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Kelly McGillis gets hitched and keeps on working

It’s been a big week for actress Kelly McGillis. Most importantly, she has entered into a civil union with her partner, sales executive Melanie Leis. Though the actress only came out publicly last year, McGillis and Leis have been together since they met in 2000 at Alice’s, the restaurant McGillis owned in Key West, Fla. Leis had worked there as a bartender until she found her current job with Independence Communication, which sells sells Muzak to businesses, according to The New York Times.

McGillis told the Times that she had decided to come out last year because it “was one of those moments when somebody asked me a question, my kids had gone from home, so I really didn’t have to protect anyone by skirting the question, and I just decided to be absolutely honest.”

The actress has two children: daughters Kelsey Laure, 20, and Sonora Ashley, 17. It is odd that she’d choose to “be honest” only once they’d moved out of her house, especially since she’d been with her partner for nine years at that point and had, by then, taken a role on The L Word. If you weren’t aware that McGillis was even dating anyone, you’re not alone. She hasn’t spoken about her partner in the press, and is likely to continue on that path. She’s definitely what you’d call a private person.

McGillis’s new film, Stake Land, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival this week. Kelly plays a nun named Sister who “faces a crisis of faith during the vampire bloodshed, ultimately taking up arms to do battle with her newly formed family unit.”

What’s with the queer women playing nuns lately? (I’m looking at you, Lindsay Lohan)? The film’s director Jim Mickle told ShockTilYouDrop.com why he wanted Kelly for the role.

Well I had no idea she was even available. I definitely didn’t think she’d be interested. But her name came up on the list – on a very short list – and I thought, “Holy sh-this is amazing.” I didn’t think it was gonna happen, but we could at least try. Then, I think I wrote [Kelly] a letter. I thought that was what did it. And also, she was locally from around there. It seemed all the stars kind of aligned in the right way. It made sense, but I still thought there’d be no way in Hell, and I don’t know if you know this Kelly, but we were going to get shut down had you not joined us.

Kelly, from inside the trailer where the interview was taking place, responded: “Really? I should have pitched a bigger fit.”

So far, reviews have cited McGillis as one of the best parts of the film, calling her “a welcome face.” And soon her voice will be in action on the film 1 a Minute, a documentary featuring famous women who have taken on cancer, including Melissa Etheridge and Lisa Ray. The film will open in select theaters on Oct. 6.

Congrats to the newly civil engaged and to Kelly on her continued success. I hope she survives Stake Land.

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