Kiersey Clemons

Kiersey Clemons
Clemons in 2016
Born
Kiersey Nicole Clemons

(1993-12-17) December 17, 1993 (age 31)
Pensacola, Florida, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active2010–present

Kiersey Nicole Clemons (born December 17, 1993) is an American actress. She is known for her role in the 2015 comedy-drama film Dope, playing Cassandra "Diggy" Andrews. Subsequently, she went on to co-star in Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016), Flatliners (2017), Hearts Beat Loud (2018), and played Iris West in both Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021) and The Flash (2023).

Clemons had recurring roles in numerous television series, including Austin & Ally (2013), Transparent (2014–2015), Extant (2015), and Easy (2016–2019), and had a main role in the final season of the comedy series Angie Tribeca (2018).

Early life

Clemons was born on December 17, 1993, in Pensacola, Florida. She grew up in Redondo Beach, California.[1] Clemons is biracial, of African-American and white heritage.[2]

Career

Early in her career, Clemons co-starred in the Disney Channel series Austin & Ally as Kira Starr. She also appeared in the Disney Channel original film Cloud 9. Clemons guest-starred in the crime-drama series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. In 2014, she appeared in Trey Songz's music video for "SmartPhones" and "What's Best for You" in which she played his love interest who catches him in the act of cheating via phone call.

From 2014 to 2015, Clemons played Bianca in the comedy series Transparent.[3] She also had a starring role on the MTV original series Eye Candy as Sophia. The series only aired for one season.[4] She guest starred in a 2015 episode of New Girl as Winston's love interest, KC.[3] Clemons appeared in Lady Gaga's music video for "Til It Happens to You", and in DJ Snake's music video for "Middle" alongside Josh Hutcherson. In 2016, Clemons played Beth in the comedy film Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising. She also played Chase, a grad student from Chicago, in episodes of the Netflix original series Easy.[5]

Clemons in 2019

In 2016, Clemons was cast as Iris West in the action film The Flash,[6] but the project was delayed due to the departure of director Rick Famuyiwa. Despite this, she was still slated to appear in the Justice League film as the same character,[7] but her scenes were ultimately cut from the theatrical release. In 2021, Clemons' cut scenes from the 2017 Justice League movie was eventually released in Zack Snyder's Justice League. In March 2021, Clemons closed a deal to appear as Iris West in The Flash, now directed by Andy Muschietti.[8]

In 2017, Clemons co-starred with Callum Turner in the drama The Only Living Boy in New York, and with Elliot Page in the horror remake Flatliners.[9] In 2018, Clemons co-starred with Nick Offerman in musical comedy-drama Hearts Beat Loud.[10] She received the Atlanta Film Festival's inaugural Phoenix Award for Hearts Beat Loud in April 2018. In 2019, she co-starred with Thomas Mann in the live-action remake musical romance Lady and the Tramp. In 2020, Clemons voiced Dee Dee Skyes in the Scooby-Doo film Scoob!

Personal life

Clemons identifies as queer.[11] She is in a relationship with Ebony De La Haye, an Australian stunt double.[12] The couple met during filming of Sweetheart, where De La Haye doubled Clemons during action sequences.[13]

Clemons suffers from bipolar disorder and struggled with the illness especially before she was formally diagnosed.[14]

Filmography

Key
† Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2014 Cloud 9 Skye Sailor Disney Channel Original Movie
2015 Dope Cassandra "Diggy" Andrews
2016 Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising Beth Gladstone
2017 The Only Living Boy in New York Mimi Pastori
Michael Jackson's Halloween Victoria Television film; voice role
Flatliners Sophia Manning [citation needed]
2018 Little Bitches Marisa
Hearts Beat Loud Samantha Lee “Sam” Fisher
An L.A. Minute Velocity Also co-producer
2019 Sweetheart Jennifer “Jenn” Remming
Lady and the Tramp Darling
Rent: Live Joanne Jefferson Television film
2020 Scoob! Dee Dee Skyes Voice role
Antebellum Julia
2021 Asking for It Joey
Red Bird Lane Jane Unaired TV movie
Zack Snyder's Justice League Iris West Director's cut of Justice League[citation needed]
2022 Am I OK? Brittany
Susie Searches Susie
2023 Somebody I Used to Know Cassidy
The Young Wife Celestina
The Flash Iris West [citation needed]

