Southern

louisville standout plays richey in movie

Kim Lonnemann/USTA Kentucky | September 22, 2017


“Emma Stone, Steve Carell and all the actors who played in 'Battle of the Sexes' were amazing!”

 

Who better to make that comment than Louisville, KY native Lauren Kline. Why? She played Nancy Richey in the upcoming feature film "Battle of the Sexes." The movie opens Thursday, Sept. 28 nationally.

 

Kline, 26, was North Oldham (KY) High School two-time state champion and Furman University player. She comes from a tennis family: Her parents, Larry and Susan, played tennis at the University of Kentucky. The clan won the 2008 USTA Family of the Year.

 

She didn’t know what was on her horizon when she moved to San Diego for her job with Domino’s. Like any tennis lover new to an area, the first thing she did was begin playing tennis. She discovered a friend of her father’s was Ed Charles, manager and head professional at Bobby Riggs Tennis Club in nearby Encinitas.

 

Charles led her to Lornie Kuhle, promoter for the King-Riggs exhibition and founder of the Bobby Riggs Tennis Club and Museum. Kuhle, watched her play which led her to an experience of a lifetime; being part of the "Battle of the Sexes" cast. 

 

Kline played the role of Nancy Richey, one of the “Original Nine,” who started the Virginia Slims Tour in 1970 and tennis double for Jessica McNamme, who played the role of the top Grand Slam champion, Margaret Court Smith. (Kline is pictured on the right of the above photo. Emma Stone is second from left.)

 

“I was crazy busy but the experience was worth it,” stated Kline. “They wanted to make the movie’s tennis scenes more authentic.”

 

So, she spent nearly two months showing up on the set between 5:00 and 6:00 a.m., often working 12-hour days shooting the movie. She maintained her position as financial analyst with Domino’s between breaks in shooting and during many late nights. The movie wrapped filming in May 2016.

Kline was able to enjoy the Hollywood premier before recently moving to Ann Arbor, MI.

 

While, she said that she had a great time in her brief claim to movie fame, she is very happy with her life outside of Hollywood.

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