Katy O'Brian

{{Infobox person

| name = Katy O'Brian

| image =

| caption =

| birth_date =

| birth_place =

| education = Indiana University Bloomington (BA)

| occupation = {{hlist |Actress |martial artist}}

| years_active = 2010–present

| spouse = {{marriage|Kylie Chi|2020}}

| website = {{Official URL}}

}}

Katy M. O'Brian{{Cite web |last=Romano |first=Evan |date=March 15, 2023 |title=This New 'Mandalorian' Villain Will Make You Question Who to Trust |url=https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a43325462/the-mandalorian-elia-kane-katy-o-brian/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318002831/https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a43325462/the-mandalorian-elia-kane-katy-o-brian/ |archive-date=March 18, 2023 |access-date=March 18, 2023 |website=Men's Health}} is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as bodybuilder Jackie in Love Lies Bleeding, Imperial communications officer Elia Kane in the second and third seasons of The Mandalorian, George in Syfy's zombie show Z Nation,{{Cite web |last=Petski |first=Denise |date=August 20, 2018 |title='Z Nation': 'Walking Dead' Alum Katy O'BRIAN Joins Season 5 as Series Regular |url=https://deadline.com/2018/08/z-nation-walking-dead-katy-obrian-season-5-cast-series-regular-1202448769/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410174012/https://deadline.com/2018/08/z-nation-walking-dead-katy-obrian-season-5-cast-series-regular-1202448769/ |archive-date=April 10, 2023 |access-date=April 10, 2023 |website=Deadline}} Major Sara Grey in The CW's superhero series Black Lightning, Kimball in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Jentorra in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Kodiak in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.

Early life

O'Brian is mixed race, with African-American and European-American ancestry.{{Cite web|date=March 29, 2023|title=That's very kind of you.|url=https://twitter.com/thekatyo/status/1641157460064104448|access-date=January 6, 2024|website=X|archive-date=January 6, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106165717/https://twitter.com/thekatyo/status/1641157460064104448|url-status=live}} O'Brian began studying martial arts at five years old, and at age nine earned her brown belt in Shorei Goju Ryu Karate.{{Cite web |date=January 23, 2020 |title=Katy O'Brian: 'GEORGE' from z Nation Discusses ACTING, Success, and Greek Mythology. |url=http://yourmoneygeek.com/katy-obrian-george-from-z-nation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030053902/https://yourmoneygeek.com/katy-obrian-george-from-z-nation/ |archive-date=October 30, 2021 |access-date=October 30, 2021 |website=Your Money Geek}} Throughout her youth, she participated in numerous sports programs and also in music programs as a percussionist.{{Cite web |last=O'Brian |first=Katy |date=2018-10-18 |title=Sometimes Coco Chanel Makes Sense |url=https://katyobrian.com/2018/10/18/sometimes-coco-chanel-makes-sense/ |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=KATY O'BRIAN |language=en |archive-date=May 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506200428/https://katyobrian.com/2018/10/18/sometimes-coco-chanel-makes-sense/ |url-status=dead }}

She attended Indiana University Bloomington, majoring in psychology and Germanic studies.{{Cite web |date=January 29, 2019 |title=Meet Katy O'Brian of SAG-AFTRA |url=http://voyagela.com/interview/meet-katy-obrian-sag-aftra-los-angeles/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230220194236/http://voyagela.com/interview/meet-katy-obrian-sag-aftra-los-angeles/ |archive-date=February 20, 2023 |access-date=October 30, 2021 |website=VoyageLA}} She was one of the first members of the university's short-form improv troupe Hoosonfirst. She 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.{{Cite web |last=Burlingame |first=Russ |date=December 2, 2019 |title=Katy O'Brian Talks Her Black Lightning Character, Transitioning from Real Fighting to Stage Fighting, and LGBTQ Representation at DC and Marvel |url=http://comicbook.com/dc/news/katy-obrian-black-lightning-midseason-finale-interview/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219061241/https://comicbook.com/dc/news/katy-obrian-black-lightning-midseason-finale-interview/ |archive-date=February 19, 2023 |access-date=February 19, 2023 |website=ComicBook.com}}

