Minka Kelly

Minka Kelly (born 24.6.1980)

Minka Kelly is an American actress, well known for her role as Lyla Garrity in the NBC series Friday Night Lights, between 2006-9.

Minka Kelly: Childhood

Minka Kelly was born in Bishop, California, to Rick Dufay (Aerosmith's guitarist) and Maureen Kelly, an exotic dancer. Her mother often moved her around to different communities whilst she was a young girl; eventually settling in Albuquerque, in New Mexico. Despite resenting her father for abandoning her and her mother, Minka attempted a reconciliation with him at the age of 17.

Minka Kelly: Career

At the age of 19, Minka Kelly returned to Los Angeles, after graduating from high school. While she was on a test shoot for a modelling agency, she was approached by a former Playboy playmate who was interested in managing her. He found her work in a surgeon's office, with the agreement that the surgeon would perform a breast enhancement on her, in return for hours worked as a receptionist. Following that, she attended school for a year and worked as a scrub tech for four years.

During this time, Minka auditioned for a number of acting roles before landing the role in Friday Night Lights. The series also starred Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton. She also had small roles in the film State's Evidence and a recurring role on What I Like About You, with Jenny Garth and Amanda Bynes.

Kelly then performed a cameo for the film The Kingdom, which starred Jamie Foxx, as the film's director was also the creator of Friday Night Lights.

Minka Kelly was the lead actress on the pilot of Body Politic, which did not go to series. She also played the role of Kate in the CBS pilot of True Love but was eventually replaced by Sarah Chalke.

On the comedy website funnyordie.com, Minka Kelly joined Jaime King, Emily Deschanel, Katharine McPhee and Alyson Hannigan in a video slumber party, in order to promote regular breast screenings for Stand Up 2 Cancer.

Minka Kelly stars in the TV series version of Parenthood, playing the role of Gaby.

In 2009, Minka appeared in the film 500 Days of Summer, alongside Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Minka Kelly: Personal Life

Minka Kelly dated the musician John Meyer and after that relationship ended, she started dating Derek Jeter, a New York Yankees shortstop.