Hailey Kilgore is a rising star in the entertainment industry. She is best known for her role as Ti Moune in the Broadway revival of Once on This Island, which earned her a Tony nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. She has also appeared in TV shows such as The Village, Amazing Stories, and Power Book III: Raising Kanan. But did you know that Hailey was adopted at birth by a loving family in Oregon? Here is the story of her adoption and how it shaped her life and career.
Hailey’s Birth and Adoption
Hailey Frances Kilgore was born on February 16, 1999, in Humble, Texas. She was adopted at birth by Rebecca and Eric Kilgore, who lived in Portland, Oregon at the time. According to IMDb1, Hailey’s adoptive parents wanted to give her a better life and opportunities than they had. They also wanted to honor her biological mother’s wishes, who wanted Hailey to have a stable and supportive family.
Hailey grew up in a loving and nurturing environment, surrounded by her adoptive parents and siblings. She has two older brothers, Tyler and Zachary, and a younger sister, Hannah. According to Legends Bio2, Hailey considers her adoptive family as her real family and loves them unconditionally. She also respects and appreciates her biological mother for giving her a chance to live a happy life.
Hailey’s Early Interest in Performing
Hailey showed an interest in singing and performing from an early age. At the age of 9, she began singing the national anthem for sporting events in the Portland area, including the Trailblazers, Winterhawks, and Portland Beavers. She also took part in several pageants and won the 2012 National American Miss Miss Oregon Pre-Teen Title as well as the National American Miss National Spokesmodel competition. In 2015, she won the Miss Oregon’s Outstanding Teen competition.
Hailey also pursued her passion for acting in school and community theater. She attended Clackamas High School for two years, where she performed in a number of plays. She was Tiger Lily in Peter Pan and Fruma Sarah in Fiddler on the Roof, among others. She also participated in the August Wilson Monologue Competition in 2014 and 2015. In 2015, she took second place in the Portland competition and performed in the national competition in New York.
Hailey’s Professional Debut and Breakthrough
In the fall of 2015, Hailey transferred to the Clackamas Web Academy, after landing her first professional role as Rebecca Gibbs in Portland Center Stage’s production of Our Town. Later that year, she also performed in the ensemble of PCS’s production of Ain’t Misbehavin’. Hailey graduated a year early and enrolled at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York in the fall of 2016.
Hailey’s big break came when she was cast as Ti Moune in the Broadway revival of Once on This Island, which opened on December 3rd, 2017. Hailey beat out hundreds of other actresses for the role of the young peasant girl who falls in love with a wealthy boy from the other side of the island. Hailey’s performance was praised by critics and audiences alike for its charm, energy, and emotion. She received several award nominations for her performance, including a Tony nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. She also won a Theatre World Award, a Broadway.com Audience Award, and a Broadwayworld.com Fan Choice Award for her role.
Hailey’s Current Projects and Future Plans
Hailey has continued to work on various projects since her Broadway debut. She has appeared in TV shows such as The Village, Amazing Stories, and Power Book III: Raising Kanan. She has also starred in films such as Respect, where she played Carolyn Franklin, one of Aretha Franklin’s sisters. She is also set to appear in Cinnamon, a romantic comedy about a dog groomer who falls in love with a veterinarian.
Hailey has expressed her gratitude for her adoptive parents and how they supported her dreams of becoming an actress. She has also said that she would like to meet her biological mother someday and thank her for giving her life. Hailey hopes to inspire other adoptees to pursue their passions and goals with confidence and courage.
Hailey Kilgore is a talented and successful actress who has overcome many challenges and obstacles in her life. She is an example of how adoption can be a blessing for both the adoptee and the adoptive family. She is also a testament to how hard work, dedication, and love can make any dream come true.