Kiele Michelle Sanchez (/ˈkiËli/ KEE-lee; born October 13, 1977) is an American actress who starred in the A&E Network drama The Glades. Previously she had starred as Anne Sorelli in the The WB comedy-drama Related and as Nikki Fernandez on the main cast in the third season of the ABC television action-adventure series Lost. She currently stars in the DirecTV drama series Kingdom on the Audience Network.
Early life and education
Sanchez was born in Chicago, Illinois. Her father, Oscar Sanchez, is a racetrack jockey agent. She is one of four children, and is of Puerto Rican and French descent. Sanchez began her acting career at Glenbard North High School in Carol Stream, Ill., when she performed in a school production of The Grapes of Wrath. Her performance helped her overcome her stage fright, with which she struggled at the time.
Career
In 2000, Sanchez auditioned for MTV's Wanna Be a VJ contest in New York. Kiele was selected as one of the five finalists, but did not win the competition. However, an agent who had seen her on MTV expressed interest in representing her.
After her agent recommended a move to Los Angeles, Sanchez auditioned and landed roles in the short-lived drama series That Was Then and the sitcom Married to the Kellys. In 2003, Sanchez appeared in the film Stuck on You. She joined the cast of the hit ABC show Lost for the series' third season, as Nikki Fernandez, but due to fan responses to her character, she was killed off six episodes after her first appearance. She had a recurring role on the ABC show Samantha Who?. She played a leading role in the 2008 film Insanitarium alongside Jesse Metcalfe and co-starred in the 2009 thriller A Perfect Getaway.
Sanchez starred in the 2010 film 30 Days of Night: Dark Days, taking over the role of Stella Oleson from Melissa George, who played her in the first film. Sanchez currently stars in the DirecTV drama series Kingdom which premiered on the Audience Network in the fall of 2014.
Personal life
Sanchez's first husband was writer and film director Zach Helm, from whom she is divorced.
In 2010, Sanchez began dating actor Zach Gilford, with whom she co-starred in the ABC television pilot The Matadors. The couple became engaged in November 2011, and married on December 29, 2012. The couple also co-starred in The Purge: Anarchy.