Minka Kelly facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Minka Kelly
Kelly in 2020
Born	(1980-06-24) June 24, 1980 (age 44) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, model, philanthropist
Years active	2002–present
Notable work	Friday Night Lights Parenthood Titans

Minka Kelly (born June 24, 1980) is an American actress and someone who helps others through charity. She became famous for playing Lyla Garrity in the TV show Friday Night Lights (2006–2009).

Later, Minka Kelly appeared in movies like The Roommate (2011) and Searching for Sonny (2011). She also had a role in the family drama Parenthood (2010–2011). In 2011, she was one of the main characters, Eve French, in the action series Charlie's Angels. From 2018 to 2021, Kelly played Dawn Granger / Dove in the superhero series Titans.

Minka Kelly also wrote a book called Tell Me Everything: A Memoir (2023). This book became a New York Times Best Seller. Since 2015, she has designed special jewelry to help raise money for a charity called Able.

Minka Kelly's Early Life

Minka Kelly was born in Los Angeles, California. She is the only child of Rick Dufay, who was a guitarist for the band Aerosmith. Her mother, Maureen Dumont Kelly, passed away in 2008.

Minka was raised by her mother, who worked many different jobs. They moved around a lot before settling in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This was when Minka was in junior high school. Minka Kelly has French, Irish, and Dutch-Indonesian family roots.

Minka Kelly's Acting Journey

Starting Her Career (2002–2005)

While trying out for a modeling agency in Los Angeles, Minka met someone who wanted to help her find work. This person helped her get a job as a receptionist at a surgeon's office. Being around doctors made her want to learn more. She studied for a year to become a surgeon's assistant and then worked as a scrub nurse.

For four years, while working in the medical field, she kept trying out for acting roles. She appeared in commercials for brands like Old Navy and Clearasil.

In 2003, Minka Kelly first appeared as an extra in a short film. This was The Turbo Charged Prelude for 2 Fast 2 Furious. After that, she had a special guest role in Cracking Up. She also appeared in other TV shows like Entourage, Drake & Josh, and American Dreams. In 2005, Kelly had a three-episode role in the comedy series What I Like About You.

Becoming Famous with Friday Night Lights (2006–2010)

In 2006, Minka Kelly got a main role in the NBC drama series Friday Night Lights. This show was about a high school football team in a small town. Kelly played Lyla Garrity, a high school student and cheerleader. To get ready for her role, she trained with a real high school cheerleading team.

The show started on October 3, 2006. Critics praised Kelly's acting. The New York Times called her performance "heartbreaking." After the third season, Kelly left the show when her character went to college.

In 2006, Kelly also starred in the horror film The Pumpkin Karver. She had a small part in State's Evidence. In 2007, she was in the film The Kingdom with Jamie Foxx. In 2009, she appeared in the last scene of the movie 500 Days of Summer.

Kelly in 2012.

In April 2010, Kelly appeared in the NBC drama series Parenthood. She played Gaby, a helper for a child named Max who has Asperger syndrome. Kelly was in nine episodes of the show.

Charlie's Angels, Titans, and Movies (2011–2020)

In December 2010, ABC announced that Minka Kelly would be in a new version of the crime drama series Charlie's Angels. She played Eve French, a street racer. The show started on September 22, 2011. However, it received negative reviews and was canceled after only a few episodes.

Kelly starred in the thriller movie The Roommate (2011). She played a college student whose roommate becomes obsessed with her. Even though the movie got mixed reviews, it earned a lot of money. She also acted in an Off Broadway play called Love, Loss, and What I Wore in 2011.

Kelly wearing Oscar de la Renta at a fashion show in New York City in 2013.

Variety magazine announced that Kelly was chosen for the main role in the mystery comedy film Searching for Sonny (2011). This movie is about two friends who become suspects in a murder mystery. The film won an award for "Best Narrative Feature." In 2012, she modeled red dresses for a fashion show during New York Fashion Week. She also appeared in the music video for "One More Night" by Maroon 5 in 2012. In 2013, she played Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in the film The Butler.

In September 2017, it was announced that Kelly would play Dawn Granger / Dove in the DC Universe series Titans. The show premiered in October 2018. Kelly became a main character for the second season. In May 2018, Kelly also appeared in the video game Detroit: Become Human as the character North.

Recent Roles and Her Book (2021–Present)

The creator of the TV show Euphoria wrote a special role for Minka Kelly. She played Samantha, a rich young mom, in four episodes of the show's second season in 2022. In October 2022, it was announced that Kelly would star in the thriller movie Blackwater Lane. This movie is based on a book called The Breakdown. Blackwater Lane was released in June 2024.

Minka Kelly's book, Tell Me Everything: A Memoir, was released on May 2, 2023. Her book is a tribute to her mother and all single mothers who faced challenges. Publishers Weekly called it a "moving story." Kirkus Review said it was a "courageous story of self-acceptance." Actress Drew Barrymore called it "incredible and powerful." The book became a best-seller, appearing on The New York Times non-fiction best-seller list. It was also listed as one of the best memoirs of 2023 by magazines like Elle and The Washington Post.

In December 2023, Forbes announced that Kelly will play a concert pianist named Quinn in Netflix's upcoming drama series Ransom Canyon. She will star alongside Josh Duhamel. The show is about three ranching families in Texas. Filming for the show finished in June 2024 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The next month, she was cast in a Netflix romantic comedy film called Champagne Problems (2024). In this movie, she plays an executive who finds romance in Paris.

Helping Others: Minka Kelly's Philanthropy

Kelly at a USO holiday visit in Afghanistan in 2011.

Minka Kelly has worked with other actresses like Emily Deschanel and Jaime King to promote regular breast cancer screenings. This was for an organization called Stand Up to Cancer. In December 2011, Kelly joined a tour with the United Service Organizations (USO). She visited troops in four different countries.

Since 2009, Kelly has worked with a company called ABLE. This company helps create jobs for women in Africa. ABLE started by hiring and training women in Ethiopia. In 2015, Kelly worked with ABLE to create a special pouch for International Women's Day. Kelly designed the pouch herself. In 2019, she designed a jewelry collection for ABLE called "The Barbara Collection." This collection was named after one of ABLE's first jewelry designers. It includes rings, necklaces, and earrings.

Minka Kelly's Personal Life and Hobbies

Minka Kelly has been friends with actress Mandy Moore since 2007.

Interests

Kelly loves to cook and bake. She graduated from the New School of Cooking in Culver City, California, in June 2015. She has said she is interested in having her own cooking TV show where she travels. In 2016, she appeared on the Food Network show Star Plates. On this show, celebrities work as cooks in a restaurant kitchen with famous chefs.

Minka Kelly's Filmography

Kelly at The Heart Truth's Red Dress Collection in 2012.

Movies

Television Shows

Music Videos

Video Games

Theater

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Minka Kelly para niños