Ella Bleu Travolta: Her Vegan Journey and What It Means to Her

Ella Bleu Travolta—yes, the daughter of John Travolta and the late Kelly Preston—has quietly carved out her own space in the spotlight. Beyond the red carpets and film sets, she’s become something of a quiet advocate for vegan living, not through preaching, but by simply living it. And honestly? It’s kind of inspiring.

Ella came into the world on April 3, 2000, right in the family’s California home. Her mom, Kelly, once shared the most tender detail about that moment: John reaching in to help pull their daughter out, both parents guiding her gently onto Kelly’s chest. It’s the kind of birth story that feels almost too intimate for public telling—but it says everything about the closeness of this family.

She’s the middle child, technically. Her older brother Jett was born in 1992, and his loss in 2009—at just 16, after a seizure—left a hole no one could fill. Then came Benjamin in 2011, and Ella’s joy at becoming a big sister again was palpable. Kelly said Ella acted like she was the one giving birth, she was that excited. Now, every year on Ben’s birthday, Ella’s Instagram turns into a love letter to her little brother. The photos, the captions—it’s all pure sibling devotion.

A performer from the start

Ella was putting on shows long before anyone handed her a script. In their Maine home, she and her friends built a little stage with a red curtain and went wild: The Incredible Hulk, Christmas pageants, even a spoof called “Housewives of Maine.” She was nine when she stepped onto a real set for Old Dogs, acting opposite her parents and Robin Williams. “It made everything less scary,” she later said. Ten years later, she reunited with her dad on screen for The Poison Rose.

These days, she’s modeling, making music, and yes—still acting. But the part of her life that lights her up most? The kitchen.

Why she went vegan (and stayed)

It started in 2022 with a two-week experiment, nudged by a close friend. Ella figured she’d try it, see how it felt. Two weeks turned into months, then years. She dove into documentaries—not just about health, but about the planet. The stats hit her hard: how animal agriculture drives deforestation, water waste, emissions. “It was like connecting the dots,” she’s said. “My plate wasn’t just about me anymore.”

She’s candid about the shift: more energy, clearer skin, just feeling lighter. But she’s equally clear that it’s not about perfection. “I don’t push it on anyone,” she says. “I just cook for people. Let them taste it. Half the time, they like the vegan version better.”

What she actually eats

Mornings are simple: thick toast, crunchy peanut butter, a drizzle of agave, and a pinch of pumpkin spice. It’s sweet, spicy, and keeps her full till lunch. She’s obsessed with matcha—oat milk, always. And banana bread? That’s her signature. She’s baked Tom Cruise’s famous coconut bundt cake vegan-style and served it to her dad and brother. John’s reaction on video: “It’s delicious, oh my goodness.” Benjamin just scraped his plate clean.

She’s got a whole Instagram now—@ellableubakes—where she posts recipes, cafe finds, and the occasional “I burned this, but here’s what I learned.” It’s less influencer, more friend-sharing-a-recipe-over-coffee.

The weight loss conversation no one asked for

Look, growing up as John Travolta’s kid means every photo is dissected. When Ella was 12 or 13, tabloids called her “chubby.” Some even speculated—cruelly—that she was pregnant. It was gross. Unkind. Unnecessary.

But here’s the thing: she’s glowy now. Not because she’s thin, but because she’s healthy. The vegan diet helped, sure—but so did growing up, moving her body, and finding food that makes her feel good. She doesn’t talk numbers or before-and-afters. She just lives.

Grieving, growing, and leaning on Dad

Losing her mom in 2020—at just 20—was devastating. Kelly’s two-year battle with breast cancer ended quietly, but the ripple effects were loud. Ella and John have leaned hard into each other since. They travel together, show up for each other’s milestones. In 2024, they were in Paris for the Olympics, cheering at the Djokovic-Alcaraz final. Earlier that year, they celebrated Pulp Fiction’s 30th anniversary together at the TCM Festival. He’s her dad, her co-star, her rock.

A quiet kind of influence

Ella’s not out here with a megaphone. She’s just… doing it. Baking vegan cinnamon rolls at 2 a.m. Taking Ben to plant-based burger joints. Posting a recipe and saying, “Try this. Tell me if you hate it.”

She’s proof that you don’t need to be loud to make a dent. One tofu scramble, one documentary, one shared slice of banana bread at a time—she’s showing people that eating plants can be easy, delicious, and kind. To the planet. To animals. To yourself.

So yeah. Would I try her peanut butter toast with pumpkin spice? Already did. It’s weirdly addictive. Thanks, Ella. 🌿