Christel Khalil Biography

(Actress)

Birthday: November 30, 1987 (Sagittarius)

Born In: Los Angeles, California, United States

Christel Khalil is an American television, film and stage actress, best known for playing Lily Ashby in the American television soap opera ‘The Young and the Restless’. Christel commenced her journey in showbiz as a child artist and initially featured in bit roles in television series like ‘The Sinbad Show’, ‘Family Matters’ and ‘That's So Raven’ and in films such as ‘Matilda’ and ‘Interview with the Assassin’. One of her first notable works was contributing the voice role of Cornelia Hale, a main character in the French-American animated television series ‘W.I.T.C.H.’. Her real breakthrough came when she earned the role of Lily Ashby in ‘The Young and the Restless’. Brilliant performance of Christel as Lily Ashby, which eventually became one of the most memorable roles of her career, won her Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series. She has also guest featured in notable television series like ‘Malcolm in the Middle’, ‘NCIS: Los Angeles’ and ‘2 Broke Girls’; and appeared in films like ‘Chronologia Human’ and ‘Good Deed’ and in short films such as ‘White Like the Moon’ and ‘Bedlam’.
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Quick Facts

Also Known As: Christel Adnana Mina Khalil

Age: 36 Years, 36 Year Old Females

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Stephen Hensley (m. 2008–2011)

father: Adnan Khalil

mother: Belita Edwards

children: Michael Caden Hensley

Born Country: United States

Actresses American Women

Height: 5'4" (163 cm), 5'4" Females

Ancestry: Pakistani American

U.S. State: California

City: Los Angeles

Childhood & Early Life
Christel Khalil was born Christel Adnana Mina Khalil on November 30, 1987, in Los Angeles, California, US to Adnan Khalil and Belita Edwards. Christel, who is of mixed descent with African-American, Native American and European-American ancestry from her mother’s side and Pakistani ancestry from her father’s side, once stated that she identifies as mixed race. After President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 13769, in January 2017, Christel disclosed that her father emigrated from Pakistan, his native country.
She has three older brothers: Alex, Chris and Adam and a younger paternal half-sister, Aysha.
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Career
Christel Khalil made her acting debut as child artist, playing the guest role of Crystal in a 1993 episode titled ‘My Daughter's Keeper’ from the Fox aired American television sitcom series ‘The Sinbad Show’ starring comedian Sinbad. This was followed by other guest roles in single episodes of series ‘Family Matters’ (1996) and ‘George & Leo’ (1997). Meanwhile she appeared in bit roles in the films ‘Dragon Fury’ (1995) and ‘Matilda’ (1996).
In 1997 she starred as Diana in the short film ‘You're Invited to Mary-Kate & Ashley's Christmas Party’.
The October 6, 1998 released horror film ‘Milo’ featured Christel as Young Claire Mullins, while Jennifer Jostyn starred as older version of the character.
In 2002, she appeared as babysitter in the November 15 released drama/pseudo-documentary titled ‘Interview with the Assassin’. The documentary starred Raymond J. Barry and Dylan Haggerty and won three awards at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival. That year she also starred as Nita in the short family drama film ‘White Like the Moon’.
Between 2003 and 2004, she essayed the role of Crystal in two episodes of the popular American supernatural television sitcom series ‘That's So Raven’. The episodes namely were ‘Smell of Victory’ and ‘The Dating Shame’.
In 2004 she landed up with a main voice role of Cornelia Hale, one of the five girls with magical powers, in the French-American animated television series ‘W.I.T.C.H.’ The series that was based on an Italian comic book series bearing same title aired for two seasons from December 18, 2004 to December 23, 2006.
Meanwhile from 2002, she started portraying teenage version of the character of Lily Ashby in the ongoing American television soap opera ‘The Young and the Restless’. The first episode that featured her in the role was aired on February 22, 2002. In 2005, she left the series with Davetta Sherwood taking over as Lily. However Christel was asked to return to the role in 2006. Since then she has played the character as a "rebellious, yet naive teenager". The role with time has evolved as one of the main characters of the series gaining Christel considerable attention.
Christel has over the years earned many Young Artist Award, Daytime Emmy Award and NAACP Image Award nominations for her remarkable performance as Lily in ‘The Young and the Restless’. Among these she has won NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series in 2008 and Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series in 2012. The latter led her to become the only minority actress in the history of Daytime Emmy so far to garner such feat.
In 2012, she featured in music video of the track ‘Beautiful Queen’ by musician Johnny Britt.
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While essaying the role of Lily in ‘The Young and the Restless’, she continued with other on-screen appearances. These include playing guest roles in hit series like ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ (2006), ‘NCIS: Los Angeles’ (2012) and ‘2 Broke Girls’ (2012). In 2017, she featured as Christel in the Erik Blanc written and directed drama film ‘Chronologia Human’; and as Breanna Wilkinson in the short film ‘Bedlam’.
The October 10, 2018 released drama thriller film ‘Good Deed’ directed by Craig Goldsmith featured Christel in the starring role of Lauren opposite Haley Webb and Haley Pullos.
Apart from her on-screen works, prior to her ongoing portrayal as Lily in ‘The Young and the Restless’ Christel also performed on-stage in productions in Los Angeles.
Family & Personal Life
Christel married musician Stephen Hensley on September 21, 2008 with her ‘The Young and the Restless’ co-star Elizabeth Hendrickson serving as a bridesmaid and American actor, voice artist and singer Bryton James serving as a groomsman.
Christel and Stephen together have a son, Michael Caden Hensley, born on April 17, 2010, during an at home water birth. Godfather of Michael Caden is Bryton James, while his godmother is actress Fadhia Marcelin.
Christel parted ways from Stephen in early 2011 and filed for divorce on March 8 that year. Divorce of the couple was finalised later on September 1 same year with custody of their son being shared by both of them. Christel hosted a celebratory "divorce party" at her home the following month.
The diva voiced her support for same sex marriage in June 2015 following the decision of the United States Supreme Court in the Obergefell v. Hodges case.
She revealed in 2015 that she was romantically associated with bar runner Ray Wicks for 4 years. The two called it quits in August 2015. Again in summer 2018, she mentioned in a Q & A in Soap Opera Digest that she has been romantically involved with a Canadian businessman called Sam for years.
Bryton James, who also co-starred with her in ‘The Young and the Restless’ is her best friend. Many other former ‘The Young and the Restless’ co-stars of the actress including Lyndsy Fonseca, Nadine Heimann, Tammin Sursok and Mishael Morgan are her friends. She also modelled for ‘True Connection’, Heimann's non-profit organisation in October 2015.
She once mentioned travelling as one of her favourite hobbies as she likes to experience different cultures. She has travelled different places including Switzerland, England, Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, Japan and Argentina. She can play the acoustic guitar and likes horseback riding, yoga, ballet, pole dancing, hiking, singing and cooking.

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Article Title
- Christel Khalil Biography
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