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2010 Shake It Up Danielle 2 episodes
2011 Bucket & Skinner's Epic Adventures Summer Episode: "Epic Wingman"
Good Luck Charlie Alicia Episode: "The Bob Duncan Experience"
2013 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Gwen Onetta Episode: "Frame by Frame"
Austin & Ally Kira Starr Recurring role (seasons 2–3)
What's Next for Sarah? Oli 2 episodes
2014–2015 Transparent Bianca Recurring role
2015 Eye Candy Sophia Preston Main role
Extant Lucy Recurring role (season 2)
Comedy Bang! Bang! Waitress Episode: "Brie Larson Wears a Billowy Long-Sleeve Shirt and White Saddle Shoes"
2015–2016 New Girl KC 2 episodes
2016–2019 Easy Chase 4 episodes
2018 Angie Tribeca Maria Charo Main role (season 4)
2019 BoJack Horseman Jameson H. Voice role; episode: "A Horse Walks into a Rehab"
2021–2022 Fairfax Derica Voice role
2023 Swarm Rashida Episode: "Only God Makes Happy Endings"
2023-2024 Monarch: Legacy of Monsters May Main role

Music videos

Year Title Artist(s) Role Notes
2014 "SmartPhones" Trey Songz Girlfriend
2015 "Til It Happens to You" Lady Gaga Avery
2016 "Middle" DJ Snake ft. Bipolar Sunshine Superhero

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Work Result Refs
2015 Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a TV Series – Recurring Young Actress 17-21 Transparent Nominated
2016 Black Reel Awards Best Breakthrough Performance, Female Dope Won
2017 Hamptons International Film Festival Variety 10 Actors to Watch Herself Won
2018 Atlanta Film Festival Phoenix Award Hearts Beat Loud Won
Hollywood Music in Media Awards Best Original Song - Independent Film Hearts Beat Loud Nominated
2019 Fantastic Fest Best Actress Sweetheart Won
2020 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Best Actress Sweetheart Nominated

References

  1. ^ Smith, Krista (August 2017). "Introducing Kiersey Clemons, Your Next DC Comics Crush". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021.
  2. ^ Le Vine, Lauren (June 19, 2015). "Dope's Kiersey Clemons Got To Wear Pharrell's Hat". Refinery29. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Abrams, Natalie (February 11, 2015). "New Girl taps Transparent actress Kiersey Clemons as Winston's new love interest". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  4. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (September 16, 2014). "MTV Series 'Eye Candy' Casts 3 Regulars". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 12, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  5. ^ Bendix, Trish (September 15, 2016). "Kiersey Clemons meets a girl she likes in "Easy"". After Ellen. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  6. ^ Kroll, Justin (July 25, 2016). "'The Flash': 'Dope' Actress Kiersey Clemons to Star as Iris West in Movie (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on November 4, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  7. ^ Kroll, Justin (January 25, 2017). "Joby Harold to Do Page-One Rewrite of 'The Flash' Script (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on May 19, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  8. ^ Siegel, Tatiana (March 11, 2021). "Kiersey Clemons to Star in 'The Flash' Movie (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 31, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  9. ^ Kroll, Justin (May 3, 2016). "'Dope's' Kiersey Clemons to Star Opposite Ellen Page in 'Flatliners'". Variety. Archived from the original on September 25, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  10. ^ McNary, Dave. "Nick Offerman to Star in Movie Musical 'Hearts Beat Loud' With Kiersey Clemons". Variety. Archived from the original on February 17, 2018. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  11. ^ Bendix, Trish (February 7, 2018). "Kiersey Clemons Is The Queer Woman of Color Who Slayed Sundance and Is Coming For Hollywood". Into. Archived from the original on July 30, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  12. ^ Rose, Lily (September 28, 2021). "Our Favorite LGBTQ Couples on the Red Carpet". ET Online. Archived from the original on April 10, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  13. ^ Framke, Caroline (June 4, 2020). "How Kiersey Clemons Fell in Love With Her Stunt Double Ebony De La Haye". Variety. Archived from the original on April 3, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  14. ^ "Kiersey Clemons Accepts Her Mental Health Diagnosis and Stands Up to Racism in Hollywood". YouTube. February 11, 2021. Archived from the original on April 15, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
Preceded by Voice of Dee Dee Skyes
2020 film Scoob! 		Succeeded by
Niccole Thurman