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Kristina KlebeAmerican actress
Date of Birth: 18.06.1979
Country:  USA |
Content:
Early Life and Education
Kristina Klebe, a talented actress of Italian-German descent, was born on June 18, 1979, in the bustling metropolis of New York City. Her father, Jörg Klebe, was a German immigrant who worked as a television producer and received three Emmy nominations. Her mother, Irmgard, was half-German and half-Sicilian, and dedicated her life to charity work, receiving the Legion of Honour in 2015.
Due to her parents' active lifestyle, Kristina Klebe's childhood was marked by frequent relocations. Living in Germany, Italy, and France, she became fluent in four languages: English, German, French, and Italian. At the age of 15, Klebe returned to the "Big Apple," where she graduated from a prestigious Catholic all-girls high school that also educated Lady Gaga and Nicky Hilton. Her dream of pursuing acting had blossomed in her early years, as she would create stories and characters to entertain herself.
After receiving her high school diploma, Klebe attended Dartmouth College, graduating with honors. She then continued her education at the Eugene O'Neill National Theatre Institute in Waterford, Connecticut. She also holds a Master's degree from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.
Film Career
Kristina Klebe's acting journey began on the stage, which remains her greatest passion. As a young actress, she performed in off-Broadway productions in New York City. Her debut on the big screen came in 2004 with an uncredited role in the drama "The Other Shoe." Klebe's career gradually gained momentum with small appearances in television series such as "Rescue Me" and "Law & Order," as well as supporting roles in comedy films alongside Steve Buscemi, Michael Pitt, Anthony Mackie, and Kerry Washington ("She Hate Me," "Delirious").
Klebe gained recognition and a loyal fan base after playing the sassy and foul-mouthed Lynda in Rob Zombie's 2007 horror remake "Halloween." In the film, which was well-received by audiences, serial killer Michael Myers spoke for the first time (having been silent in previous installments). Despite the genre, filming was reportedly a cheerful experience, with Malcolm McDowell causing many ruined takes with his antics. Klebe, who had to shoot her first nude scene for the movie, recalled being nervous about her parents' reaction, but they were understanding.
Following her breakthrough performance, Klebe was regularly offered roles in horror and thriller films. In 2009, she played Agent Mina Milius in Milan Todorović and Milan Konjević's "The Abandoned," and two years later, she appeared as Eva Braun in the horror anthology film "Chillerama." Klebe also headlined the low-budget horror flick "Breadcrumbs" by Mike Nichols in 2011.
In 2013, the actress received critical acclaim for her portrayal of the psychopathic Anika in Zak Parker's thriller "Proxy." After this role, Klebe vowed to avoid further nude scenes, as her photographs from the movie had been leaked online.
Klebe reunited with Milan Todorović for the horror film "Mamula," where her character, along with Natalie Burn, battles a bloodthirsty mermaid for survival. She followed this up with a performance in the psychological horror "Dementia" (2015), which critics compared to Kathy Bates' role in Stephen King's "Misery."
Tired of playing similar characters, Klebe later transitioned into portraying tough detectives. She first showcased this persona in the science fiction anthology film "Tales of Halloween," then starred as Detective Pierce alongside '80s action star Dolph Lundgren in "Don't Kill It," and as Detective Martin in "Her Dark Past."
In 2018, Klebe added to her filmography with a recurring role in four episodes of the popular crime series "Professor T," starring Matthias Matschke. She was then cast in Neil Marshall's big-budget film "Hellboy." Despite featuring stars like David Harbour and Milla Jovovich, the remake failed at the box office, grossing $55 million against a production budget of $50 million.
Klebe secured a lead role in Kevin Shulman's horror flick "I Am Fear," a remake of the 2007 short film "The Eyes of Samir." While the film's unexpected twists and turns failed to garner significant audience attention, Klebe's strong performance was acknowledged.
Other Creative Pursuits
As a filmmaker, Kristina Klebe has directed over a dozen open-heart surgeries for organizations such as Doctors Without Borders, Surgeons for Hope, and Open Heart Haiti. She made her directorial debut with the short film "As Human as Animal," starring Diamond Dallas Page, which was screened in competition at the Sitges Film Festival in Spain.
Personal Life
Klebe currently resides in Glendale, California. Long keeping her private life out of the spotlight, she shared on social media in fall 2022 that she had been dating actor Byron Clohessy for six months after meeting him on a film set in New Orleans. Klebe posted a photo with her boyfriend, expressing how much she missed him and looked forward to more travels together. The couple attended the premiere of the slasher "Halloween Ends" together.
Previously, the actress (who stands at 5'8") had been in a relationship with the late cinematographer and director Kai Orion, but details of their separation have remained private.
In 2023, Russian audiences welcomed the American horror icon in the film "Insidious: The Red Door." Directed by Pierre Tsigaridis, Klebe starred alongside Rebecca Kennedy and Tim Fox. While it may not rank among the subgenre's best horror efforts, the film received positive critical reception and won the FilmQuest Cthulhu Award for "Best Editing" and the Jury Award for makeup.
Klebe has several more projects currently in the pipeline, including the thriller "The Plantation," in which she reprises her leading role, and the horror film "Brooklyn 45."
