Katy O'Brian

Katy M. O'Brian, born on February 12, 1989, is a multifaceted American talent, excelling as an actress, writer, and martial artist. She has garnered recognition for her diverse roles across various platforms. Notably, O'Brian portrayed imperial communications officer Elia Kane in the second and third seasons of the acclaimed series The Mandalorian. Her versatility extends to her portrayal of George in Syfy's zombie drama Z Nation and Major Sarah Grey in The CW's superhero hit, Black Lightning. O'Brian further showcased her acting prowess as Jentorra in the upcoming Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Kimball in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.


O'Brian, born on February 12, 1989, in Indianapolis, Indiana, grew up with three older brothers. She is of mixed race, with African-American and white heritage. O'Brian's journey in martial arts began at the age of five, achieving her brown belt in Shorei Goju Ryu Karate by nine. Alongside martial arts, she actively participated in sports and music programs during her youth.


For her higher education, O'Brian attended Indiana University Bloomington, where she pursued majors in psychology and Germanic studies. She was a pioneering member of the university's short-form improv troupe, Hoosonfirst, and obtained law enforcement certification through the Cadet Officer Program. During her time at the university, she attained a black belt in Hapkido through the US Hapkido Federation.


Following her graduation, O'Brian served as a police officer for seven years at the Carmel Police Department in Indiana. She specialized in the Crisis Intervention Team, aiding individuals with diverse conditions such as psychosis, depression, Alzheimer’s, and autism. Simultaneously, she earned her personal trainer certification and ventured into bodybuilding figure competitions while training at the Indy Actors Academy.


In 2016, O'Brian relocated to Los Angeles to pursue her aspirations in film and television. During this transitional period, she collaborated with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Martial Arts Program, assisting with self-defense classes and instructing the Hapkido program. She expanded her martial arts expertise by studying Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu through UCLA's programs.


O'Brian made her television debut as Katy, a Savior, on AMC's The Walking Dead, followed by guest roles on shows like Halt & Catch Fire, Tosh.O, and How to Get Away with Murder.
In 2018, she secured her first series regular role as George in the comedy-action series Z Nation, portraying a burgeoning leader in a post-apocalyptic world. The following year, O'Brian joined the cast of the CW series Black Lightning as Major Sarah Grey, an antagonist within the ASA. She also made an appearance in season 3 of HBO's Westworld.


In 2020, O'Brian landed the role of Elia Kane, a significant recurring character, in Seasons 2 and 3 of the Star Wars series The Mandalorian.
Her presence in the Marvel Cinematic Universe includes portraying Kimball in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. in 2020, and in 2023, she took on the lead role of Jentorra, the leader of the Freedom Fighters in the Quantum Realm, in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Remarkably, O'Brian is among the select actors to have appeared in both the Star Wars and Marvel franchises.


Shortly after relocating to Los Angeles in 2016, O'Brian crossed paths with her partner, Kylie Chi, while working on a student film project. The couple resides together in Los Angeles and exchanged vows in July 2020, solidifying their union.

Filmography

1. Black Lightning (TV Series, 2018-2021) - Renee
2. Z Nation (TV Series, 2018) - Georgia "George" St. Clair
3. Itsy Bitsy (2019) - Ansell Crane
4. Underwater (2020) - Voice of Captain (voice)
5. The Walking Dead: World Beyond (TV Series, 2020) - Jennifer Mallick
6. Power Book III: Raising Kanan (TV Series, 2021) - Jukebox's Mother

Television

1. Black Lightning (2018-2021) - She played the character Renee in this DC Comics-based superhero series.
2. Z Nation (2018) - O'Brian portrayed the character Georgia "George" St. Clair in this post-apocalyptic horror-comedy television series.
3. The Walking Dead: World Beyond (2020) - She appeared as Jennifer Mallick in this spin-off series set in the same universe as "The Walking Dead".
4. Power Book III: Raising Kanan (2021) - O'Brian had a role in this crime drama series, playing Jukebox's Mother.

These are some of the television shows where Katy O'Brian has showcased her talent. She has demonstrated versatility across different genres, from superhero series to post-apocalyptic dramas and crime shows.

References

1.  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. a b "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. a b "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.
14. ^ "Katy O'Brian: Cop, Actor, Bodybuilder". Martial Arts in Education. Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2023.