However, when the head of the drama department overheard her singing and offered her one of the leading roles in their musical production, Ellia's life took a different turn.

[citation needed] There, English starred in such productions as Ain't Misbehavin', Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Colored Museum, Dreamgirls, Romeo and Juliet, Spunk, Show Boat, Barnum, Nunsense and One Mo' Time, to name a few.

Other television credits include Martin, Sinbad, Empty Nest, The Five Mrs. Buchanans, Love & War, Get Smart, and Thea.

On the silver screen, English was featured in Wildcats, Sidewalk Stories, Rain Without Thunder, Block Beauty and Girlfriends.

She co-stars with Steve Guttenberg and James Duval in the psycho horror film Cornered!, which is directed by Daniel Maze.