Kelli Michelle Berglund Bio
Kelli Michelle Berglund (born February 9, 1996) is an American actress who built her career through leading roles on the Disney XD series Lab Rats and Starz dramas including Now Apocalypse and Heels. Born in Moorpark, California, she began performing as a child actor on TLC’s Hip Hop Harry and has since appeared across film and television through the 2010s and 2020s. Berglund continues to take on diverse roles across genres while maintaining a strong presence in both studio and independent productions.
Raised in Moorpark, Berglund attended Moorpark High School’s independent study program while building her early entertainment career. She began acting at a young age and expanded into commercials, modeling, and competitive dance before landing her first major television role at age sixteen. Over the following decade, she transitioned from family-oriented projects to more adult-driven dramas, establishing herself as a working actor with range across comedy, drama, and action.
Early Life and Background
Kelli Michelle Berglund was born and raised in Moorpark, California, where she continues to reside. She is the eldest of two daughters born to Mark and Michelle (née Blandy) Berglund and is the older sister of Kirra Berglund, who was born in 2002. Berglund is of Italian, Irish, German, Swedish, English, and Scottish descent and graduated through Moorpark High School’s independent study program, which allowed her flexibility to pursue acting opportunities while completing her education.
During her formative years in Moorpark, Berglund developed a strong passion for dance that became a central part of her early training. She studied lyrical contemporary and jazz and earned many awards in dance competitions, though she particularly favors contemporary, a blend of ballet and jazz. Outside of performing, she enjoys swimming and photography. This combination of artistic training and academic discipline provided a solid foundation for the entertainment career she would pursue professionally.
Path to Actress
Berglund began performing as a child and entered the industry through a series regular role on TLC’s Hip Hop Harry, a children’s television series focused on teaching through music and movement. That early experience gave her exposure to on-camera work and opened the door to additional television appearances, including spots on Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader and America’s Next Producer. She also appeared in the indie film Bye Bye Benjamin, gaining experience outside the structured environment of a multi-camera children’s show.
Alongside her acting work, Berglund built a robust portfolio of commercial and modeling credits that kept her visible to casting directors and industry professionals. She appeared in advertising campaigns for Old Navy, Hyundai, Bratz, McDonald’s, and Mattel, and did print and modeling work for Reebok and the Camarillo Academy of Performing Arts. Her dance background also distinguished her from typical child actors and contributed to the physical confidence she brought to later roles requiring movement or athleticism.
Kelli Michelle Berglund Career
Early Career (2006–2012)
From 2006 onward, Berglund worked steadily as a child and young teen actor across television, commercials, and independent film. Her earliest credited work includes her series regular role on TLC’s Hip Hop Harry, followed by guest appearances on game shows and reality-adjacent programming. She appeared in the indie feature Bye Bye Benjamin and built an extensive commercial reel with national campaigns for major brands including Old Navy, Hyundai, McDonald’s, Mattel, and Bratz. She also modeled for Reebok and the Camarillo Academy of Performing Arts during this period.
Concurrent with her on-camera work, Berglund competed in dance across lyrical contemporary and jazz styles, earning multiple awards that reflected a high level of dedication and craft. Her preference for contemporary dance, which fuses ballet technique with jazz expression, influenced her physical approach to performance and helped her stand out in auditions that required a strong movement background. These early years established her as a versatile young performer comfortable in front of the camera and on stage.
Breakthrough (2012–2016)
In 2012, Berglund achieved her career breakthrough when she was cast as Bree Davenport in the Disney XD live-action comedy series Lab Rats. Bree is an overly outgoing bionic teenager with super speed, and Berglund played the character for the full four-season run from 2012 to 2016 alongside co-stars Tyrel Jackson Williams, Billy Unger, and Spencer Boldman. The series developed a loyal young audience and made Berglund a recognizable face in the Disney ecosystem. She reprised the role in the 2016 spinoff Lab Rats: Elite Force, which brought together characters from Lab Rats and the series Mighty Med.
In 2013, Berglund guest starred on the Disney XD series Kickin’ It as karate prodigy Sloane Jennings, a performance that included a duet of the song Had Me @ Hello with co-star Olivia Holt. That same year, she began work on the 2013 Disney Channel Original Movie How to Build a Better Boy, starring as Mae Hartley, a tech-savvy teenager who devises a plan with her best friend to create the perfect boyfriend using technology. Berglund performed the song Something Real with co-star China Anne McClain, which was released on July 29, 2014. These projects cemented her standing within the Disney Channel and Disney XD roster during a peak period for the brand.
Notable Works and Milestones
Beyond her Disney work, Berglund took on a dramatic departure from her usual fare in 2016 when she co-starred in the NBC television film Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love as Willadeene Parton, the older sister of country music legend Dolly Parton. She also starred that year in Raising the Bar, playing a former gymnast who rediscovers her passion for the sport after relocating to Australia. In 2018, she led the film Going for Gold, a cheerleading story set in Adelaide, Australia. These projects demonstrated a willingness to pursue varied and geographically diverse work beyond the Disney system.
Kelli Michelle Berglund Career Expansion and Later Work
Transition to Mature Roles (2018–Present)
In June 2018, Berglund was cast in a starring role as Carly in the Starz television series Now Apocalypse, a surrealist comedy series that marked a significant tonal and audience shift from her earlier Disney work. The series premiered in 2019 and ran for one season. Also in 2019, Berglund took on a recurring role as Olivia in the fourth season of the drama series Animal Kingdom, further establishing her range within the drama genre on premium cable platforms. These roles represented a deliberate move toward more adult-oriented material and broader creative challenges.
Berglund’s film work during this period included a minor but memorable role as a teen in a Billie Eilish costume in the 2020 Netflix comedy Hubie Halloween, starring Adam Sandler. In 2021, she appeared in the crime drama Cherry alongside Tom Holland and Ciara Bravo, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and based on Nico Walker’s 2018 novel of the same name. From 2021 to 2023, Berglund played the main role of Crystal Tyler in the Starz drama series Heels, a professional wrestling drama that earned critical acclaim for its performances and writing.
In 2024, Berglund starred in the romantic comedy Wallbanger alongside Amadeus Serafini and appeared as wrestler Nell Stewart in the film Queen of the Ring. In 2025, she appeared as a guest star on the ABC series Doctor Odyssey. In May 2026, it was announced that Berglund was cast as a series regular in the Hulu series Prison Break, marking another high-profile addition to her growing roster of television credits. With nearly two decades of work behind her, Berglund has demonstrated sustained momentum across film, broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms.
Kelli Michelle Berglund Family
Kelli Michelle Berglund was born to Mark and Michelle (née Blandy) Berglund and remains close to her family in Moorpark, California. She has a younger sister named Kirra Berglund, who was born in 2002. Her mother, Michelle Berglund, is the daughter of someone with the surname Blandy. Berglund is of Italian, Irish, German, Swedish, English, and Scottish descent, reflecting a diverse European heritage. Her parents and sister remain based in her hometown, where she also continues to live.
Personal Life
Berglund began dating musician Tyler Wilson, who performs with the band Bad Feelings, in March 2016. After eight years together, the couple became engaged on November 9, 2024. Beyond her relationship, Berglund maintains a low-key personal profile focused on her work and family in Moorpark. She has no children. In her spare time, she pursues photography and swimming as creative and recreational outlets outside of her acting career.