyCategoryWorkResult
200935th Metro Manila Film FestivalBest ActorI Love You, GoodbyeNomitated
201012th Gawad PASADO AwardsPinakapasadong Katuwang na AktorI Love You, GoodbyeWon
201125th PMPC Star Awards for TVBest Drama ActorMagkaribalNomitated
2011ENPRESS Golden Screen TV AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Actor in a Drama SeriesMagkaribalNomitated
201228th PMPC Star Awards for MoviesMr. Great Shape PersonalityWon
201228th PMPC Star Awards for MoviesMale Face of the NightWon
201228th PMPC Star Awards for MoviesMovie Actor of the YearNo Other WomanNomitated
2012GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment AwardsBox-Office KingNo Other WomanWon
201230th Luna AwardsBest ActorNo Other WomanNomitated
201260th FAMAS AwardsBest ActorNo Other WomanNomitated
201361st FAMAS AwardsBest ActorA Secret AffairNomitated
201440th Metro Manila Film FestivalBest ActorEnglish Only, PleaseWon
201531st PMPC Star Awards for MoviesMovie Actor of the YearEnglish Only, PleaseNomitated
201517th Gawad PASADO AwardsPinakaPASADOng ActorEnglish Only, PleaseNomitated
201743rd Metro Manila Film FestivalBest ActorAll of YouWon
201743rd Metro Manila Film FestivalMale Star of the NightWon
201834th PMPC Star Awards for MoviesMovie Actor of the YearAll of YouNomitated
202349th Metro Manila Film FestivalBest ActorKamponNomitated