Ever since Lauren Kelly could talk, her family knew she’d be an actress. The blonde- haired toddler with the big blue eyes loved to be the center of attention and act as different characters. Everyone she met saw the potential she had to be an amazing actress and bring her bright and funny personality to the stage.
She began attending drama school when she was nine years old, so her parents weren’t surprised when Kelly wanted to audition in front of an agent to help her book acting jobs.
Her first audition, she said, was nerve-wracking.
“I was so young, but I wasn’t naïve. I knew that I wouldn’t get every part I auditioned for,” Kelly said.
She landed her first television appearance that same year in a Chuck E. Cheese commercial, which she continued to appear in for years to come.
When high school time came, Kelly, as well as her parents, faced a huge decision. While she was accepted into the Professional Performing Arts School and Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts for acting — both of which have been frequented by countless famous actors and actresses — she chose to go to Archbishop Molloy High School instead.
“While I wanted to be an actress, I had to be practical. My parents sat me down and we talked about how education always came first,” she said.
Nevertheless, she continually juggled auditions, roles, and her school work while maintaining a high average.
To expand her resume for landing jobs, Kelly also learned how to play the piano and taught herself how to play the guitar.
“I want to be able to be versatile and have an opportunity to play more parts. That’s easier to do when you can do more than just act,” Kelly said.
She’s also taken on singing lessons in her busy schedule and has performed at her school countless times.
Throughout high school Kelly landed many minor roles, including both a My Little Pony and a Walmart commercial, but within the past year she booked major roles in “Law and Order: SVU” as the daughter of a killer and in “Blue Bloods” as a mischief-seeking friend of the protagonist.
She will be attending St. Joseph’s College in the Bronx in the fall on a scholarship, but intends to continue her acting career.
“I chose the college for many reasons, but the fact that it was only a train ride away from the city was a major selling point. I can take the train there for auditions whenever I need to, which makes it a lot easier for me to act and go to school,” Kelly noted.
So what’s the next step for the budding actress? A movie role, she said.
