Holly Kenyon
Encyclopedia
Holly Jane Kenyon is an English actress. She originally trained as an occupational therapist
at Cardiff University
and turned to acting after winning a scholarship to study at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in central Hollywood. She appeared in The Kindness of Strangers (2010) and was invited to attend the film's screening at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival
.
, England, the only daughter of Jane Alison Kenyon. Both her maternal grandmother and grandfather were from Scottish families. She attended Trent College
in Derbyshire before moving to Wales
when she was 18 years old.
Kenyon studied to become an occupational therapist at Cardiff University
and spent four years working in a hospital in Pembrokeshire
, Wales. During her time working at the hospital she and a colleague won a national award for pioneering an in-patient programme. Their innovative project was chosen from more than 300 entries from across the UK for the Allied Health Professionals and Healthcare Scientists Award. However she soon returned to her performing roots and auditioned for The American Musical and Dramatic Academy. She was immediately offered a scholarship and moved to Los Angeles to take up her place at the renowned drama school.
and studied at the London College of Music
. However after studying acting at drama school in Hollywood, she decided to focus upon straight acting roles, once back in the UK.
Shortly after returning from drama school, she won a place on an acting workshop that was held in Cardiff where she was spotted by a personal management agent who offered to represent her.
Soon after signing to her personal management agency, Kenyon was offered a supporting role in the British independent film The Kindness of Strangers. She played the role of a French bar waitress called Beatrice in the film. This film was screened at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival. The film starred David Prowse
who played the role Darth Vader
in the original Star Wars
movies. In August 2010 it was announced that The Kindness of Strangers had earned six nominations at The International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema including the nomination for Best Film of the Festival and a nomination for Best Director. The film eventually won four of the awards including Best Director for Hadfield. Prior to this film role, Kenyon also played a Russian girl in Perfidy
, a role which required her to speak Russian. In 2011 Holly was cast as news reporter Celyn Bowen in the paranormal horror film Untitled (film)
which is due for cinematic release in 2012.
Kenyon is currently shooting a sci-fi film in Birmingham
. She plays the lead role of Scarlet Davis in the futuristic sci-fi action film.
Occupational therapist
An occupational therapist is trained in the practice of occupational therapy. The role of an occupational therapist is to work with a client to help them achieve a fulfilled and satisfied state in life through the use of "purposeful activity or interventions designed to achieve functional...
at Cardiff University
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
and turned to acting after winning a scholarship to study at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in central Hollywood. She appeared in The Kindness of Strangers (2010) and was invited to attend the film's screening at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
.
Early life
Holly Kenyon was born in NottinghamshireNottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
, England, the only daughter of Jane Alison Kenyon. Both her maternal grandmother and grandfather were from Scottish families. She attended Trent College
Trent College
Trent College is a co-educational, HMC independent day and boarding school. There are 760 pupils in the Senior School and 330 pupils in the Junior School, The Elms School...
in Derbyshire before moving to Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
when she was 18 years old.
Kenyon studied to become an occupational therapist at Cardiff University
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
and spent four years working in a hospital in Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
, Wales. During her time working at the hospital she and a colleague won a national award for pioneering an in-patient programme. Their innovative project was chosen from more than 300 entries from across the UK for the Allied Health Professionals and Healthcare Scientists Award. However she soon returned to her performing roots and auditioned for The American Musical and Dramatic Academy. She was immediately offered a scholarship and moved to Los Angeles to take up her place at the renowned drama school.
Career
Holly Kenyon began her career as a singer and was classically trained from the age of twelve. as well as playing the flute and 'cello. It had originally been her desire to pursue a career in musical theatre and she went on to work briefly in opera and pantomimePantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
and studied at the London College of Music
London College of Music
The London College of Music is a music school which is part of the University of West London in England.The LCM was founded in 1887 and existed as an independent music conservatoire based at Great Marlborough Street in central London until 1991...
. However after studying acting at drama school in Hollywood, she decided to focus upon straight acting roles, once back in the UK.
Shortly after returning from drama school, she won a place on an acting workshop that was held in Cardiff where she was spotted by a personal management agent who offered to represent her.
Soon after signing to her personal management agency, Kenyon was offered a supporting role in the British independent film The Kindness of Strangers. She played the role of a French bar waitress called Beatrice in the film. This film was screened at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival. The film starred David Prowse
David Prowse
David Prowse, MBE is an English former bodybuilder, weightlifter and actor, most widely known for playing the role of Darth Vader in physical form. In Britain, he is also remembered as having played the Green Cross Code man...
who played the role Darth Vader
Darth Vader
Darth Vader is a central character in the Star Wars saga, appearing as one of the main antagonists in the original trilogy and as the main protagonist in the prequel trilogy....
in the original Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
movies. In August 2010 it was announced that The Kindness of Strangers had earned six nominations at The International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema including the nomination for Best Film of the Festival and a nomination for Best Director. The film eventually won four of the awards including Best Director for Hadfield. Prior to this film role, Kenyon also played a Russian girl in Perfidy
Perfidy
In the context of war, perfidy is a form of deception, in which one side promises to act in good faith with the intention of breaking that promise once the enemy has exposed himself .The practice is specifically prohibited under the 1977 Protocol I Additional to the...
, a role which required her to speak Russian. In 2011 Holly was cast as news reporter Celyn Bowen in the paranormal horror film Untitled (film)
Untitled (film)
Untitled is a 2011 British drama-horror film directed by Shaun Troke. Presented in the style of found footage, the film stars Troke alongside Nikki Harrup, Leonora Moore and Danny Goldberg. Prior to release, Untitled used a viral marketing campaign by promoting various clips of the film via the...
which is due for cinematic release in 2012.
Kenyon is currently shooting a sci-fi film in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. She plays the lead role of Scarlet Davis in the futuristic sci-fi action film.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Perfidy | Irina | |
| 2010 | The Kindness of Strangers | Beatrice | |
| 2011 | Celestial Sisters | Scarlet Davis | |
| 2011 | Untitled | Celyn Bowen | |
| 2011 | Objective Perfection | Marie-Claire | |
| 2011 | No Man is an Island | Grace Summers | |
| 2011 | Cuckoo | Corporal Molly Taylor | |
| 2011 | Shriek | Karen | |
| 2011 | Director's Cut | Amber | |
| 2012 | The Eleventh Hour | Cynthia | |
| 2012 | Dark Country | Sara |
External links
- Holly Kenyon at http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3666128/?c=1
- Biography at http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3666128/bio
- Official Website at http://www.hollykenyon.com/
- Untitled Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Untitled_%28film%29