Ella also studied French, while simultaneously continuing Tigrinya and English lessons at home with her mother. There, she attended a local German school. When she was still a child, Ella's family relocated to Germany, where they lived in the small town of Kindsbach. BiographyĮlla was born to an Eritrean mother from Asmara and an American Air Force officer, who was stationed in Eritrea. Thomas is an Eritrean American actress, model and producer.