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, and autism.{{Cite web |title=Katy O'Brian |url=https://www.martialedu.com/katy-obrian.html |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=MARTIAL ARTS IN EDUCATION |language=en}} She obtained her personal trainer certification and began competing in bodybuilding figure competitions,{{Cite web |last=Frost |first=Zenobia |author-link=Zenobia Frost |date=August 20, 2020 |title=Archer asks: Katy O'Brian, actor and martial artist |url=https://archermagazine.com.au/2020/08/archer-asks-katy-obrian/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410174013/https://archermagazine.com.au/2020/08/archer-asks-katy-obrian/ |archive-date=April 10, 2023 |access-date=April 10, 2023 |website=Archer}} and training at the Indy Actors Academy.{{Cite web |title=IAA Student and current LA Resident Katy O'Brian |url=http://www.indyactorsacademy.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219061253/http://www.indyactorsacademy.com/ |archive-date=February 19, 2023 |access-date=February 19, 2023 |website=Indy Actors Academy}} She competed twice in figure, in September 2014 and May 2015, but stopped because of the expense and because she did not want to take steroids like some other competitors.{{Cite web |last=Merritt |first=Greg |date= March 15, 2024|title=Bodybuilder Katy O'Brian Stars in "Love Lies Bleeding" |url=https://thebarbell.com/katy-o-brian/ |access-date=2024-03-15 |website=The Barbell |language=en-US |archive-date=March 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315174908/https://thebarbell.com/katy-o-brian/ |url-status=live }}

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 Martial Arts Program, helping with self-defense classes and instructing the Hapkido program. Through the same program she also studied Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Career

O'Brian's first television role was as a Savior named Katy on AMC's The Walking Dead,{{Cite web |last=Saavedra |first=John |date=August 17, 2021 |title=The Walking Dead Season 11 Could Introduce Rick Grimes' Killer |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-walking-dead-season-11-sebastian-milton-jacob-young-spoilers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219061241/https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-walking-dead-season-11-sebastian-milton-jacob-young-spoilers/ |archive-date=February 19, 2023 |access-date=April 19, 2023 |website=Den of Geek}} followed by roles on Halt and Catch Fire, Tosh.0 and How to Get Away with Murder.{{episode needed|date=February 2023}}

In 2018, O'Brian booked her first 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 Sara 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.{{Cite web |title=Who is Elia Kane in The Mandalorian and actress Katy M O'Brian? |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/the-mandalorian-elia-kane/ |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=Radio Times |language=en |archive-date=April 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429221323/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/the-mandalorian-elia-kane/ |url-status=live }}

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. She is one of the many actors who has appeared in both the Star Wars and Marvel franchises.{{Cite web |last1=April 07 |first1=Devan Coggan |last2=EDT |first2=2023 at 07:26 PM |title=Katy O'Brian thought her 'Mandalorian' character was dead before her season 3 return |url=https://ew.com/tv/mandalorian-katy-obrian-elia-kane/ |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=EW.com |language=en |archive-date=April 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429221322/https://ew.com/tv/mandalorian-katy-obrian-elia-kane/ |url-status=live }}

In 2022, it was announced that O'Brian would star opposite Kristen Stewart in Love Lies Bleeding, her first major film role.{{cite web |last1=Kroll |first1=Justin |title=Dave Franco, Katy O'Brian, Ed Harris And Jena Malone Join Kristen Stewart In 'Love Lies Bleeding' For A24 |url=https://deadline.com/2022/06/dave-franco-katy-obrian-ed-harris-jena-malone-kristen-stewart-loves-lie-bleeding-for-a24-1235052672/ |website=Deadline |date=June 27, 2022 |access-date=21 March 2024 |archive-date=March 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240303183928/https://deadline.com/2022/06/dave-franco-katy-obrian-ed-harris-jena-malone-kristen-stewart-loves-lie-bleeding-for-a24-1235052672/ |url-status=live }} The film was released theatrically by A24 on March 8, 2024.{{Cite web |last=Goldsmith |first=Jill |date=2024-03-08 |title=Thriller Love Lives Bleeding With Kristen Stewart, Glitter & Doom Romance With Indigo Girls Soundtrack, Open In Limited Release – Specialty Preview |url=https://deadline.com/2024/03/new-indie-films-opening-love-lives-bleeding-kristen-stewart-indigo-girls-musical-1235850107/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Deadline Hollywood |archive-date=March 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240309093059/https://deadline.com/2024/03/new-indie-films-opening-love-lives-bleeding-kristen-stewart-indigo-girls-musical-1235850107/ |url-status=live }} In March 2024, O'Brian joined the cast of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, playing a U.S. Navy diver. The film was released on May 23, 2025. {{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=March 27, 2024 |title='Love Lies Bleeding' Breakout Katy O'Brian Joins Eighth 'Mission: Impossible' |url=https://deadline.com/2024/03/mission-impossible-8-adds-katy-obrian-to-cast-1235869620/ |access-date=March 27, 2024 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=March 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327161843/https://deadline.com/2024/03/mission-impossible-8-adds-katy-obrian-to-cast-1235869620/ |url-status=live }}

