Minka Kelly
Encyclopedia
Minka Dumont Kelly is an American actress. She starred in the NBC
series Friday Night Lights
as Lyla Garrity from 2006 to 2009 and has also had roles in The Roommate
and the reboot series Charlie's Angels
.
guitarist Rick Dufay
and Maureen Dumont Kelly, an exotic dancer
and single mother. Kelly and her mother often moved to different communities, before settling in Albuquerque, New Mexico
by the time Kelly was in junior high school. During a Craig Ferguson interview, she stated that she is of French descent on her father's side and Irish descent on her mother's side.
in Albuquerque, Kelly returned to Los Angeles. While on a test shoot for a modeling agency
, she was approached by a former Playboy Playmate interested in managing her, and who placed Kelly as a receptionist at a surgeon's office who would provide Kelly breast augmentation
in exchange for hours worked. She ultimately decided against the procedure, leading to her being fired. However, the exposure to the medical field prompted her to attend school for a year to become a surgeon's assistant; afterward, she worked as a scrub tech. She spent four years in that vocation while also auditioning as an actress before landing the new NBC
television drama Friday Night Lights
, based on the high school football
movie of that name. In the interim, she had small roles in movies and shows, including the film State's Evidence
, and a recurring guest role on the TV sitcom What I Like About You
.
In preparation for her role as cheerleader Lyla Garrity on Friday Night Lights, she trained with the Pflugerville High School
cheerleading squad. Kelly received praise for her acting on the series, with The New York Times
calling her performance "heartbreaking."
She shot a cameo for The Kingdom, alongside Jamie Foxx
. Peter Berg
, the creator and pilot director of Friday Night Lights, directed the film. Kelly was the lead actor on The CW
's 2009 pilot Body Politic
, which did not go to series. Kelly was a member of the ensemble quartet that starred in the CBS comedy pilot Mad Love
, playing Kate, a Midwestern girl who falls in love with Henry at the top of the Empire State Building
, but was replaced by Sarah Chalke
.
Kelly appeared with Alyson Hannigan
, Jaime King
, Emily Deschanel, and Katharine McPhee
in a video slumber party featured on FunnyorDie.com to promote regular breast cancer screenings for the organization Stand Up 2 Cancer.
In 2010, Kelly was named "Sexiest Woman Alive" in the annual Esquire
magazine feature. She accepted a role in the Off Broadway play Love, Loss, and What I Wore
for an April 27 through May 29, 2011 run with Conchata Ferrell
, AnnaLynne McCord
, Anne Meara
, and B. Smith
. Now she plays a lead role in the remake of the television series Charlie's Angels
.
and Donald Faison
. She dated musician John Mayer
from September 2007 to January 2008. From May 2008 to August 2011, she dated baseball player Derek Jeter
.
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
series Friday Night Lights
Friday Night Lights (TV series)
Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series adapted by Peter Berg, Brian Grazer and David Nevins from a book and film of the same name. The series details events surrounding a high school football team based in fictional Dillon, Texas, with particular focus given to team...
as Lyla Garrity from 2006 to 2009 and has also had roles in The Roommate
The Roommate
The Roommate is a 2011 thriller film directed by Christian E. Christiansen and starring Minka Kelly, Leighton Meester, Cam Gigandet, Danneel Harris, Matt Lanter, and Aly Michalka. It was theatrically released on February 4, 2011. The film is a unofficial remake of the 1992 film Single White...
and the reboot series Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels (2011 TV series)
Charlie's Angels is an American reboot television series developed by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar for ABC, based upon the 1976 series of the same name created by Ivan Goff, and Ben Roberts. The series ran on ABC from September 22, 2011 to November 10, 2011.Charlie's Angels was canceled on October...
.
Early life
Kelly was born in Los Angeles. She is the only child of former AerosmithAerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
guitarist Rick Dufay
Rick Dufay
Richard Marc "Rick" Dufay is a guitarist who played in Aerosmith in the period after Brad Whitford left the band in 1980 up to his return in 1984....
and Maureen Dumont Kelly, an exotic dancer
Exotic dancer
The terms exotic dancer and exotic dance can have different meanings in different parts of the world and depending on context. In the erotic sense, "exotic dance" is a often used to refer to practitioners of striptease...
and single mother. Kelly and her mother often moved to different communities, before settling in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
by the time Kelly was in junior high school. During a Craig Ferguson interview, she stated that she is of French descent on her father's side and Irish descent on her mother's side.
