Holly Jane Kenyon (born 21 November 1980) is an English actress who won a scholarship to study at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in central Hollywood.[1] She appeared in The Kindness of Strangers (2010) and was invited to attend the film's screening at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival.

Holly Kenyon
Holly Kenyon attending the 63rd Cannes Film Festival
Born
Holly Jane Kenyon

(1980-11-21) 21 November 1980 (age 44)
OccupationActress
Years active2009–present
Children2

Early life

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Holly Kenyon was born in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, 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 at university in Wales[citation needed] 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 drama school.

Career

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Holly Kenyon began her career as a singer and was classically trained from the age of twelve.[2] as well as playing the flute and 'cello.[citation needed] It had originally been her desire to pursue a career in musical theatre and she went on to work briefly in opera and pantomime and studied at the London College of Music.[3] 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 personnel management agent who offered to represent her.[4] Soon after signing to her personal management agency, Kenyon was offered a supporting role in the British feature film The Kindness of Strangers.[5] She played the role of a French bar waitress called Beatrice in the film.[6] This film was screened at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival.[7] The film starred David Prowse who played the role Darth Vader in the original Star Wars movies.[citation needed] 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[8] and a nomination for Best Director.[9] The film eventually won four of the awards including Best Director for Hadfield.[10] Prior to this film role, Kenyon also played a Russian girl in Perfidy, a role which required her to speak Russian.[2] In 2011 Holly was cast as news reporter Celyn Bowen in the paranormal horror film Untitled.

Kenyon shot a sci-fi film in Birmingham.[4] She played the lead role of Scarlet Davies in the futuristic sci-fi action film.[11]

Filmography

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Year Film Role Notes
2009 Perfidy Irina
2010 The Kindness of Strangers Beatrice
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
2012 Director's Cut Amber
2012 Passing of the Bridle Victoria Brown
2013 Dark Country Sara
2013 The Eleventh Hour Synthia
2016 Enter The Cage Evelyn Hamilton
2016 Mansion of Mystery: Espionage Dr Arabella Dangerfield
2016 Celestial Sisters Scarlet Davies
TBC A Pirate's Life For Me Captain Polly Peacock

References

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  1. ^ "Famous festival's no drama". This is South Wales. 11 May 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Holly would love a big future in films | Nottingham Evening Post". Find Articles. 19 May 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  3. ^ "Holly Kenyon, actor". actors.mandy.com/uk. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  4. ^ a b "Actress Holly Kenyon attends Cannes premiere of The Kindness of Strangers". This is Nottingham. 19 May 2010. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  5. ^ http://www.britfilms.com/britishfilms/catalogue/browse/?id=5B6B656A0ed2636B25KPi3649BB7 [dead link]
  6. ^ "The Team Main". Thekindnessofstrangersmovie.com. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  7. ^ Pryor, Fiona (18 May 2010). "BBC News – Debut director lives Cannes dream". BBC. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  8. ^ "THE INTERNATIONAL FILMMAKER FESTIVAL 2011". Filmmakerfestival.com. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  9. ^ "The Kindess of Strangers made by former Central TV News reporter". This is Nottingham. 22 October 2010. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  10. ^ "THE INTERNATIONAL FILMMAKER FESTIVAL 2010". Filmmakerfestival.com. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  11. ^ "Home". rotundafilms.com.
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