Kristel Elling is an Estonian-born actress whose career began on stage before her first birthday, appearing at Theatre Vanemuine alongside her mother, opera singer Kai Elling. She went on to train at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre and later earned a Master’s degree in Acting from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, where she was awarded a scholarship for outstanding talent.

In Estonia, Kristel was cast in productions by renowned directors Peeter Jalakas and Anne Türnpu, both recipients of the Estonian National Theatre Award, as well as in feature films such as Mindless (dir. Elmo Nüganen) and Shop of Dreams (dir. Peeter Urbla). She also appeared in popular television series including Ohtlik Lend and Brigaad 3.

After moving to London, Kristel worked extensively in independent film and stage productions, including The Vagina Monologues at the Henley Fringe Festival and Les Misérables (touring in Germany).

In 2013, she relocated to Los Angeles, gaining SAG-AFTRA membership within her first year. Her U.S. credits include the Hallmark feature How Not to Propose, Antrum: The Deadliest Film Ever Made, Ben Affleck’s thriller Animals, and the Hollywood Fringe play Who’s Your Sugar Daddy, in addition to numerous television pilots, commercials, and independent films.

Recent work in her home country includes Kümnest Kümme for Kanal 2 and the box-office hit Suvitajad (The Vacationers).

As a creator, Kristel wrote, produced, and starred in the short film From Me, co-directed by Academy Award winner Tanel Toom, which premiered at the North Hollywood Laemmle. She is currently developing a psychological thriller (Cornflower Blue) and a short musical (You Are Mine).

Fluent in Estonian, English, and Russian, with additional Finnish, Kristel brings versatility to her work on stage and screen. Her skillset spans singing, piano, tap dance, yoga, and martial arts. A black belt in Taekwondo, she is frequently cast in physically demanding roles — from femme fatales to action heroines — while remaining dedicated to crafting layered, authentic performances across genres.

Kristel Elling is a member of SAG-AFTRA (the U.S. screen and television actors’ union) and ENL (the Estonian Actors’ Union).