Kelly Carlson

Kelly Carlson hails from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her solid Midwestern upbringing had a profound effect on her personality, and Kelly credits her mother and godmother as her greatest supports while growing up. "I call them my two mothers, because there's no way in the world I would be where I am without both of them," she explains.

Kelly is an accomplished equestrian; she started riding horses when she was only 4 years old. Once she grew up, however, Kelly turned to acting, appearing in small-time productions in Minnesota.

Before long, she moved on to modeling in ad campaigns for Miller Lite, Rembrandt, and Oliver People Sunglasses, among others. But Kelly tried to keep up with acting, appearing in theatrical productions of Vanities, Cheaters, Girl's Guide to Chaos, Charlotte's Web, and Can't Trust the Man. She also took bit parts in films like 3000 Miles to Graceland (2001).

kelly carlson's career gets a lift

It wasn't until 2003 that Kelly began to break out in Hollywood. It was in the summer of that year that she appeared in the pilot for the hit show Nip/Tuck, playing an aspiring model, Kimber Henry. Kelly's performance struck a chord with audiences, and she returned to the show on many occasions, becoming the girlfriend of the sleazy Dr. Christian Troy (Julian McMahon). Kelly went on to guest-star on the drama Everwood and the soap opera Passions.

In the meantime, Kelly's movie career began to gather more momentum. In 2004, she took on a role in Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation, the direct-to-video sequel of 1997's sci-fi slaughter-fest. That same year, she also appeared in Paparazzi, even though invasive reporters haven't started hounding her yet. "The paparazzi that I know are very kind to me and are very polite, and I'm very polite to them," she elaborates. "They do play an important role in our careers, they really do."

kelly carlson in the marine

Kelly gives much of her time to charitable causes as well. She's visited injured veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan at Fort Hood, and she is a spokeswoman for The Smile Network, which -- ironically, considering her Nip/Tuck fame -- provides free surgery for children in need worldwide.

Kelly's next project will be The Marine (2005), the first feature production by Vince McMahon's WWE Films. Currently shooting in Australia, Kelly plays the kidnapped wife of a Marine, played by John Sena.

But Nip/Tuck fans need not despair: Kelly will likely be back on the show to cause more trouble for its plastic surgeon stars. "I know I'm coming back. I know there will be some monstrosity of a situation that will happen to me," she says, even though Kelly admits that she doesn't know the details since the show's writers "don't even tell me 'cause I have a big mouth."