Daniel John Elago Ford (born April 26, 1995), known professionally as Daniel Padilla, is a Filipino actor and singer. He is a recipient of multiple accolades across television, film, and music, including the FAMAS Award for Best Actor and PMPC Star Award for Movie Actor of the Year, as well as three World Music Awards nominations.

Padilla made his television debut with a supporting role in the soap opera Gimik 2010 (2010), before landing the lead role in Growing Up (2011). He has since starred in the Filipino hit television series Princess and I (2012–2013), Got to Believe (2013–2014), Pangako Sa 'Yo (2015–2016), La Luna Sangre (2017–2018), and 2 Good 2 Be True (2022). In films, he made his debut as a supporting actor in 24/7 in Love and Sisterakas (both 2012), and later starred in the box office hit films Must Be... Love, Pagpag: Siyam na Buhay (both 2013), She's Dating the Gangster (2014), Crazy Beautiful You (2015), Barcelona: A Love Untold (2016), Can't Help Falling in Love (2017), and The Hows of Us (2018). Padilla's films have earned a total of ₱3.14 billion in the box office, with the lattermost becoming the highest-grossing Filipino film at the time.

As a recording artist, Padilla has released three double platinum albums in the Philippines including Daniel Padilla (2012), DJP (2013), I Heart You (2014), I Feel Good (2015), and the compilation album DJ' Greatest Hits (2016). He has also held solo concerts including Daniel Live! (2013), DOS (2014), Most Wanted (2015), and DJ Classics: Back at the Araneta (2017).

Daniel John Elago Ford was born on April 26, 1995, in Manila, Philippines. He is the son of actors Rommel Padilla and Carla Ford (screen name: Karla Estrada); he is of quarter White American descent from his mother's side. His mother raised Padilla as a single parent. Padilla is the nephew of action star Robin Padilla and BB Gandanghari, and has seven half-siblings from his father's side, including Matt Raprap Padilla, RJ Padilla, Roanna Padilla, and Red Padilla, and three younger half-siblings from his mother's side, JC Padilla, Margaret Planas, and Carmella Tenorio. Carmela "Leila" celebrated her 18th birthday in a lavish party at Blue Leaf Pavilion, McKinley Hill. Padilla met his siblings from his father's side in 2011 when he turned sixteen.

Padilla lived for a year in Tacloban and studied there (grade 4). In 2014, he registered as an AMA Education System's student. Due to the tight schedule, he reportedly took the home study program of UST Angelicum College years back. Padilla finally shared his plans to go back to school after his mother, Karla Estrada, announced on Magandang Buhay that she wants all her children to finish their studies.

Padilla was discovered by the late talent manager Douglas Quijano who pushed him to audition for Star Magic. He was introduced to the media as a member of the Star Magic Circle 2013. At a press conference in 2013, Padilla said he never imagined ending up in entertainment, but he thinks that he is in show business for a more important reason since his family went through financial difficulties.

Padilla's first acting job was in 2010, in a minor role in Gimik 2010, a remake of the hit 1990s Filipino youth-oriented show, in which he was paired with Julia Montes. When he joined Star Magic, he used the screen name Daniel Padilla, using the surname of his biological father. He was next cast as Patrick Rivero in the youth-oriented show, Growing Up, where he first worked with co-star Kathryn Bernardo. He and Bernardo paired again in the soap opera Princess and I (2012–2013), which became one of the most popular shows on ABS-CBN.

His film debut came in 2012 when he was selected to join Star Magic's 20th anniversary ensemble cast movie as Billy Fernandez in 24/7 In Love (2012) with co-star Bernardo. They also had support roles in the film Sisterakas (2012).