Kiandra "KiKi" Layne (born December 10, 1991) is an American actress.KiKi Layne, ‘Beale Street’s’ Breakout Star, Has a 4 a.m. Moment, New York Times, September 11, 2018 She is known for her film roles in the romantic drama If Beale Street Could Talk (2018), the drama Native Son (2019), the action superhero film The Old Guard (2020), the romantic comedy Coming 2 America (2021), and the psychological thriller Don't Worry Darling (2022).
Early life Layne is from Cincinnati, Ohio. She earned a BFA in acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University in 2014.
In a 2018 interview with Vanity Fair, Layne said that she was always acting growing up and that her favorite movie as a child was The Lion King. She said, "I used to watch it every day and create these extravagant stories with my Barbies and stuffed animals."
Career Layne's first acting role was with Lena Waithe in the pilot for the drama series The Chi, filmed in 2015.
She has modeled for the fashion brand Kate Spade New York.
Layne's breakout role was in Barry Jenkins' 2018 drama If Beale Street Could Talk. She starred in the 2019 screen adaptation of Richard Wright’s 1940 novel Native Son, then alongside Charlize Theron in 2020's The Old Guard, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood.
Layne was featured in composer Max Richter's Voices, which was inspired by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The album contains readings of the Declaration by Eleanor Roosevelt and Layne, with a further 70 readings by people around the world.
In 2021, Layne joined the cast alongside Eddie Murphy in the Amazon Prime sequel Coming 2 America.
Layne stars as Detective Ellie Steckler in Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers.
She reprised her The Old Guard role in 2025's The Old Guard 2.
Personal life Layne is currently in a relationship with Ari'el Stachel, whom she met on the set of Don't Worry Darling in the fall of 2020.KiKi Layne Says She’s “Still Thriving” Despite Scenes Being Cut From ‘Don’t Worry Darling’
Filmography Year Title Role Notes 2015 Veracity Olivia Short film 2016 Chicago Med Emmie Miles Episode: "Soul Care" 2018 If Beale Street Could Talk Tish Rivers2019 Native Son Bessie Captive State Carrie The Staggering Girl Adut Short film 2020 The Old Guard Nile Freeman 2021 Coming 2 America Meeka Joffer2022 Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers Ellie Steckler Don't Worry Darling Margaret 2024 Dandelion Dandelion Also executive producer 2025 The Old Guard 2 Nile Freeman 2026 Killing Castro TBA
Awards and nominations AssociationYearWorkCategoryResultRef.Black Reel Awards2019If Beale Street Could TalkOutstanding Actress, Motion PictureOutstanding Breakthrough Performance, Female2021The Old GuardOutstanding Supporting Actress, Motion PictureCritics' Choice Super Awards2021The Old GuardBest Actress in a Superhero Movie Georgia Film Critics Association2018If Beale Street Could TalkBreakthrough AwardGotham Awards2018If Beale Street Could TalkBest Breakthrough ActorNAACP Image Awards2019If Beale Street Could TalkOutstanding Actress in a Motion PictureOutstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion PictureSeattle Film Critics Society2018If Beale Street Could TalkBest Ensemble CastWashington D.C. Area Film Critics Association2018If Beale Street Could TalkBest Acting EnsembleWomen Film Critics Circle2018If Beale Street Could TalkBreakthrough AwardBest EnsembleKiKi Layne & Stephan JamesBest Screen Couple
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