# KiKi Layne

Kiandra "KiKi" Layne (born December 10, 1991) is an American actress. She is known for her film roles in the romantic drama If Beale Street Could Talk (2018), the drama Native Son (2019), the action superhero film The Old Guard (2020), the romantic comedy Coming 2 America (2021), and the psychological thriller Don't Worry Darling (2022).

## Early life

Layne is from Cincinnati, Ohio. She earned a BFA in acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University in 2014.
In a 2018 interview with Vanity Fair, Layne said that she was always acting growing up and that her favorite movie as a child was The Lion King. She said, "I used to watch it every day and create these extravagant stories with my Barbies and stuffed animals."

## Career

Layne's first acting role was with Lena Waithe in the pilot for the drama series The Chi, filmed in 2015.
She has modeled for the fashion brand Kate Spade New York.
Layne's breakout role was in Barry Jenkins' 2018 drama If Beale Street Could Talk. She starred in the 2019 screen adaptation of Richard Wright’s 1940 novel Native Son, then alongside Charlize Theron in 2020's The Old Guard, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood.
Layne was featured in composer Max Richter's Voices, which was inspired by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The album contains readings of the Declaration by Eleanor Roosevelt and Layne, with a further 70 readings by people around the world.
In 2021, Layne joined the cast alongside Eddie Murphy in the Amazon Prime sequel Coming 2 America.
Layne stars as Detective Ellie Steckler in Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers.

## Personal life

Layne is currently in a relationship with Ari'el Stachel, whom she met on the set of Don't Worry Darling in the fall of 2020.

## Filmography

Key :
| † | Denotes works that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2015 | Veracity | Olivia | Short film |
| 2016 | Chicago Med | Emmie Miles | Episode: "Soul Care" |
| 2018 | If Beale Street Could Talk | Tish Rivers | |
| 2019 | Native Son | Bessie | |
| 2019 | Captive State | Carrie | |
| 2019 | The Staggering Girl | Adut | Short film |
| 2020 | The Old Guard | Nile Freeman | |
| 2021 | Coming 2 America | Meeka Joffer | |
| 2022 | Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers | Ellie Steckler | |
| 2022 | Don't Worry Darling | Margaret | |
| 2024 | Dandelion | Dandelion | Also executive producer |
| 2025 | The Old Guard 2 † | Nile Freeman | Post-production |

## Awards and nominations

| Association | Year | Work | Category | Result |
| Black Reel Awards | 2019 | If Beale Street Could Talk | Outstanding Actress, Motion Picture | Won |
| Black Reel Awards | 2019 | If Beale Street Could Talk | Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Female | Nominated |
| Black Reel Awards | 2021 | The Old Guard | Outstanding Supporting Actress, Motion Picture | Nominated |
| Critics' Choice Super Awards | 2021 | The Old Guard | Best Actress in a Superhero Movie | Nominated |
| Georgia Film Critics Association | 2018 | If Beale Street Could Talk | Breakthrough Award | Nominated |
| Gotham Awards | 2018 | If Beale Street Could Talk | Best Breakthrough Actor | Nominated |
| NAACP Image Awards | 2019 | If Beale Street Could Talk | Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture | Nominated |
| NAACP Image Awards | 2019 | If Beale Street Could Talk | Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture | Nominated |
| Seattle Film Critics Society | 2018 | If Beale Street Could Talk | Best Ensemble Cast | Nominated |
| Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association | 2018 | If Beale Street Could Talk | Best Acting Ensemble | Nominated |
| Women Film Critics Circle | 2018 | If Beale Street Could Talk | Breakthrough Award | Nominated |
| Women Film Critics Circle | 2018 | If Beale Street Could Talk | Best Ensemble | Nominated |
| Women Film Critics Circle | 2018 | KiKi Layne & Stephan James | Best Screen Couple | Won |