Kelly-Anne Lyons

Kelly-Anne Lyons is an American actress, television presenter, writer, and model. Born on March 17, 1985, in New Jersey, she is known for her work in various comedy series, sketch shows, and modeling campaigns. Her breakthrough role came as the female lead, Kelly-Anne Manhattan, in the BBC comedy series Dick and Dom's Funny Business.

Lyons moved with her family to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, at the age of five, where she later studied at the North Carolina School of the Arts. Her family returned to New Jersey prior to her teenage years, settling in the Basking Ridge section of Bernards Township. She attended Ridge High School from 1999 to 2003. She then earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Marymount Manhattan College and trained at Weist Barron Hill Acting For Television and Film.

While working as a model in New York City during her undergraduate studies, Lyons was scouted by an English modeling agency. A week after her college graduation, she joined the agency in London. As a model, she has worked on campaigns for brands including Special K, The Body Shop, Fila, Fitness First, Microsoft, and John Lewis & Partners.

In October 2008, Lyons starred as the title character, Chelsey Pucks, in the interactive online teen sitcom Chelsey: OMG!, produced by Channel X and created by comedian Nat Coombs. Broadcast on the social networking platform Bebo in short semi-weekly episodes, the series accrued nearly three million views by August 2009. Her television career expanded when she landed her breakthrough role in Dick and Dom's Funny Business, which premiered on BBC Two and the CBBC Channel in January 2011.

Lyons has featured prominently in hidden camera and sketch comedy television shows. Her credits include ITV1’s Fool Britannia alongside Dom Joly, BBC1’s Richard Hammond’s Secret Service, MTV’s Flash Prank, Channel 5's Secret Interview, and National Geographic’s Ape Man. She also portrayed the character Tess in the BBC Three sitcom Badults, created by the comedy group Pappy's.

Additionally, Lyons plays news anchor Felicity Bond alongside co-anchor William Andrews in the CBBC comedy series DNN. The show received a nomination for Best Comedy at the 2013 Children's British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards. Alongside her entertainment career, Lyons has served as a Celebrity Supporter for the UK charity Arthritis Care since 2011, contributing to fundraising and awareness efforts following her personal experience with the condition during her teenage years.