Katy O'Brian
Born (1989-02-12) February 12, 1989
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
EducationIndiana University Bloomington (BA)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • writer
  • martial artist
  • police officer (formerly)
Years active2010–present
Spouse
Kylie Chi
​
(m. 2020)​
Websitekatyobrian.com

Katy M. O'Brian[1] (born February 12, 1989) is an American actress, writer and martial artist. She is best known for her roles as imperial communications officer Elia Kane in the second and the third season of The Mandalorian, George in Syfy's zombie show Z Nation,[2] Major Sarah Grey in The CW's superhero series Black Lightning, Jentorra in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Kimball in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D..

Early life

O'Brian was born on February 12, 1989 in Indianapolis, Indiana and has three older brothers. She is mixed race, of African-American and Caucasian ancestry.[3] O'Brian began studying martial arts at five years old, and at age nine earned her brown belt in Shorei Goju Ryu Karate.[4] Throughout her youth, she participated in numerous sports programs and also in music programs as a percussionist.[5]

She attended Indiana University Bloomington, majoring in psychology and Germanic studies.[6] She was one of the first members of the university's short-form improv troupe Hoosonfirst, and received law enforcement certification through the university's Cadet Officer Program. At university, she received her black belt in Hapkido through the US Hapkido Federation.[7]

After graduation, she was a police officer for seven years at the Carmel Police Department in Carmel, Indiana, including the department’s Crisis Intervention Team, which specialized in helping individuals with various conditions such as psychosis, depression, Alzheimer’s, autism, etc.[8] She obtained her personal trainer certification and began competing in bodybuilding figure competitions,[9] and began training at the Indy Actors Academy.[10]

In 2016, O'Brian moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film and television. While waiting to land a role, she worked with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Martial Arts Program, helping with self-defense classes, instructing the Hapkido program. Through UCLA’s programs, and studying Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.[8]

Career

O'Brian's first television role was as a Savior named Katy on AMC's The Walking Dead,[11] quickly followed by co-star roles on Halt & Catch Fire, Tosh.O and How to Get Away with Murder.

In 2018, O'Brian booked her first series regular role on the comedy action series Z Nation where she played George, a budding leader of the apocalypse. In 2019, she appeared in the CW series Black Lightning as an ASA antagonist, Major Sarah Grey. She appeared in season 3 of HBO's Westworld.

In 2020, O'Brian was cast as Elia Kane, a key recurring character in Seasons 2 and 3 of the Star Wars series The Mandalorian.[12]

She had been featured in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: in 2020 as Kimball in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.; and in 2023, in a leading role as Jentorra, leader of the Freedom Fighters in the Quantum Realm in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.[12] She is one of the few actors who has appeared in both the Star Wars and Marvel franchises.[13]

Personal life

Shortly after moving to Los Angeles in 2016, O'Brian met her partner, Kylie Chi, on the set of a student film project. The couple live together in Los Angeles and married in July 2020.[14]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2012 Student Seven SIG Raider
2015 Submerge: Ni're Reborn E'lan Short film
Finders Keepers Girl Short film
Remedy of a Killer Nancy Short film
2016 Richard Watson Files Emma Simms Short film
2019 Rain TV News Reporter Short film
Power Rangers: Zenith Aisha
Gnawbone Lisa
Fantasy Kelly
The Divisible Kira Short film
2020 Sidewinder Deputy Harris Short film
2021 Sweet Girl TV Host
2023 Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Jentorra
2024 Love Lies Bleeding Jackie Post-production
Twisters TBA Post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2017 Tosh.0 Softball Player Episode: "UCF Baseball Player"
Halt and Catch Fire Bartender Episode: "Search"
2017–2018 The Walking Dead Katy 2 episodes
2018 How to Get Away with Murder Cashier Girl Episode: "Ask Him About Stella"
Z Nation Georgia "George" St. Clair Main cast (season 5)
2019–2020 Black Lightning Major Sara Grey Recurring (season 3)
2020 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Kimball 3 episodes (season 7)
Westworld EMT Episode: "The Absence of Field"
2020–present The Mandalorian Elia Kane Recurring (seasons 2–3) [1]
2021 Magnum P.I. Kai Durrell Episode: "First the Beatdown, Then the Blowback"
The Rookie Katie Barnes Episode: "New Blood"

Self

Year Title Role Notes
2020 The Talking Zed Show Self TV series
2021 24 Hours of Nothing But Net with Debbie Antonelli Self TV special

References

  1. 1 2 Romano, Evan (March 15, 2023). "This New 'Mandalorian' Villain Will Make You Question Who to Trust". Men's Health. Archived from the original on March 18, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  2. ↑ Petski, Denise (August 20, 2018). "'Z Nation': 'Walking Dead' Alum Katy O'BRIAN Joins Season 5 as Series Regular". Deadline. Archived from the original on April 10, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  3. ↑ "That's very kind of you". X. March 29, 2023. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Katy O'Brian: 'GEORGE' from z Nation Discusses ACTING, Success, and Greek Mythology". Your Money Geek. January 23, 2020. Archived from the original on October 30, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  5. ↑ O'Brian, Katy (October 18, 2018). "Sometimes Coco Chanel Makes Sense". KATY O'BRIAN. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Meet Katy O'brian of Sag-Aftra". VoyageLA. January 29, 2019. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  7. ↑ Burlingame, Russ (December 2, 2019). "Katy O'Brian Talks Her Black Lightning Character, Transitioning from Real Fighting to Stage Fighting, and LGBTQ Representation at DC and Marvel". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  8. 1 2 "Katy O'Brian". MARTIAL ARTS IN EDUCATION. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  9. ↑ Frost, Zenobia (August 20, 2020). "Archer asks: Katy O'Brian, actor and martial artist". Archer. Archived from the original on April 10, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  10. ↑ "IAA Student and current LA Resident Katy O'Brian". Indy Actors Academy. Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  11. ↑ Saavedra, John (August 17, 2021). "The Walking Dead Season 11 Could Introduce Rick Grimes' Killer". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  12. 1 2 "Who is Elia Kane in The Mandalorian and actress Katy M O'Brian?". Radio Times. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  13. ↑ April 07, Devan Coggan; EDT, 2023 at 07:26 PM. "Katy O'Brian thought her 'Mandalorian' character was dead before her season 3 return". EW.com. Retrieved April 29, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ↑ "Katy O'Brian: Cop, Actor, Bodybuilder". Martial Arts in Education. Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
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