'Godzilla vs. Kong' Actress Kaylee Hottle Dies at 19

Actress Kaylee Hottle, known for playing the young girl Jia in the Hollywood blockbusters "Godzilla vs. Kong" (2021) and "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" (2024), has died in the United States at the age of 19.

Hottle was born on May 1, 2007, in Atlanta into a Deaf family — deafness has run on her father's side of the family for four generations. She learned sign language from early childhood and appeared in advertisements and social campaigns supporting the Deaf community even before launching her acting career.

Hottle was just nine years old when she played Jia in the first film, yet her co-stars recalled her being remarkably professional on set. Her performance earned her a Saturn Award nomination for Best Young Actor/Actress.

Actor Alexander Skarsgård, who starred alongside her, told Forbes in 2021 that he and co-star Rebecca Hall had learned sign language specifically so they could communicate with Hottle beyond just filming scenes.

"This is her first film. It's remarkable how naturally she carries herself in front of the camera and how quickly she picks up on the director's instructions," Skarsgård said at the time. He added that she was "incredibly professional," and that her acting relied on subtle facial expressions that were fascinating to watch.

Source: novinky.cz