Ellar Coltrane

Ellar Coltrane Kinney Salmon, known professionally as Ellar Coltrane, emerged from the vibrant cultural scene of Austin, Texas, where they were born on August 27, 1994. From a young age, their family environment was richly artistic, with a mother who works as an equine‑assisted therapist for autistic individuals and a father who is a musician, fostering both compassion and creativity. After their parents' divorce when Ellar was nine, the family dynamics shifted, leading to a remarriage by their mother and the birth of a half‑sister, Evelyn, when Ellar was eleven, experiences that later informed their nuanced on‑screen performances. At just six years old, Ellar captured the attention of filmmaker Richard Linkstar, who selected them for the groundbreaking project Boyhood, a film that was filmed intermittently over twelve years to authentically portray a boy’s maturation; Ellar’s commitment spanned from May 2002 until August 2013, culminating in a performance that earned a Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer. Beyond this seminal role, they appeared in Linkstar’s 2006 Fast Food Nation, adding to a growing résumé of diverse characters. In 2016, Ellar expanded their repertoire with a supporting part in the Barack Obama‑inspired drama Barry, showcased at the Toronto International Film Festival, and the following year they co‑starred alongside Emma Watson in The Circle, a tech‑savvy thriller that premiered at Tribeca. Their personal narrative is marked by a thoughtful engagement with gender identity, openly preferring the singular they/them pronouns and challenging binary norms, which mirrors their artistic choices that often defy conventional expectations. Throughout a career that began in 2002 and continues to evolve, Ellar remains a compelling figure in contemporary American cinema, known for depth, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to authentic storytelling.