Celia Kenney was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and is the granddaughter of a legendary Hawaiian Entertainers, Beverly Noa and Ed Kenney. She studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, the Stella Adler Studio, the Atlantic Acting School, and the American Repertory Theater. She graduated from Harvard, where she became one of the first female cast members of the Hasty Pudding and received an award for most promising actor.