Bio

Kela (like “hella”) Parker is an actor, musician, writer, model, and producer with a commanding presence and magnetic depth. Known for portraying powerful, complex women—from high-powered professionals and detectives to emotionally layered romantic leads and morally intricate villains—Parker brings both strength and depth to every role and has appeared in films, television, web series, commercials, and audio dramas. With a captivating blend of sophistication, bohemian flair, and deadpan wit, she navigates a diverse range of characters with ease – plus, she’s got musical virtuosity to boot. Whether playing her distinct “art folk” at live venues across the United States or portraying complex female characters, Kela inhabits every role with distinction.

Originally from Berkeley, California, as a singer-songwriter, Parker has performed across the US from the Aladdin Theatre in Portland, Oregon to Rockwood Music Hall in New York to Los Angeles’ storied Viper Room. She has a Masters of Fine Arts in Music Composition from Vermont College of Fine Arts (2016). In Portland, Kela ran a community music studio and in Los Angeles has worked as a Teaching Artist for Urban Voices Project, facilitating the partnership between UVP and Safe Place for Youth to advance the accessibility of music for youth experiencing homelessness and for artists on Skid Row. Equally comfortable performing as she is behind the scenes as a composer, writer, and producer, Kela brings her visions to life across multiple forms of media.

Extra bits

  • Movies I’ve watched in excess of ten times each: ‘Cry Baby,’ ‘Legends of the Fall,’ ‘Adventures in Babysitting,’ ‘Labyrinth,’ ‘Goonies,’ ‘Princess Bride’
  • Books I’m currently reading: ‘The Jazz of Physics,’ ‘Wild LA,’ ‘Paris Was a Woman,’ ‘Hermetic Magic’
  • Never have I ever: Sung karaoke. Yes, and I’m a singer. Oh okay except ONCE. And it was the most un-karaoke song ever (“River” by Joni Mitchell. The DJ had to take several minutes aside to find it and pull it up for me).
  • Favorite color: Has always been and always will be orange.
  • Cats or dogs: CATS.
  • Desert island food: avocados. Because then you can grow an avocado tree from the pit and you’re all set.