Ellen Hart Peña
Encyclopedia
Ellen Hart Peña is a former world-class runner and lawyer. She is notable for going public about her bulimia
. She competed in the 1980 U.S. Olympic
Trials 10,000 meter run and the 1984 U.S. Olympic Trials marathon. She earned her A.B. from Harvard University
in 1980 and graduated from the University of Colorado School of Law
. From 1990 to 1992, she served as Executive Director of the Community Action Program at the University of Denver
, a service learning program. She worked as an attorney with the Denver firm of Morrison and Foerster from 1988 to 1990. She was married to Federico Peña
. Federico was the Mayor of Denver from 1983 to 1991 and the United States Secretary of Transportation
from 1993 to 1997, during Bill Clinton
's presidency. The couple had three children together and were divorced in 2001.
Peña is most known for the 1996 made-for-TV movie based on her life. The film was called Dying to be Perfect: The Ellen Hart Peña Story and she was portrayed by Crystal Bernard
. The plot centers around her running career and ambitions, her relationship with her husband, and most notably, her long battle with bulimia.
Since recovering and going public with her struggle, Peña has given lectures and speeches on eating disorders focusing on her own personal experiences. She says that she choose to go public with her disorder because she felt that, as a politician's wife, she was in a position to help people with eating disorders.
Bulimia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating and purging or consuming a large amount of food in a short amount of time, followed by an attempt to rid oneself of the food consumed, usually by purging and/or by laxative, diuretics or excessive exercise. Bulimia nervosa is...
. She competed in the 1980 U.S. Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
Trials 10,000 meter run and the 1984 U.S. Olympic Trials marathon. She earned her A.B. from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1980 and graduated from the University of Colorado School of Law
University of Colorado School of Law
The University of Colorado Law School is one of the professional graduate schools within the University of Colorado System. It is a public law school, with more than 500 students attending and working toward a Juris Doctor or Master of Law. The Wolf Law Building Located in Boulder, Colorado, and...
. From 1990 to 1992, she served as Executive Director of the Community Action Program at the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
, a service learning program. She worked as an attorney with the Denver firm of Morrison and Foerster from 1988 to 1990. She was married to Federico Peña
Federico Peña
Federico Fabian Peña is a former United States Secretary of Transportation from 1993 to 1997 and United States Secretary of Energy from 1997 to 1998, during the presidency of Bill Clinton....
. Federico was the Mayor of Denver from 1983 to 1991 and the United States Secretary of Transportation
United States Secretary of Transportation
The United States Secretary of Transportation is the head of the United States Department of Transportation, a member of the President's Cabinet, and fourteenth in the Presidential line of succession. The post was created with the formation of the Department of Transportation on October 15, 1966,...
from 1993 to 1997, during Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
's presidency. The couple had three children together and were divorced in 2001.
Peña is most known for the 1996 made-for-TV movie based on her life. The film was called Dying to be Perfect: The Ellen Hart Peña Story and she was portrayed by Crystal Bernard
Crystal Bernard
Crystal Lynn Bernard is an American actress and singer, most widely known for her seven-year-long role on the situation comedy Wings. While her main work has been on television, she has appeared in some films, and also attempted to pursue a music career as a songwriter/performer.-Early...
. The plot centers around her running career and ambitions, her relationship with her husband, and most notably, her long battle with bulimia.
Since recovering and going public with her struggle, Peña has given lectures and speeches on eating disorders focusing on her own personal experiences. She says that she choose to go public with her disorder because she felt that, as a politician's wife, she was in a position to help people with eating disorders.