BIRTHDATE: November 30, 1987
BIRTHPLACE: Los Angeles, CA
STAR SIGN: Sagittarius
YEARS ON SHOW: 2002-'05; 2006 - present
MARITAL STATUS: wed Stephen Hensley on September 21, 2008
CHILDREN: son Michael Hensley was born on April 17, 2010

A true California girl, Christel Khalil was born and bred in Los Angeles. She got into acting via her three older brothers, who often accompanied her to acting school. Eventually, Hensley's mom enrolled her in a class, too. By the time she was 5, Hensley was out on the audition circuit and admits she never considered another career path.

Hensley got her big break in 2002, when she landed the role of Lily on YOUNG AND RESTLESS, the very first soap opera she'd auditioned for. The gig garnered her two nominations for a Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Series. She was also nominated for the Outstanding Younger Actress Daytime Emmy Award in 2004 and 2006, and she won the 2008 NAACP Image Award for outstanding actress in a daytime drama series.