If you spent any part of the 2010s glued to Disney XD, you know Bree Davenport. She was the fast one. The girl who could outrun a supercar and stick to the ceiling like a human fly. But honestly, thinking about Kelli Berglund only in the context of Lab Rats is like looking at a photo through a keyhole. You’re missing the whole room.
She spent years playing the bionic middle sibling. It was a massive hit.
Four seasons, a spin-off, and enough merchandise to fill a stadium. But what happened after the "Disney machine" turned off? Most people expect child stars to either fade into the background or, well, have a very public meltdown. Kelli did neither. Instead, she took a hard left into some of the most intense, R-rated drama on television.
The Bionic Years: Why Bree Davenport Worked
Let's be real for a second. Lab Rats wasn't just another sitcom. It was the flagship show for a specific generation of kids who liked their comedy with a side of sci-fi. Kelli brought something to Bree that wasn't just "the girl in the group."
She was an elite dancer before she was an actress. That mattered.
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If you watch those early episodes, the way she moves—even when she isn't "using" her super-speed—is incredibly precise. She was trained in ballet, jazz, and contemporary. When she had to do a stunt or a fight sequence alongside Tyrel Jackson Williams or Billy Unger, she wasn't just hitting marks. She was choreographing.
Disney XD wasn't exactly known for high-stakes drama, but Bree’s character arc actually dealt with some heavy stuff for a kids' show. Think about it. She was a lab-grown human who just wanted to go to prom. That’s a weirdly effective metaphor for the awkwardness of being a teenager, and Kelli played that "I just want to be normal" energy perfectly.
The "Now Apocalypse" Shock Factor
Transitioning out of Disney is famously difficult. You’ve got the "wholesome" brand stuck to you like glue.
Then 2019 happened.
Kelli landed a lead role in Now Apocalypse on Starz. If you haven't seen it, maybe don't watch it with your parents. It was a neon-soaked, hyper-sexual, surrealist trip through Los Angeles. Kelli played Carly, a cam girl and aspiring actress.
Talk about a 180.
Basically, it was the "Spring Breakers" moment for her career. She wasn't playing the bionic girl next door anymore. She was dealing with graphic sexual encounters, existential dread, and—true to the show's title—the literal end of the world. Some fans were shocked. Kelli, though? She seemed relieved. She told W Magazine at the time that she knew it would be a "massive career curveball," but it was a risk she needed to take to be seen as a serious adult actor.
Why Heels Changed Everything
If Now Apocalypse was the shock to the system, Heels was the proof of concept.
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The Starz wrestling drama, which ran from 2021 to 2023, put Kelli in the ring as Crystal Tyler. This wasn't just a "girlfriend" role. Crystal started as a valet—the girl who walks the wrestlers to the ring—but she was secretly the best athlete in the building.
Kelli’s dance background came back in a huge way here.
Wrestling is, at its core, violent storytelling. It requires incredible body control. Kelli was doing her own stunts, taking bumps on the canvas, and selling moves that would leave most people in a neck brace. Seeing her go from the "fast girl" on Disney to a gritty, underdog wrestler in a small-town Georgia promotion was a revelation.
The Career Pivot: Not Just a One-Hit Wonder
Kelli has been working steadily since she was a kid on Hip Hop Harry. She’s not just "that girl from that show." She’s a survivor in an industry that usually eats kids alive.
- Doctor Odyssey (2025): She recently popped up as Penny Hollister.
- Queen of the Ring (2025): Returning to the wrestling world as Nell Stewart.
- Wallbanger (2024): Starring as Caroline in a romantic comedy that showed she hasn't lost her comedic timing.
- Cherry (2021): A supporting role in a Russo Brothers film starring Tom Holland.
She's making moves that feel intentional. She isn't chasing the biggest blockbuster; she's chasing characters that have some dirt under their fingernails.
The Truth About the "Disney Trap"
We see it all the time. Actors get stuck. They do one big show, and then they spend twenty years at fan conventions talking about the "good old days."
Kelli has been vocal about the pressure. In interviews, she’s mentioned how hard it is to grow up when your "awkward years" are documented in HD for millions of people. But she also doesn't bash Disney. She calls it a "machine," sure, but she also acknowledges it gave her the platform to even have a career in her late 20s.
It’s a balanced perspective that you don't always see. She’s appreciative, but she’s also done.
What’s Next for Kelli?
Looking at her current trajectory in 2026, it’s clear she’s focusing on range. She’s moved through the "teen idol" phase, survived the "edgy indie" phase, and is now settling into being a reliable, physical actress who can handle both comedy and intense drama.
Honestly, the wrestling roles seem to be her sweet spot. There’s something about the athleticism required that fits her perfectly.
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If you're still thinking of her as just Bree Davenport, it's time to update your mental IMDb. She’s been working for twenty years. She’s been a bionic human, a cam girl, a Dolly Parton sister, and a professional wrestler.
Actionable Insight for Fans and Follower:
If you want to see the best of what she can do right now, skip the Disney+ rewatches for a second. Go find Heels. It’s where she finally combined her physical discipline as a dancer with the acting chops she’s been sharpening since she was nine years old. It’s the definitive "grown-up" Kelli Berglund performance.
Keep an eye out for Queen of the Ring. It’s a biographical sports drama where she plays the antagonist, which is a role we haven't seen her dive into fully yet. Playing the "heel" (the villain) in a wrestling movie is a far cry from being the hero on Disney XD, and it's exactly the kind of move that keeps an actor relevant for decades.