Biography
Actress Kelly Preston was first seen on a national basis in the last-billed role of a general's daughter on the weekly 1983 TV drama
For Love and Honor. She established herself as an agreeable comedienne in such films as
Mischief (1985) and
Secret Admirer (1985), then became lost in the turgid melodramatics of
52 Pick-Up (1986). Her big movie break was supposed to have been her co-starring stint with
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny De Vito in
Twins (1988), but the role was too nondescript to engender any enthusiasm. Nonetheless, Preston persevered, delivering great performances in such offbeat fare as the 1993 made-for-cable movie
Arthur Miller's The American Clock. In the latter half of the 1990s, Preston's perseverance began to pay off, first with a substantial role in
Cameron Crowe's widely acclaimed
Jerry Maguire. She continued to do comedy, appearing in
Nothing to Lose (1997),
Addicted to Love (1997), and
Holy Man (1998), before switching back to drama in 1999 as
Kevin Costner's girlfriend in
For Love of the Game. On April 3, 2000, Preston gave birth to a daughter, her second child while married to Travolta. Her career onscreen barely missing a beat after the bith, Preston appeared opposite husband Travolta in the notorious 2000 bomb
Battlefield Earth before taking a turn back to comedy with roles in
View from the Top and The Cat in the Hat. Though it had been quite some time since Preston had appeared on television with any frequency, a return to the small screen with roles in both
Joey and
Fat Actress provided semi-regular work in 2004 and 2005. In 2005 Preston could also be seen as a superpowered mother in the family oriented adventure comedy
Sky High, with a role as a grieving sister who returns home to mourn the death of her brother in
Broken Bridges serving well to remind audiences of her dramatic abilities after a series of more lighthearted roles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide