Kelly Preston Travolta (born October 13, 1962) is an American actress and former model.

Preston was born as Kelly Kamalelehua Smith in Honolulu, Hawaii. Her mother, Linda, was an administrator of a mental health center, and her father, who worked for an agricultural firm, drowned when Preston was three years old. Her adoptive father was Peter Palzis, a personnel director, with whose name she began her acting career, and her stepfather was Lee Carlson. As a child, she spent time living in Iraq and Australia as a result of her biological father's work. While living in Australia, she attended Pembroke School in Adelaide, South Australia. She later attended Punahou School and studied drama and theater at the University of Southern California.

At 16 years old, while living in Australia, Preston was discovered by a fashion photographer who helped her get work in commercials and other small parts, which eventually developed into a successful movie career. Her first prominent role in a film came as the "popular girl" in 1985's Secret Admirer opposite C. Thomas Howell.