Minka Kelly Was Trevor Noah's Girlfriend until Their Final Breakup in 2022: Her Life & Relationship with the Host

Besides leading a successful career, beloved comedian and "The Daily Show" host Trevor Noah also has a romantic life that he keeps under wraps. Among his former flames is actress and food enthusiast Minka Kelly.

Since coming from humble beginnings and being born into an apartheid-governed country, South African-born comedian and host Trevor Noah has led an internationally recognized and commendable career.

He has toured the States and the world doing stand-up and hosting his own comedy specials. Noah also donned the title of an author when he published his New York Times Bestseller "Born a Crime."

The writer took over from the previous "The Daily Show" alum, Jon Stewart, who was the show's correspondent for over a decade in 2015. However, he announced his departure recently, leaving fans saddened.

The famed comedian expressed his desire to explore the world again and learn new languages. Moreover, he has an upcoming tour which will ensue next year in his home country. Although the world knows Noah's past lovers and relationships, he's still private about that part of his life.

Named Esquire's "Sexiest Woman Alive" in 2010, Minka Kelly dated Noah for quite some time; however, their relationship was reportedly on-and-off. Earlier this year, US Weekly confirmed that the couple took the mutual decision to separate.

Who Is Minka Kelly?

Minka Dumont Kelly is a woman with a colorful resume who has worked in different fields before rising to fame as an actress. She took her first breath in Los Angeles, California, on June 24, 1980. She was born to one of Aerosmith's guitarists, Rick Dufay and Maureen Kelly.

The actress also has a rich ancestral background, including Austrian, Dutch, German, English, Irish, and Scottish roots. Her paternal grandfather, Richard Ney, was also affiliated with Hollywood as an actor.

Minka stayed with her mom, who worked as an exotic dancer, and the pair moved around before settling in Albuquerque, Mexico. There, the actress attended Valley High School and graduated in 1998.

Then after moving with her dad back to Los Angeles to begin studying as a surgical technician, Kelly took on acting as a hobby. She was enamored with the art of performance and decided to pursue it professionally.

Kelly began landing roles in the early 2000s. She became chiefly recognized for her character Lyla in the show "Friday Night Lights." The actress posted a tribute to the show's 13th anniversary on Instagram in 2019.

Kelly expressed how it triggered a turning point in her life after "living out of a suitcase" at a friend's apartment and added how "forever grateful" she was for the opportunity. One of the films she appeared in is the famed franchise "Charlie's Angels."

Among TV shows, Kelly can be seen in "Jane the Virgin," "Titans," "Parenthood," "What I Like About You," and "Euphoria." In a 2018 interview, Kelly listed all the jobs she worked before starring on "Friday Night Lights," including her employment at Check n' Go.

Although acting was her primary passion, her heart was still in healthcare, as she worked as a scrub nurse at California Hospital for four years. Kelly also worked at a doctor's office in Beverly Hills.

Kelly described being a scrub nurse as one of the most exciting jobs she's ever had and added that she was pretty skilled at it, too. It was the last job position she took before becoming a "Friday Night Lights" alum.

In 2015, she decided to bag another qualification as a culinary expert after attending the New School of Cooking in Culver City, California. Per ABC News, Kelly gushed about her love for cooking, saying:

"I like to cook, I love to bake. I love baking banana bread and pies and cakes and I love cooking lasagna, and I like getting creative with salads."

Moreover, the food enthusiast joked about cooking for her loved ones, saying she loves making her friends fat but in moderation. She shared that she sources her inspiration from cookbooks and cooking classes, and in the end, they paid off.

Kelly chronicled her progress on the six-month course on Instagram and shared a celebratory post with her supporters once she graduated. In 2011, Kelly opened up about a time when one of Playboy's Playmates offered to take the actress under her wing.

The Playmate in question saw Kelly as a potential "Playmate of The Year." However, the Playmate specified that Kelly would need plastic surgery before even standing a chance. In return for consenting to plastic surgery, the Playmate would secure Kelly a job at a doctor's office.

Although she took the job, the culinary graduate wasn't keen on extreme body modification and liked herself as she was. Hence, her position at the doctor's office only lasted a month. Per Today, she lightheartedly recalled:

"All I needed was lipo, fake breasts, a few veneers, and all kinds of stuff. When I told her that I didn't want that, she said I would never be Playmate of the Year and I said, 'I think that's okay. I'm okay with that.'"

How long have Minka Kelly and Trevor Noah been together?

In August 2020, People reported that Minka Kelly and Trevor Noah were seeing each other and were "very happy" as a couple. However, neither one of the former lovers confirmed nor denied their romantic relationship at the time.

Although this was the first report, the former couple was said to have started dating a few months prior. In September 2020, US Weekly confirmed Noah and Kelly's romantic relationship.

That same month, People shared photos of the host and actress leaving an SUV and walking into the comedian's apartment building. This report coincided with Noah buying a new home in Los Angeles, as Kelly stood with lots of luggage beside her in the photo.

A source told People that Noah and Kelly were going steady, making plans for a shared future and looking for a place to cohabitate. The couple didn't care much about being seen in public. Still, they ensured the details of their relationship eluded public knowledge.

In May 2021, a report surfaced claiming that Noah and Kelly had separated. However, only a few days later, the couple was spotted enjoying lunch at Gyp Sea restaurant in St. Barts, shutting down the speculation of their supposed split.

At the end of 2021 and the beginning of 2022, Noah and Kelly solidified the dating reports via subtle Instagram posts while enjoying a vacation in Noah's home country. They attended a birthday celebration in Johannesburg and took a boat ride with the comedian's friends.

The couple sadly and amicably went their separate ways in May this year. According to an insider, neither Noah nor Kelly bore any ill will toward each other upon splitting. Moreover, it was suggested that their separation occurred a while before it was publicly confirmed.

What Has Minka Kelly Been up to since Her Breakup with Trevor Noah?

Minka Kelly continues to meet the demands of her acting career. She recently finished filming the fourth season of the DC Universe show "Titans," where she plays Dawn Granger.

The actress has also been attending events, such as the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix, in support of the Williams Racing team. She was also photographed posing inside a teammate's race car, Alex Albon, and this was her first public appearance after her split from Trevor Noah.