# Kelly Overton

Kelly Overton is an American actress. She is known for portraying Vanessa Van Helsing in the 2016 Syfy fantasy drama series Van Helsing.

## Early life

Overton grew up in Wilbraham, Massachusetts. After graduating from Minnechaug Regional High School in 1997 she went on study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, where she graduated with their highest honor, The Charles Jehlinger Award.

## Career

She has performed off-Broadway, in regional Shakespeare, and on several TV shows. She began in national television in 2000 in the role of Rainn Wilkins on All My Children for several months. Then in 2002 she returned to theater on Broadway where she debuted in the original stage cast of The Graduate as an understudy for several roles, eventually replacing Alicia Silverstone in the role of Elaine Robinson, opposite Kathleen Turner and Jason Biggs.
In 2008, with husband Judson Pearce Morgan, she wrote, directed, produced and starred in The Collective. She plays Christie Monteiro in the 2009 film adaptation of the fighting game series Tekken. She appeared in the HBO series True Blood as werewolf Rikki Naylor and co-starred as Ann in "In My Sleep."
In 2016 Overton was cast as Vanessa Helsing, the lead character, in the Syfy television series Van Helsing.

## Reception

Of her role as Andrea Barton in the Numbers episode "Hollywood Homicide", reviewer Todd Mason of TV Guide wrote, "Kelly Overton excelled in her small role...". Of her directorial debut (with husband Judson Pearce Morgan) on the film The Collective, reviewer Joshua Tanzer wrote, "The Collective is beautifully shot, well crafted", while Farley Elliott of LAist wrote, "The story, while not frighteningly original, is definitely captivating, and the directing is superb. Kelly Overton, who helped to pen the film, is captivating and you really want to see her succeed".

## Personal life

Overton married fellow actor Judson Pearce Morgan in March 2004. In 2011 Overton gave birth to their daughter. It was confirmed during San Diego Comic-Con 2017 that Overton was pregnant during the production of the second season of Van Helsing. Overton gave birth to her second daughter in July 2017. Overton announced the birth of a son in August 2019.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2003 | It Runs in the Family | Erica | |
| 2004 | Breaking Dawn | Dawn | |
| 2005 | The Ring Two | Betsy | |
| 2006 | You Did What? | Day | |
| 2007 | The Wager | Tessa | |
| 2008 | The Collective | Tyler Clarke | also co-writer, co-producer, co-director |
| 2009 | Under New Management | Julie Capp | |
| 2009 | Tekken | Christie Monteiro | |
| 2010 | In My Sleep | Ann | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2000–2001 | All My Children | Rain Wilkins | Recurring role, 17 episodes |
| 2003 | Without a Trace | Audrey Rose | Episode: "There Goes the Bride" |
| 2003 | The Practice | Debbie Huber | Episode: "We the People" |
| 2004 | The Division | Cheryl Madison | Episode: "Crawl Space" |
| 2004 | Wedding Daze | Dahlia Landry | Television film |
| 2005 | The Studio | Heather Falls | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2006 | Desolation Canyon | Olivia Kendrick | Television film |
| 2006 | CSI: NY | Lynette Richmont | Episode: "Wasted" |
| 2006 | Close to Home | Lori Hulse | Episode: "Still a Small Town" |
| 2006 | Desperation | Cynthia Smith | Television film |
| 2006 | Twenty Questions | Kate Lewis | Television film |
| 2007 | Cold Case | Johanna Kimball (1981) | Episode: "Blood on the Tracks" |
| 2007 | Criminal Minds | Ranger Lizzie Evans | Episode: "Open Season" |
| 2007 | Numbers | Andrea Barton / Tracy Meade | Episode: "Hollywood Homicide" |
| 2008 | Psych | Ashley | Episode: "There Might Be Blood" |
| 2009 | Medium | Robin Aaronson | Episode: "Soul Survivor" |
| 2009 | CSI: Miami | Kaitlyn Sawyer | Episode: "Dead on Arrival" |
| 2009 | NCIS | Metro Det. Megan Hanley | Episode: "The Inside Man" |
| 2009–2010 | Three Rivers | Det. Rena Yablonski | Episodes: "Alone Together", "Every Breath You Take" |
| 2010 | Madso's War | Cheryl Keane | Television film |
| 2011 | In Plain Sight | Grace Haddick / Grace Littleton | Episode: "A Womb with a View" |
| 2011 | Ricochet | Det. Deedee Bowen | Television film |
| 2012–2013 | Beauty and the Beast | Claire Sinclair | Episodes: "Saturn Returns", "On Thin Ice", "Trust No One" |
| 2012–2013 | True Blood | Rikki Naylor | Recurring role, 14 episodes |
| 2014 | Unforgettable | Lt. Col. Emily Swain | Episode: "The Haircut" |
| 2014 | Back to Christmas | Ali Pennebaker | Television film |
| 2015 | Legends | Nina Brenner | Main role (season 2) |
| 2016–2021 | Van Helsing | Vanessa Helsing | Lead role |
| 2023 | S.W.A.T. | Eva | Episode: "Pariah" |

### Music videos

* Terrified (2010) from Katharine McPhee, as Herself