While many fans are gearing up for Elisha Cuthbert's return to television, we shouldn't forget about the other actress starring on One Big Happy, Kelly Brook. She'll play Prudence, who meets, falls in love with, and marries Nick Zano's character, Luke, just after he and his best pal Lizzy commit to having a child together. Yes, the premise of this entire series is extremely similar to the Will & Grace arc that brought us Harry Connick Jr. as Leo. You can't fool me, NBC! Anyway, while we may not have heard her name in the United States, Kelly Brook is kind of a big deal. As an actress, model, television personality, writer, and frequent subject of the tabloids, the "newcomer" is well-known in the United Kingdom. According to an interview with the New York Post, she lives on a farm in a small town in England, and her varied career and love life have made her into a kind of self-perpetuating celebrity.
While Kelly Brook has been acting for years on stage and screen, this is her first big comedy television job in the States. She's had a few guest starring roles and played Lex Luther's girlfriend Victoria Hardwick for a short time on Smallville. If One Big Happy succeeds, she is perfectly pitched for international stardom. Here are some other ways you may have heard of Brook prior to her sitcom debut.
She's A Not-So Secret Brit
By that, I mean that Brook's character Prudence is English, as well as the actress. In fact, Prudence's need for a green card pushes the couple to get married faster and entwines the three main characters in a relationship with even higher stakes.
She Was Engaged To Billy Zane
The two were together from 2004 to 2008. She also dated action movie star Jason Statham for seven years.
She Has A Horror Background
Kelly Brook is most known for Piranha 3D, House of 9, and Survival Island. Technically, Piranha 3D is a comedy horror movie, so maybe this helped her land her new sitcom. However, a 3D film is still very different from a multi-camera sitcom in front of a live studio audience.
She's A Model
She has ranked in the FHM (a British men's magazine) list of 100 Sexiest Women in the World multiple times and has a very successful modeling career.
And An Author
Close Up, Brook's autobiography, details her modeling career and personal struggles.
She Is Classically Trained
Brook attended the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in England, the same school attended by Derrick and Julianne Hough. Which is a major coincidence, because...
She's Also A Reality Star
This should come in handy in Brook's burgeoning comedy career. She was a contestant on Britain's Strictly Come Dancing in 2007. The series was the inspiration for Dancing With The Stars.
Images: Danny Feld/NBC; Getty Images (2); Giphy