Personal life

Shortly after moving to Los Angeles in 2016, O'Brian met her partner, Kylie Chi, on a student film project set. The couple live together in Los Angeles and married in July 2020. {{Cite web |title=Katy O'Brian: Cop, Actor, Bodybuilder |url=http://www.martialedu.com/katy-obrian.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219061248/https://www.martialedu.com/katy-obrian.html |archive-date=February 19, 2023 |access-date=February 19, 2023 |website=Martial Arts in Education}}

She has Crohn's disease and underwent bowel surgery after shooting Love Lies Bleeding.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-13 |title=How Katy O'Brian Got Ripped for 'Love Lies Bleeding'—While Dealing With a Major Health Scare |url=https://www.self.com/story/katy-o-brian-training-with-crohns-disease |access-date=2024-03-15 |website=SELF |language=en-US |archive-date=March 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315174909/https://www.self.com/story/katy-o-brian-training-with-crohns-disease |url-status=live }}

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" \|+ !scope="col"\| Year !scope="col"\| Title !scope="col"\| Role !scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Notes
2021 !scope="row"\| Sweet Girl \| TV Host \|
2023 !scope="row"\| Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania \| Jentorra \|
rowspan="2"\| 2024 !scope="row"\| Love Lies Bleeding \| Jaqueline "Jackie" Cleaver \|
scope="row"\| Twisters \| Dani \|
rowspan="3" \| 2025 !scope="row" \| Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning \| Kodiak \|
scope="row" {{pending film\|Queens of the Dead}} \| rowspan="2" {{TBA}} \| rowspan="3" \| Post-production
scope="row" {{pending film\|The Running Man}}
{{TBA}} !scope="row"{{pending film\|italic=no\|Untitled Christy Martin film}} \| Lisa Holewyne

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"| Year

!scope="col"| Title

!scope="col"| Role

!scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

2021

!scope="row"| Sweet Girl

| TV Host

2023

!scope="row"| Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

| Jentorra

rowspan="2"| 2024

!scope="row"| Love Lies Bleeding

| Jaqueline "Jackie" Cleaver

scope="row"| Twisters

| Dani

rowspan="3" | 2025

!scope="row" | Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

| Kodiak

scope="row" {{pending film|Queens of the Dead}}

| rowspan="2" {{TBA}}

| rowspan="3" | Post-production

scope="row" {{pending film|The Running Man}}

!scope="row"{{pending film|italic=no|Untitled Christy Martin film}}

| Lisa Holewyne

=Television=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" !scope="col"\| Year !scope="col"\| Title !scope="col"\| Role !scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Notes
rowspan="2" \| 2017 !scope="row"\| Tosh.0 \| Softball Player \| Episode: "UCF Baseball Player"
scope="row"\| Halt and Catch Fire \| Bartender \| Episode: "Search"
2017–2018 !scope="row"\| The Walking Dead \| Katy \| 2 episodes
rowspan="2" \| 2018 !scope="row"\| How to Get Away with Murder \| Cashier Girl \| Episode: "Ask Him About Stella"
scope="row"\| Z Nation \| Georgia "George" St. Clair \| Main cast (season 5)
2019–2020 !scope="row"\| Black Lightning \| Major Sara Grey \| Recurring role (season 3)
rowspan="3" \| 2020 !scope="row"\| Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. \| Kimball \| 3 episodes (season 7)
scope="row"\| Westworld \| EMT \| Episode: "The Absence of Field"
scope="row"\| The Talking Zed Show \| Herself \| TV series
2020, 2023 !scope="row"\| The Mandalorian \| Elia Kane \| Recurring role (seasons 2–3)
rowspan="3" \| 2021 !scope="row"\| Magnum P.I. \| Kai Durrell \| Episode: "First the Beatdown, Then the Blowback"
scope="row"\| The Rookie \| Katie Barnes \| Episode: "New Blood"
scope="row"\| 24 Hours of Nothing But Net with Debbie Antonelli \| Herself \| TV special

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"| Year

!scope="col"| Title

!scope="col"| Role

!scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

rowspan="2" | 2017

!scope="row"| Tosh.0

| Softball Player

| Episode: "UCF Baseball Player"

scope="row"| Halt and Catch Fire

| Bartender

| Episode: "Search"