Career
When Kelly was 19, after graduating from Valley High SchoolValley High School (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
Valley High School is a public high school in the North Valley area of Albuquerque, New Mexico. It is part of the Albuquerque Public Schools district...
in Albuquerque, Kelly returned to Los Angeles. While on a test shoot for a modeling agency
Modeling agency
A modeling agency is a company that represents fashion models, to work for the fashion industry. These agencies earn their income via commission, usually from the deal they make with the model and or the head agency....
, she was approached by a former Playboy Playmate interested in managing her, and who placed Kelly as a receptionist at a surgeon's office who would provide Kelly breast augmentation
Breast augmentation
Breast augmentation denotes the breast implant and fat-graft mammoplasty procedures for correcting the defects, and for enhancing the size, form, and feel of a woman’s breasts...
in exchange for hours worked. She ultimately decided against the procedure, leading to her being fired. However, the exposure to the medical field prompted her to attend school for a year to become a surgeon's assistant; afterward, she worked as a scrub tech. She spent four years in that vocation while also auditioning as an actress before landing the new NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
television drama Friday Night Lights
Friday Night Lights (TV series)
Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series adapted by Peter Berg, Brian Grazer and David Nevins from a book and film of the same name. The series details events surrounding a high school football team based in fictional Dillon, Texas, with particular focus given to team...
, based on the high school football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
movie of that name. In the interim, she had small roles in movies and shows, including the film State's Evidence
State's Evidence
State's Evidence is an independent film created in 2004 and released in 2006, directed by Benjamin Louis and starring Douglas Smith, Alexa Vega, Majandra Delfino, Kris Lemche, Cody McMains, and Drew Tyler Bell.-Plot summary:...
, and a recurring guest role on the TV sitcom What I Like About You
What I Like About You (TV series)
What I Like About You is an American television sitcom set mainly in New York City, following the lives of two sisters, Valerie Tyler and Holly Tyler . The series ran on The WB Television Network from September 20, 2002, to March 24, 2006, with a total of 86 episodes produced...
.
In preparation for her role as cheerleader Lyla Garrity on Friday Night Lights, she trained with the Pflugerville High School
Pflugerville High School
Pflugerville High School is a public high school located in Pflugerville, Texas that serves 2,108 students from grades 9-12. The current principal is Kirk Wrinkle...
cheerleading squad. Kelly received praise for her acting on the series, with The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
calling her performance "heartbreaking."
She shot a cameo for The Kingdom, alongside Jamie Foxx
Jamie Foxx
Eric Marlon Bishop , professionally known as Jamie Foxx, is an American actor, singer-songwriter, stand-up comedian, and talk radio host. As an actor, his work in the film Ray earned him the Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Actor as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a...
. Peter Berg
Peter Berg
Peter Berg is an American actor, film director, producer and writer. He is known for directing films such as Friday Night Lights, The Kingdom, The Rundown, Hancock and Battleship. He also developed the television series Friday Night Lights, which was adapted from the film he directed. As an actor...
, the creator and pilot director of Friday Night Lights, directed the film. Kelly was the lead actor on The CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
's 2009 pilot Body Politic
Body Politic
Body Politic is a television pilot starring Minka Kelly, Gabrielle Union, Jason Dohring, and Brian Austin Green. It is produced by CBS Television Studios for The CW....
, which did not go to series. Kelly was a member of the ensemble quartet that starred in the CBS comedy pilot Mad Love
Mad Love (TV series)
Mad Love is an American television series that aired on CBS from February 14, 2011 to May 16, 2011. The sitcom was planned as a midseason replacement during the 2010–11 television season.On May 15, 2011, Mad Love was officially cancelled by CBS....
, playing Kate, a Midwestern girl who falls in love with Henry at the top of the Empire State Building
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is a 102-story landmark skyscraper and American cultural icon in New York City at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. It has a roof height of 1,250 feet , and with its antenna spire included, it stands a total of 1,454 ft high. Its name is derived...
, but was replaced by Sarah Chalke
Sarah Chalke
Sarah Chalke is a Canadian-American actress known for portraying Dr. Elliot Reid on the NBC/ABC comedy Scrubs, "Second Becky" Conner Healy on Roseanne, and Stella Zinman in the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother...
.
Kelly appeared with Alyson Hannigan
Alyson Hannigan
Alyson Lee Hannigan is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Willow Rosenberg in the cult classic television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Michelle Flaherty in three American Pie films, and Lily Aldrin on the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother.-Early life:Hannigan was born in...
