KiKi Layne
An actress whose breathtaking film debut announced a major new talent, bringing radiant vulnerability and fierce strength to every role she inhabits.
Born 1991 (age 35)·American actress·Birthday: December 10·Millennials
Biography
When KiKi Layne appeared as Tish Rivers in Barry Jenkins's 'If Beale Street Could Talk,' it was a star-making moment of quiet intensity. The Cincinnati native, born in 1991, brought a luminous, heart-wrenching hope to the adaptation of James Baldwin's novel, holding the screen with a maturity that belied her feature film debut. That performance set a high bar, which Layne has consistently met by choosing eclectic, challenging projects. She transformed the classic character of Bessie Mears in 'Native Son,' joined the immortal warriors of 'The Old Guard,' and held her own alongside comedy legends in 'Coming 2 America.' Layne possesses a rare quality: an ability to project deep inner life, whether in period drama or big-budget action. She navigates Hollywood not as a ingenue but as a serious artist, selectively building a filmography that prioritizes substance and narrative power, establishing herself as one of her generation's most compelling dramatic actresses.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
KiKi was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When KiKi Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
KiKi's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Made her critically acclaimed feature film debut as the lead, Tish Rivers, in Barry Jenkins's 'If Beale Street Could Talk'.
- Starred as the new immortal warrior Nile Freeman in the Netflix action film 'The Old Guard'.
- Played a modern adaptation of Bessie Mears in the HBO film 'Native Son'.
Did You Know?
She graduated from the Theatre School at DePaul University in Chicago.
Layne performed her own stunts for her action-heavy role in 'The Old Guard'.
She was a competitive cheerleader for ten years during her youth.
“I want to tell stories that make people feel seen, that make people feel less alone.”
