Moira Kelly facts for kids

Moira Kelly (born March 6, 1968) is an American actress famous for many roles on screen and for her voice work. Many people know her as the voice of the adult Nala in Disney's classic movie The Lion King. She also starred as Kate Moseley in the popular ice-skating movie The Cutting Edge.

On television, she is well-known for playing Karen Roe, a single mother, on the teen drama series One Tree Hill. Some of her other famous roles include playing Mandy Hampton in the political show The West Wing and Donna Hayward in the movie Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me.

From New York to Hollywood

Moira Kelly was born in Queens, New York, on March 6, 1968. Her parents, Peter and Anne, had moved to the United States from Ireland. Her father was a talented violinist, and her mother was a nurse. Moira grew up in a big family in Ronkonkoma, New York, as the third of six children.

Her interest in acting started in high school. In 1984, she had a small part in her school's play, Annie. A surprising change in the cast gave her a bigger opportunity, which made her realize she wanted to be an actress. For a time, she thought about another career path, but she ultimately chose to follow her passion for acting. After graduating from Connetquot High School in 1986, she went to Marymount Manhattan College to study her craft.

A Career on Screen

Early Roles and Big Breaks

Moira's professional acting career began in 1991 with the TV movie Love, Lies and Murder. She then appeared in several films, including Billy Bathgate.

Her big break came in 1992. She starred as the determined figure skater Kate Moseley in the romantic comedy The Cutting Edge. While filming, she broke her ankle, which meant she couldn't take a role in the baseball movie A League of Their Own. That same year, she played two different characters in the movie Chaplin and took on the role of Donna Hayward in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me.

Famous Films and TV Shows

One of Moira's most beloved roles is providing the voice for the adult Nala in Disney's animated classic The Lion King (1994). She returned to voice the character in the sequels, The Lion King II: Simba's Pride and The Lion King 1½.

Throughout the 1990s, she starred in many other films, such as With Honors, Little Odessa, and Dangerous Beauty. She also played the main character, activist Dorothy Day, in the movie Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story.

In 1999, Moira joined the cast of the popular TV show The West Wing for its first season. She played Mandy Hampton, a media consultant who advises politicians.

One Tree Hill and Beyond

In 2003, Moira Kelly began her famous role as Karen Roe, a kind and strong single mother, in the teen drama One Tree Hill. She was a main character for the first four seasons and returned for special guest appearances later in the series. She also stepped behind the camera to direct two episodes of the show, showing her talent in another area of filmmaking.

Since One Tree Hill, Moira has appeared in many TV shows like Heroes and Law & Order, as well as several TV movies. In 2023, she brought Nala to life again, voicing the character for the video game Disney Dreamlight Valley.

Personal life

Moira Kelly married Steve Hewitt, a businessman from Texas, on August 5, 2000. Together, they have two children, a daughter named Ella and a son named Eamon. The family lived in Wilmington, North Carolina, where One Tree Hill was filmed, for many years.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

As a director

See also

In Spanish: Moira Kelly para niños