Moira Kelly (March 6, 1968 in Queens, New York) is an American actress.
She is the third of six children. Her father, Peter, was trained as a concert violinist. Her mother, Anne, is a nurse. Both are Irish immigrants. Moira was raised in Ronkonkoma, NY. She attended Connetquot Senior High School in Bohemia, Long Island, graduating in the class of 1986. Later she attended Marymount Manhattan College.
Kelly is notable for playing Mandy Hampton in the first season of the White House television drama The West Wing, as well as for providing the voice of Nala in Disney's The Lion King, The Lion King 1 1/2, and The Lion King II: Simba's Pride.
She also has appeared in the movies Chaplin, With Honors, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, and, in arguably her best-known film appearance, as figure skater Kate Moseley in The Cutting Edge. She had the starring role of activist Dorothy Day in the independent film Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story. Kelly returned to the small screen playing Karen Roe on One Tree Hill.
In her youth, Kelly was cast in a small role in her high school's 1984 production of Annie. Due to illness, the young woman playing Miss Hannigan was replaced, causing a series of cast changes. Director Eric Martinsen chose to recast Moira as Grace Farrell. She was a great success, and so began her career. In 2000, Moira Kelly married Steve Hewitt, a Texas businessman. They have two children, Ella and Eamon.
Born March 6, 1968 in Queens, New York, she is the third of six kids. Her father, Peter, was trained as a concert violinist. Her mother, Anne, is a nurse. Both are Irish immigrants. Moira was raised in Ronkonkoma, NY. She attended Connetquot Senior High School and graduated in the class of 1986. Later Moira attended Marymount Manhattan College. In 1984 Moira was cast in a small role in Connetquot Senior High School's production of Annie. Due to illness, the young woman playing Miss Hannigan was replaced, causing a series of cast changes. Director Eric Martinsen chose to recast Moira as Grace Farrell. She was a great success, and so began her career.
