Kristel was born to an opera singer, Kai Elling. Practically raised in the theatre, her first appearance was on her mother’s lap (at eleven months old), on Estonia’s biggest stage, the Theatre Vanemuine.

By the age of four she was cast as Jake’s child on the same stage in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess.

After finishing high school, she continued her training at the highly selective Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. Upon completing the rigorous four-year program at a classical conservatory, she entered the world of professional acting.

In the subsequent two years Kristel was cast in projects alongside some of Estonia’s most honored stage and film directors. She played parts in various feature films, including Elmo Nüganen’s Mindless and Peeter Urbla’s Shop of Dreams, as well as guest and recurring roles in TV series such as Ohtlik Lend and Brigaad 3.

After two years of working in her homeland, she decided to move to London, England, and find work on a larger scale. She was offered a spot at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama which Kristel completed with a Master’s Degree in Acting. During her studies she was also honored with a scholarship for outstanding talent.

While living in London, she was cast mainly in independent shorts and feature films. In addition to film work, Kristel continued her stage work, touring and performing in shows across Europe, including her personal favorite, the Vagina Monologues which was part of Henley Fringe Theatre Festival.

In August 2013 she was offered a talent representation in Los Angeles, so Kristel decided to move to the United States and try out her talent in Hollywood. Within the first year she had earned her SAG-AFTRA membership.

Her American credits include a supporting role in a Hallmark movie How Not to Propose, playing alongside Ryan Merriman; Antrum: The Deadliest Film Ever Made; Guys Night series; TV commercials for Dos Equis and La Croix, and numerous indie films, TV pilots and plays. As Deedee in Who’s Your Sugar Daddy (McCadden Theatre), Kristel received stellar reviews. The play was part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival.

Her recent credits from her home country, Estonia, include a guest star role in Kanal 2’s TV series called Kümnest Kümme and a supporting lead in a comedy feature Suvitajad aka The Vacationers, which was one of the most watched films in the movie theatres in Estonia in 2023.

Kristel also writes and creates her own content. She wrote, produced, and starred in From Me – a short film about love, passion and unstoppable hope. The film was co-directed by an Academy Award Winner director, Tanel Toom, and premiered at the North Hollywood Laemmle. Recently Kristel completed writing a feature length psychological thriller, Cornflower Blue, which is in active development as well as You Are Mine, a short musical comedy set in the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Her Scandinavian look and heritage, fluent Russian and remarkable martial arts skills (black belt in Taekwondo) have made her the obvious choice for Bond-girl-style action heroines and alluring femme fatales.

With a dedication to her craft and an unparalleled work ethic, she has proven herself adept at diverse and complex roles that truly give her the opportunity to create subtle and enchanting art.