Kelly Marie Tran

Kelly Marie Tran rose to international fame with her portrayal of Rose Tico in the Star Wars sequel trilogy films "The Last Jedi" and "The Rise of Skywalker". This achievement distinguished her as the first Asian-American woman to secure a major role in a Star Wars film. Tran continued to showcase her talent in animation, lending her voice to characters in "Raya and the Last Dragon" and "The Croods: A New Age". Additionally, she took on the lead role in Radiotopia's mystery thriller podcast "Passenger List" and became a regular on the Facebook Watch series "Sorry for Your Loss".

Tran faced substantial online harassment after the release of "Star Wars: The Last Jedi," leading her to remove her Instagram posts and seek therapy. However, she turned this negative experience into a source of strength and resolve. In 2018, she penned an essay for The New York Times titled "Kelly Marie Tran: I Won't Be Marginalized by Online Harassment," addressing the abuse she faced. Later, at the Star Wars Celebration in 2019, Tran's resilience and grace were recognized by fans, receiving a standing ovation that moved her to tears.

Tran has since expanded her repertoire to include producing. She served as an executive producer on the Grand Jury Prize-winning documentary "Lily Topples the World" at the 2021 South by Southwest Film Festival and the spoken-word poetry film "Summertime". Along with Carlos López Estrada, Tran is setting up the Antigravity Academy, a production company focused on new projects. Her future endeavors include starring roles in "Rock Springs" and "The Young Wife," and the development of a biopic about civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, demonstrating her commitment to diversity and representation in Hollywood.