, Jaime King
Jaime King
Jaime King is an American actress and model. In her modeling career and early film roles, she used the names Jamie King and James King, which was a childhood nickname given to King by her parents, because her agency already represented another Jaime — the older, then more famous model Jaime...
, Emily Deschanel, and Katharine McPhee
Katharine McPhee
Katharine Hope McPhee is an American pop singer, songwriter, actress, model, and television personality. She gained fame as a contestant on the fifth season of the Fox reality show American Idol in 2006, eventually finishing as the runner-up.Her self-titled debut album was released on RCA Records...
in a video slumber party featured on FunnyorDie.com to promote regular breast cancer screenings for the organization Stand Up 2 Cancer.
In 2010, Kelly was named "Sexiest Woman Alive" in the annual Esquire
Esquire (magazine)
Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
magazine feature. She accepted a role in the Off Broadway play Love, Loss, and What I Wore
Love, Loss, and What I Wore
Love, Loss, and What I Wore is a play written by Nora and Delia Ephron based on the 1995 book of the same name by Ilene Beckerman. It is organized as a series of monologues and uses a rotating cast of five principal women...
for an April 27 through May 29, 2011 run with Conchata Ferrell
Conchata Ferrell
Conchata Galen Ferrell is an American actress. She is best known for playing Berta the housekeeper in the CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men, for which she received two Emmy Award nominations in 2005 and 2007.-Personal life:...
, AnnaLynne McCord
AnnaLynne McCord
AnnaLynne McCord is an American actress. Known for playing a range of vixen-type roles, McCord first gained prominence in 2007 as the scheming Eden Lord on the FX television series Nip/Tuck, and as the pampered Loren Wakefield on the MyNetworkTV telenovela American Heiress...
, Anne Meara
Anne Meara
Anne Meara is an American actress and comedian. She and Jerry Stiller were a prominent 1960s comedy team, appearing as Stiller and Meara, and are the parents of actor/comedian Ben and actress Amy Stiller.- Personal life :...
, and B. Smith
B. Smith
Barbara Smith , known as B. Smith, is a restaurateur and television host.- Restaurateur :Smith owns three restaurants and was recognized by Elle Décor as one of America’s ten most outstanding non-professional chefs. She opened her first restaurant in 1986...
. Now she plays a lead role in the remake of the television series Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels (2011 TV series)
Charlie's Angels is an American reboot television series developed by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar for ABC, based upon the 1976 series of the same name created by Ivan Goff, and Ben Roberts. The series ran on ABC from September 22, 2011 to November 10, 2011.Charlie's Angels was canceled on October...
.
Personal life
Kelly dated Dylan Brazil in 2005, and had relationships with actors Chris EvansChris Evans (actor)
Christopher Robert "Chris" Evans is an American actor. He played Cary Baston on the television series Opposite Sex, and transitioned to a film career, starring in several hits, including Not Another Teen Movie , Fierce People , Fantastic Four, sequel Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer , and...
and Donald Faison
Donald Faison
Donald Adeosun Faison is an American actor, comedian, and voice actor best known for his role as Dr. Chris Turk in the ABC comedy-drama Scrubs and as Murray in the film Clueless and the subsequent television series of the same name.Faison has also co-starred in the films Remember the Titans ,...
. She dated musician John Mayer
John Mayer
John Clayton Mayer is an American pop rock and blues rock musician, singer-songwriter, recording artist, and music producer. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. He moved to Atlanta in 1997, where he refined his...
from September 2007 to January 2008. From May 2008 to August 2011, she dated baseball player Derek Jeter
Derek Jeter
Derek Sanderson Jeter is an American baseball shortstop who has played 17 years in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. A twelve-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion, Jeter's clubhouse presence, on-field leadership, hitting ability, and baserunning have made him a central...
