Kelly Reilly is an amazing British actress known for her awesome performances on both stage and screen. She was born in 1977 in Chessington, England, and kicked off her career in local theater before making waves in movies and TV. Being nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award at the age of 26 for her performance in After Miss Julie was one of her early highlights. Her role as Caroline Bingley in Pride & Prejudice (2005) and her subsequent appearance in the horror film Eden Lake (2008) garnered her greater recognition. After co starring with Denzel Washington in Flight (2012), Reilly became a rising star in Hollywood and truly took off.

Early Career and Roles

One of her first standout roles was in the British crime drama Prime Suspect, where she played a drug-addicted schoolgirl in the fourth season. This role opened up a lot of opportunities for her, leading to other TV projects like Agatha Christie’s Poirot and Bramwell. But it was her stage performance in After Miss Julie at the Donmar Warehouse that really got her noticed. At just 26, she became the youngest actress ever nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for that role, showing off her incredible talent and paving the way for a successful career ahead.

Breakthrough in Film

Kelly Reilly really made a name for herself in movies with her role as Caroline Bingley in the popular version of Pride & Prejudice (2005). In this classic romantic film, she played the stuck-up and scheming sister of Mr. Bingley, showing off her knack for bringing complex characters to life. Her performance got noticed by both fans and critics, which helped boost her career in Hollywood. After that, she appeared in The Libertine (2004) with Johnny Depp, where she played a young woman tangled up in a messy relationship with the famous poet John Wilmot.

Television Success

On TV, Kelly Reilly has seen a lot of success, especially as Beth Dutton in the hit show Yellowstone. As the fiercely loyal daughter of John Dutton, played by Kevin Costner, Beth is a complicated character who shows both strength and vulnerability. Reilly brings a unique intensity to the role, making Beth one of the most unforgettable characters on TV. Fans are drawn to her sharp humor and fierce loyalty to her family, which often leads to dramatic clashes, especially with her brother Jamie.

This role has not only made her a fan favorite but also secured her spot in television history. Besides Yellowstone, Reilly also showed her skills in True Detective as Jordan Semyon, the wife of Vince Vaughn’s character. In this gritty anthology series, she plays a woman caught up in a messy world of crime and corruption.

Notable Movies

Flight (2012): In this intense drama, Kelly teams up with Denzel Washington, who takes on the role of a troubled airline pilot. Reilly plays Nicole, a woman who gets romantically entangled with him as he navigates the aftermath of a plane crash.

Sherlock Holmes Series (2009 & 2011): Kelly plays Mary Morstan, the love interest of Jude Law’s character, Dr John Watson. Her strong and intelligent persona perfectly balances the relationship between Watson and Robert Downey Jr.’s character, Sherlock Holmes.

Calvary (2014): Kelly takes on the role of Fiona, a woman facing her own struggles while forming a bond with a priest who’s under threat from an unknown assailant.

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Recent Projects

Kelly Reilly has been occupied with some exciting new endeavours. She appears in Kenneth Branagh’s eerie mystery film A Haunting in Venice (2023). She portrays opera diva Rowena Drake in this film, who hosts a séance in a haunted palace. The story takes place in Venice after World War II and mixes suspense with some supernatural stuff, making it a must-see for Agatha Christie fans. It came out in September 2023 and has been getting a lot of attention. Looking ahead, Kelly is also going to be in a new project called Greek Salad, which should show off her skills in another interesting role.

Lesser Known Films of Kelly Reilly

If you want to dive into some underrated films featuring Kelly Reilly, there are a couple you definitely need to check out. First on the list is Eden Lake (2008), a spine-tingling horror flick where she teams up with Michael Fassbender as a couple whose camping trip turns into a total nightmare when they run into a gang of aggressive teens.

Reilly delivers a performance that’s both intense and believable, making this film a real highlight in the horror scene. Another solid choice is Me and Orson Welles (2008), where she takes on the role of Muriel Brassler, a young woman swept up in the vibrant world of 1930s theater alongside Zac Efron and Christian McKay.

Her versatility shines through in various roles, showcasing her incredible talent from her early TV days to her memorable movie performances.