Whatever one thinks of actors and Hollywood as a whole, and there’s a lot to ponder about the industry and its members, there’s no denying that glamour, prestige and wealth aside, the hallmarks of the profession, its members are still just people are trying to get through various personal problems and challenges. For some, the profession is a means of satisfying their vanity, desire for wealth and fame, while for others, like Kelly McGillis, Hollywood was the natural ending of a journey that began as an escape from a difficult life.

Kelly McGillis is known for her work in a number of films, most notably Top Gun and The Accused . She is one of Hollywood’s most famous living actresses. Who is she? Find out more about them by reading below.

Kelly McGillis’ Biography

Kelly was born the son of Dr. Donald Manson McGillis and Virginia Joan on July 9, 1957 in Newport Beach, California. However, she grew up in Los Angeles, where she received extensive acting training. Starting out at the Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts at Allan Hancock College and then moving across the country to attend the world-renowned Julliard School of Fine Arts in New York City. Kelly Mcgillis graduated as an actress in 1983, graduating from Julliard with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

The same year that she graduated, McGillis starred as Reuben, Reuben marking her film debut. It was the culmination of a passion for acting that began as an escape from a life fraught with the misery of loneliness and being overweight. In her debut as Geneva Spofford in Reuben, Reuben furthered Kelly McGillis’ reputation as a very talented actress. After the film, she landed her second full-length role as Rachel Lapp in Witness, a 1985 film co-directed with Harrison Ford. Her performance and the film earned her Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations, the first of a successful career.

Before starring in what would be her next biggest film that would go on to become an icon whose greatness spans generations, Kelly starred in a number of television projects, mostly credited for TV movies like A Life To Live , Private Sessions and Sweet Revenge . In 1986 she starred in Top Gunand played Charlotte Blackwood alongside Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer. Kelly’s acting skills made her a studio, casting director and director of some of the best films in the business. This recognition put her in the enviable position of working alongside other talented actors who have gone on to become big names in the industry such as Jeff Daniels and Timothy Hotton.

Kelly is also a teacher who spends much of her time in rural classrooms teaching aspiring actors and actresses what she has learned over three decades of acting. The actress has a couple in her cabinet, including two Bravo Otto Awards for Best Actress for the films Made in Heaven and Top Gun.

Is she gay or lesbian and who is her wife?

Kelly has been in three high-profile relationships since she burst onto the scene as an actress. She was first married to Boyd Black in 1979. The two Julliard students were married for two years and ended their relationship in divorce in 1981. She married Fred Tillman eight years after her first marriage ended in 1989. The marriage lasted longer than her previous marriage and produced two daughters. However, the marriage ended in 2002.

In April 2009, during an interview, McGillis announced to the world that she was indeed gay. She came out as a lesbian and began dating Melanie Leis the following year. The two had known each other for ten years prior to their civil union. However, the relationship ended in 2011, a year after the union. Since then

Where is she now?

Kelly has stayed away from the limelight for a bit for a while, instead opting to spend most of her time on stage and in the classroom, teaching at New York City stage and screen studio NYS3. Her most recent onscreen appearances were for the TV movie, An Unusual Grace . She decides to step away from the active Hollywood world and lives in North Carolina.