.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Something Corporate - If You C Jordan (Music Video) | uncredited | |
| 2004 | Turbo-Charged Prelude | uncredited | |
| 2005 | Devil's Highway | River | |
| 2006 | The Pumpkin Karver The Pumpkin Karver The Pumpkin Karver is a 2006 slasher film written by Robert Mann and Sheldon Silverstein, produced by Sheldon Silverstein and directed by Robert Mann, it stars Amy Weber, Minka Kelly, Terrence Evans and Charity Shea.-Plot:... |
Tammy Boyles | |
| State's Evidence State's Evidence State's Evidence is an independent film created in 2004 and released in 2006, directed by Benjamin Louis and starring Douglas Smith, Alexa Vega, Majandra Delfino, Kris Lemche, Cody McMains, and Drew Tyler Bell.-Plot summary:... |
– | ||
| The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift is a 2006 street racing action film directed by Justin Lin. It is the third installment in the The Fast and the Furious film series and currently the sixth in terms of series chronology... |
uncredited | ||
| 2007 | The Kingdom The Kingdom (film) The Kingdom is a 2007 film directed by Peter Berg and starring Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Ashraf Barhom, with Kyle Chandler, Jeremy Piven and Ali Suliman.... |
Ms. Ross | |
| 2009 | (500) Days of Summer | Autumn | |
| 2011 | The Roommate The Roommate The Roommate is a 2011 thriller film directed by Christian E. Christiansen and starring Minka Kelly, Leighton Meester, Cam Gigandet, Danneel Harris, Matt Lanter, and Aly Michalka. It was theatrically released on February 4, 2011. The film is a unofficial remake of the 1992 film Single White... |
Sara Matthews | Nominated — MTV Movie Award for Best Scared-As-Shit Performance MTV Movie Award for Best Frightened Performance This is a following list for the MTV Movie Award winners for Best Frightened Performance. The award was firstgiven out in 2005 and then 2006. In 2010 this award was renamed Best Scared-As-S**t Performance.-References:... Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress in a Drama |
| Just Go With It Just Go With It Just Go with It is a 2011 romantic comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan, starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston. The film was released on , 2011... |
Joanna Damon | ||
| Searching for Sonny Searching for Sonny Searching for Sonny is the feature film debut for writer/director Andrew Disney.- Plot :After receiving a mysterious postcard, directionless pizza delivery guy Elliot Knight decides to attend his high school reunion in Texas and make amends with Sonny Bosco , an old friend he once wronged... |
Eden Mercer | post-production |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Cracking Up Cracking Up For the movie, see Cracking Up .Cracking Up is an American television sitcom created by School of Rock writer Mike White, who also served as the series' head writer. It aired on the Fox Network on Monday nights from March to May 2004. The title of the program and the name of the psychiatrist, Dr... |
Monica | One episode |
| Drake & Josh Drake & Josh Drake & Josh is an American sitcom that premiered on the Nickelodeon television network on January 11, 2004, which follows the lives of two stepbrothers. It stars Drake Bell and Josh Peck as stepbrothers Drake Parker and Josh Nichols, respectively. Both actors had played roles in The Amanda Show,... |
Stacey | One episode | |
| 2005 | American Dreams American Dreams American Dreams is an American television comedy-drama program broadcast on the NBC television network, produced by Once A Frog and Dick Clark Productions in association with Universal Network Television and NBC Studios... |
Bonnie | one episode |
| What I Like About You What I Like About You (TV series) What I Like About You is an American television sitcom set mainly in New York City, following the lives of two sisters, Valerie Tyler and Holly Tyler . The series ran on The WB Television Network from September 20, 2002, to March 24, 2006, with a total of 86 episodes produced... |
Ricki | three episodes | |
| 2006–2009 | Friday Night Lights Friday Night Lights (TV series) Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series adapted by Peter Berg, Brian Grazer and David Nevins from a book and film of the same name. The series details events surrounding a high school football team based in fictional Dillon, Texas, with particular focus given to team... |
Lyla Garrity | Major role |
| 2009 | Body Politic Body Politic Body Politic is a television pilot starring Minka Kelly, Gabrielle Union, Jason Dohring, and Brian Austin Green. It is produced by CBS Television Studios for The CW.... |
Frankie | Unaired CW pilot |
| 2010–2011 | Parenthood Parenthood (2010 TV series) Parenthood is an American comedy-drama television series developed by Jason Katims and produced by Imagine Television and Universal Media Studios. The first season premiered on March 2, 2010 on NBC... |
Gaby | Recurring role |
| 2010 | Entourage Entourage (TV series) Entourage is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on HBO on July 18, 2004 and concluded on September 11, 2011, after eight seasons... |
Herself | Season finale |
| Mad Love Mad Love (TV series) Mad Love is an American television series that aired on CBS from February 14, 2011 to May 16, 2011. The sitcom was planned as a midseason replacement during the 2010–11 television season.On May 15, 2011, Mad Love was officially cancelled by CBS.... |
Kate | Unaired episode | |
| 2011 | Charlie's Angels Charlie's Angels (2011 TV series) Charlie's Angels is an American reboot television series developed by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar for ABC, based upon the 1976 series of the same name created by Ivan Goff, and Ben Roberts. The series ran on ABC from September 22, 2011 to November 10, 2011.Charlie's Angels was canceled on October... |
Eve French | Lead role |