Shay Mitchell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shay Mitchell
Mitchell in 2022
Born	Shannon Ashley Garcia Mitchell (1987-04-10) April 10, 1987 (age 38) Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Occupation	Actress entrepreneur
Years active	2007–present
Partner(s)	Matte Babel (2017–present)
Children	2
Relatives	Lea Salonga (cousin)

Shay Mitchell (born April 10, 1987) is a Canadian actress and businesswoman. She became very well known for playing Emily Fields in the TV show Pretty Little Liars (2010–2017). This role earned her several awards and nominations.

Shay Mitchell also gained fame for her roles in other TV series. She played Peach Salinger in the thriller show You (2018). She also starred as Stella Cole in the comedy series Dollface (2019–2022). She is the voice of Alexandra Trese in the Netflix animated series Trese (2021). Shay Mitchell also helps produce the crime drama series The Cleaning Lady (2022–present).

Besides acting, Shay Mitchell is known for her interest in fashion and business. She has started her own travel brand. She is also a mother to two daughters.

Early Life and Beginnings

Shay Mitchell was born in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Her mother, Precious Garcia, is from the Philippines. Her father, Mark Mitchell, has Scottish and Irish family roots. Shay is a cousin of Lea Salonga, a famous singer and musical theater actress.

Shay went to Rockridge Secondary School and later to West Vancouver Secondary School. In her late teens, she worked as a model in cities like Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Barcelona. After modeling, she returned to Toronto to study acting.

Acting Career Highlights

Starting Out: Pretty Little Liars Success

Mitchell (second from right) with her cast mates from Pretty Little Liars at Paleyfest in 2014

Shay Mitchell began acting in 2009. She made small appearances in TV shows like Degrassi: The Next Generation and Rookie Blue. In 2009, she also appeared in Sean Paul's music video for "Hold My Hand".

Her big break came when she was cast as Emily Fields in the Freeform series Pretty Little Liars. This show was based on a popular book series. Shay first tried out for a different character, Spencer Hastings. But she was chosen for the role of Emily Fields instead.

Shay has said that playing Emily was one of the best roles of her career. She felt lucky to bring Emily to life because of the character's impact on many people. Pretty Little Liars became very popular and gained a huge fan base. Shay Mitchell received a lot of praise for her acting. She won a Young Hollywood Award in 2011. She also received nominations for a People's Choice Award and six Teen Choice Awards.

In 2010, Shay appeared in four episodes of the Disney XD series Aaron Stone. In 2011, she became a spokesperson for Pantene shampoo. That same year, she started her own YouTube channel. On her channel, she shares videos about her lifestyle. In 2015, Shay Mitchell co-wrote a young adult novel called Bliss.

New Roles and Business Ventures

Mitchell at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2018

In 2016, Shay Mitchell made her first movie appearance in Dreamland. She played Nicole in this musical drama film. The same year, she starred as Tina in the comedy movie Mother's Day. This movie helped her become more known in films.

In 2018, Shay Mitchell joined the TV thriller series You. She played Peach Salinger, a rich and powerful socialite. The show was very popular and received great reviews. Shay's performance was highly praised.

Also in 2018, Shay started her own production company called Amore & Vita Inc. She also launched her travel brand, BÉIS. In the same year, she starred in the horror film The Possession of Hannah Grace. She played Megan Reed, a former police officer working at a morgue. Shay said this was a challenging role. She felt a lot of pressure and experienced panic attacks while filming. Despite negative reviews for the movie, Shay's acting was praised, and the film did well financially.

Since 2019, Shay Mitchell has played Stella Cole in the Hulu comedy series Dollface. Stella is the best friend of Jules Wiley, played by Kat Dennings. This was Shay's first main role in a comedy. She and the other actors in Dollface received good reviews. In 2021, she started voice acting in the Netflix animated series Trese. She voices the main character, Alexandra Trese. Since 2022, she has also been an executive producer for the crime drama series The Cleaning Lady.

Personal Life and Philanthropy

Mitchell at the 38th People's Choice Awards in 2012

Shay Mitchell is involved in charity work. She has worked with The Trevor Project, which helps young LGBTQ people. She also supports the NOH8 Campaign. Shay works with the WE Charity, which helps communities get better education. She also partnered with Represent Clothing to raise money for GLAAD, an organization that promotes acceptance.

Shay Mitchell has been in a relationship with Matte Babel since 2017. They have two daughters together. Their first daughter was born in October 2019, and their second in May 2022.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Music Videos

Awards and Recognitions

See also

In Spanish: Shay Mitchell para niños