Kelly Marie Tran

Kelly Marie Tran, birth name Loan Tran, is a renowned American actress famous for her role as Rose Tico in the Star Wars sequel trilogy films - The Last Jedi (2017) and The Rise of Skywalker (2019). She also lent her voice to characters in the blockbuster films Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) and The Croods: A New Age (2020). Born on January 17, 1989, in San Diego, California, Kelly's parents were refugees who had fled from Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Before her fame, she worked at a yogurt shop to earn money for headshots, eventually graduating from the University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications.

Kelly kicked off her acting career with CollegeHumor videos and small TV roles in 2011, followed by improv at the Upright Citizens Brigade and The Second City. Her Star Wars role brought her to global prominence, also making her the first Asian-American woman to land a major role in a Star Wars film. In addition to her acting career, she has made significant contributions as an executive producer on Jeremy Workman's 2021 documentary Lily Topples the World and the spoken-word poetry ensemble film Summertime. Unfortunately, Kelly was subject to rampant racist and sexist internet attacks after the release of The Last Jedi, leading her to take a break from social media in 2018. Nevertheless, she has continued to persevere, receiving immense support from her co-stars, fans, and other celebrities.