Actor & Sports Illustrated SI Model Kelly Rohrbach on Maui

Malika Dudley interviews model & actress Kelly Rohrbach at the Maui Film Festival.

Maui Now’s Malika Dudley interviewed Kelly Rohrbach prior to receiving the “Rising Star” Award.

The model and actress shot to fame when she was selected as Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model “Rookie of the Year” in 2015. Rohrbach was recruited out of high school to play golf at Georgetown.

The college graduate talks about her modeling / acting career and shares stories from her days filming with actors (and former “Rising Star” recipient) Zac Efron, and Duane “The Rock” Johnson. Rohrbach is a part of the 6-person ensemble that stars in next year’s anticipated blockbuster, “Baywatch”.

Other Maui Film Festival Celebrity Interviews: 

• Wyatt Russell’s (son of Kurt Russell & Goldie Hawn)
• Michael B. Jordan (Creed, Fruitvale Station)
• Viola Davis (How To Get Away With Murder, The Help)
• Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad, Malcolm in the Middle, Trumbo)

See the press release below for more details on the Maui Film Festival and Rising Star Award.

Wailea, HI (May 27, 2016) – Kelly Rohrbach and Wyatt Russell will be the 2016 Maui Film Festival Rising Star Award recipients, it was announced today by Barry Rivers, founder and director of the festival which will be held, and celebrate its 17th annual event from June 15-19, 2016, at the Wailea Resort in Maui.

The Maui Film Festival Rising Star Award honors a young film artist whose every role, even their formative years, surprises, enthralls and delights audiences of every age.  The awards will be presented at the Opening Night of the Celestial Cinema located at the Wailea Gold & Emerald Golf Course on Wednesday June 15, 2016.  Tickets and passes are available at www.mauifilmfestival.com.

“Each year the Maui Film Festival makes a great effort to scan the constellation of cinema stardom to find talent in the ascendancy of their careers with an exceptional passion and drive to soar.  This year, those two Rising Star honorees are Kelly Rohrbach and Wyatt Russell,” said Rivers.  “We’re proud have them be a part of the Maui Film Festival ‘Ohana’”

Rohrbach is a Connecticut born actress and model. After graduating from Georgetown University in 2012 where she was recruited to play Division One Women’s golf, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her passion for acting. Rohrbach majored in theater at Georgetown as well as attending the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).

Rohrbach will have her breakout role in BAYWATCH for Paramount Pictures, which is scheduled for release in May 2017.  She stars as the iconic role of “C. J. Parker” opposite Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron.  Rohrbach has worked with directors such as Woody Allen and Seth Gordon, and was most recently seen in Comedy Central’s BROAD CITY.  Rohrbach first gained acclaim in modeling in 2015 when she appeared in Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue and she was named Rookie of the Year.

Russell is currently starring in Richard Linklater’s critically acclaimed film EVERYBODY WANTS SOME.  He can also be seen starring in Jeff Grace’s film FOLK HERO & FUNNY GUY opposite Alex Karpovsky, Melanie Lynskey, Meredith Hanger and Hannah Simone. The film premiered at Tribeca in May 2016 and received a nomination in the category of “Best Narrative Drama.”

Next year, Russell will star opposite Anna Kendrick, Lisa Kudrow and Craig Robinson in Jeffrey Blitz’s film TABLE 19.  He will also star in Jay Baruchel’s GOON: LAST OF THE ENFORCERS, opposite TJ Miller and Liev Schreiber.  Russell recently wrapped production on Oren Uziel’s crime thriller SHIMMER LAKE.  Russell’s other credits include 22 JUMP STREET, COLD IN JULY, THIS IS 40, WE ARE WHAT WE ARE and COWBOYS AND ALIENS.  Russell was formerly a professional hockey player before he turned to acting.