50 Facts About Minka Kelly

Minka Kelly rose to fame for her role as Lyla Garrity on the NBC drama series Friday Night Lights.

In 2011, Kelly starred in the films The Roommate and Searching for Sonny, had a recurring role as Gaby on NBC's family drama series Parenthood and a main role as Eve French in the revival of ABC's action series Charlie's Angels.

Minka Kelly is the author of her memoir Tell Me Everything: A Memoir, which became a New York Times Best Seller.

Minka Kelly is the only child of Maureen Dumont Kelly and former Aerosmith guitarist Rick Dufay.

Minka Kelly was raised primarily by her mother and her mother's on-and-off boyfriend David Gonzalez.

Minka Kelly's mother worked various jobs, including as a stripper and bartender, and often struggled to make ends meet throughout Kelly's childhood.

Minka Kelly moved in with a boyfriend who was five years her senior, and had an abortion at 17 when she became pregnant with his child.

Minka Kelly attended two high schools, before graduating from Valley High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Minka Kelly worked as receptionist at a plastic surgeon's office and where she became fascinated with surgical work.

Minka Kelly went to school to become a scrub tech as a potential fallback career.

Minka Kelly continued working as a scrub tech up until landing her role on Friday Night Lights.

Minka Kelly briefly returned to work as a scrub tech during a hiatus from Friday Night Lights.

Minka Kelly helped Kelly find work as a receptionist at a surgeon's office who would provide Kelly a breast augmentation in exchange for hours worked.

In 2003, Minka Kelly made her acting debut as an extra in the short film The Turbo Charged Prelude for 2 Fast 2 Furious, a six-minute introduction to the action film 2 Fast 2 Furious.

In 2005, Minka Kelly landed a three-episode recurring role in The WB comedy series What I Like About You.

Minka Kelly played the role of high school student and cheerleader Lyla Garrity.

In 2006, Minka Kelly starred in the horror slasher film The Pumpkin Karver as Tammy Boyles, and had a bit role in State's Evidence.

Minka Kelly played the role of Francesca "Frankie" Foster, who moves to Washington, DC to work for a senator and befriends a group of eager up-and-comers.

Minka Kelly appeared in the pilot for the short-lived CBS comedy series Mad Love playing the role of Kate, a Midwestern girl who falls in love with Henry at the top of the Empire State Building.

Minka Kelly played the role of a behavioral aide to the child character Max who is diagnosed with Asperger syndrome.

Minka Kelly went on to appear in nine episodes of the show before making her final appearance in the episode "Taking the Leap" which aired on March 29,2011.

In December 2010, ABC announced that Minka Kelly was cast in the planned reboot of the crime drama series Charlie's Angels.

Minka Kelly played the role of street racer Eve French.

Minka Kelly starred in the thriller film The Roommate as a college freshman whose roommate, portrayed by Leighton Meester, has an obsession with her that turns violent.

Variety announced that Minka Kelly was cast as the lead in the mystery comedy film Searching for Sonny.

Minka Kelly was promoted to a series regular for the second season in September 2019.

In May 2018, Minka Kelly appeared in the video game Detroit: Become Human as North, the right-hand woman and potential love interest of protagonist Markus.

Euphoria's show creator Sam Levinson specifically wrote the role of Samantha for Minka Kelly, offering her the part in 2021.

Minka Kelly played Samantha, a rich young mom, in four episodes of Euphorias second season.

Minka Kelly's book entitled Tell Me Everything: A Memoir was released on May 2,2023 by Henry Holt and Company.

In July 2024, Minka Kelly was cast in Netflix's original romantic comedy film Champagne Problems, where she plays an executive, who travels to Paris and finds an unexpected romance.

Minka Kelly has been included in various magazine lists of the world's most beautiful women.

Minka Kelly appeared on People magazine's annual list of 100 Most Beautiful People in 2008.

In 2011, Minka Kelly was named "Sexiest Woman Alive" in the annual Esquire magazine feature.

Minka Kelly has been a regular on Maxim's Hot 100 list since 2007, ranking at number 42 in 2007, at number 54 in 2008, at number 84 in 2009 and at number 51 in 2011.

Minka Kelly was chosen as the fittest woman at the Gold's Gym 2nd Annual Hollywood's Hottest Bodies Awards.

Minka Kelly has appeared in print ads and commercials throughout her career.

Minka Kelly has been a brand ambassador for Dove chocolate, and modeled in ads for Madge Cosmetics.

In 2016, Minka Kelly became a spokesperson for online real estate marketplace Trulia to launch their "Best Neighborhoods in America" tool.

Minka Kelly has appeared on the cover of numerous fashion and lifestyle magazines, including Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Esquire, Self and Health.

Minka Kelly joined an eight-day, four-country United Service Organizations tour in December 2011 with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey, Robert Horry, Jordin Sparks, Thomas Miles, and Sergeant Major Bryan Battaglia.

Since 2009, Minka Kelly has worked with retailer ABLE, which is dedicated to creating sustainable jobs for vulnerable women in Africa.

In 2015, Minka Kelly teamed up with ABLE to create a pouch in honor of International Women's Day.

Minka Kelly designed the clutch herself, including leather, color, stitching, size and color of the zipper.

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

Minka Kelly dated former New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter from 2008 to 2011.

Minka Kelly was previously in a relationship with comedian Trevor Noah, but the two split in 2022.

Minka Kelly has been in a relationship with Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds since 2022.

Minka Kelly graduated from the New School of Cooking in Culver City, California, in June 2015.

Minka Kelly has expressed an interest in launching a traveling cooking television show.