You probably know her as Neela. That’s the most common starting point. Back in 2006, when The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift hit theaters, Nathalie Kelley was the face of the "gaijin" girl who could actually drift. She was 21, Peruvian-born, Australian-raised, and suddenly one of the most recognizable faces in a global franchise. But if you’ve only ever seen her in a Mazda RX-8, you’ve missed a weird, wild, and surprisingly diverse career.
Honestly, the way she jumped from street racing to playing a literal ancient siren in The Vampire Diaries is kind of a flex. She hasn't just stuck to one lane. We've seen her as a soap opera lead, a ruthless villain, and a high-fashion socialite.
The Breakout: Nathalie Kelley Movies and TV Shows Begin with a Bang
Before she was a Hollywood name, Nathalie was a student in Sydney. She was actually studying political science at the University of New South Wales. Then, a pilot called Mermaid happened. It didn't get picked up, but it got her to LA.
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006) remains her most iconic film credit. It's funny because people still debate if Tokyo Drift is the best or worst of the franchise. Regardless, her role as Neela gave the movie its heart. She wasn't just a trophy; she had a backstory as an orphan taken in by the Yakuza-connected Takashi.
After that, the movie roles were a bit hit or miss. She did a film called Loaded in 2008 and appeared in the retro-comedy Take Me Home Tonight (2011). There was also The Depraved (also known as Urban Explorer), a gritty horror film set in the tunnels beneath Berlin. It’s a far cry from the neon lights of Tokyo. If you want to see her do something dark, that's the one to hunt down.
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The Television Shift
Movies are great, but television is where Nathalie Kelley really found her footing. She’s one of those actors who can disappear for a year and then pop up in three major shows at once.
- Body of Proof (2011): She played Dani Alvarez. It was a solid procedural role, but she left after one season.
- UnREAL (2015): This is where she really started to show her range. She played Grace, a contestant on a fictional dating show. It was a meta-commentary on the industry she was actually working in.
- The Vampire Diaries (2016-2017): Playing Sybil was a turning point. Sybil wasn't just a vampire; she was an immortal Siren. She was manipulative, cruel, and strangely vulnerable. Fans of the show either loved her or absolutely hated her, which, in the world of TV villains, means she did a fantastic job.
Why the Dynasty Reboot Changed Everything
In 2017, The CW rebooted Dynasty. They cast Nathalie as Cristal Flores. This was a big deal. She was playing the new wife of billionaire Blake Carrington, stepping into a role originally made famous in the 80s.
She brought a certain warmth to the "gold digger" trope. Her Cristal (eventually revealed to be Celia Machado) was actually the moral compass of a very immoral family.
Then came the shocker. At the end of Season 1, her character was written out. It was a massive controversy in the fandom. Fans were confused. Why fire the lead? Nathalie eventually opened up about it, mentioning that she struggled with the format of a night-time soap and didn't feel like she was fitting into the creative vision. It was a bummer for viewers, but it cleared her schedule for what many consider her best work.
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The Baker and the Beauty
If you haven't seen The Baker and the Beauty, you're missing out on peak comfort TV. Airing in 2020, this ABC show featured Nathalie as Noa Hamilton. Noa is a world-famous supermodel who falls for a regular guy working at his family's bakery in Miami.
It was sweet. It was vibrant. It felt real. Nathalie, who is proud of her Indigenous Peruvian heritage, got to bring a lot of herself to Noa. She fought for the show to feel authentic to the Latinx experience. Sadly, ABC canceled it after one season, sparking a huge "Save The Baker and the Beauty" campaign online. It didn't work, but the show remains a cult favorite on streaming platforms.
Recent Projects and What's Coming in 2026
Nathalie hasn't slowed down. She’s moved into more specialized projects. Recently, she’s been part of the cast for Motorheads, a series that feels like a spiritual successor to her Fast & Furious days. It’s about a group of outsiders in a rust-belt town who find a community through car culture.
She also starred in To Catch a Spy for Hallmark. It’s a bit of a departure, but she plays the travel writer/amateur sleuth role with a lot of charm.
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As of early 2026, she’s been increasingly vocal about her work as an "Earth Ambassador." She spends a lot of time in the Peruvian Amazon working with indigenous communities. It's not just a side hobby; she’s actively producing documentary content centered on regenerative agriculture and climate justice.
The Full Filmography (Highlights)
- The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006) - Neela
- Take Me Home Tonight (2011) - Beth
- The Depraved (2011) - Lucia
- Body of Proof (2011-2012) - Dani Alvarez
- UnREAL (2015) - Grace
- The Vampire Diaries (2016-2017) - Sybil
- Dynasty (2017-2018) - Cristal Flores / Celia Machado
- The Baker and the Beauty (2020) - Noa Hamilton
- To Catch a Spy (2021) - Chloe Day
- Motorheads (2025/2026) - Addie
The "Neela" Curse
There’s a common misconception that Nathalie Kelley's career started and ended with Tokyo Drift. It’s a bit of a Hollywood curse—becoming so linked to a massive franchise that people forget you’re an actor with actual range.
Actually, she’s one of the few actors who managed to escape the "action movie" box. By shifting into CW dramas and then ABC romantic leads, she proved she could carry a show without a nitrous tank in the trunk.
If you want to dive deeper into her work, don't just re-watch the drifting scenes. Go find UnREAL. It’s the most underrated thing she’s done. It shows the cynical side of Hollywood, and she plays the "pretty girl" archetype with a surprising amount of bitterness and depth.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're looking to catch up on her best work, start with The Baker and the Beauty. It’s only nine episodes, so you can binge it in a weekend. It’s available on various streaming services (check Netflix or Hulu depending on your region).
After that, if you're feeling brave, tackle The Vampire Diaries Season 8. You don't necessarily need to know all the lore to appreciate her performance as Sybil; she’s just a masterclass in being a "love-to-hate" villain. Finally, keep an eye out for her documentary work in 2026—she’s moving more into the producer's chair, and that’s likely where her most personal stories will be told from now on.