Keely Cat-Wells (born 1996 or 1997) is a British entrepreneur, disability rights advocate, and writer. She is the founder of C Talent, a talent agency focused on representing disabled actors,^[1][2] for which she was honored as part of Forbes 30 Under 30 North America in 2021.^[3]

Cat-Wells is a contributor to Forbes.^[4]

Cat-Wells grew up on a farm in West Sussex, England.^[5][6] As a child, she struggled in school; she was diagnosed with dyslexia at age 8. She enjoyed dance and acting, and first planned to become a professional dancer and actor.^[1][5] However, at age 17, six months after beginning school at a performing arts college, she became ill and needed to be hospitalized.^[1][5] After initial struggles for a diagnosis and multiple surgeries on her colon,^[5] in 2016 she underwent an ileostomy.^[7] She was also later diagnosed with PTSD from her experiences with chronic illness.^[1][5]

Cat-Wells began working at a London-based talent agency while recovering from her ileostomy, first as an intern and then as the head of children's talent.^[5]

In 2017, Cat-Wells visited Los Angeles to audition for a film.^[5] She was offered the role, which was later rescinded following a fitting where a bikini revealed her ileostomy bag.^[1][2][5] She relocated to Los Angeles in 2018, where she became involved with the disabled acting community and decided to found C Talent, a talent agency focused on representing disabled actors, writers, and producers.^[2][5] The company was acquired by Whalar in 2022, at which point it represented 85 disabled creators.^[7] Cat-Wells remained involved as the president of Whalar's C Talent division.^[8]

In the early 2020s, Cat-Wells began working on Zetta Studios, a UK-based film studio that aims to be fully accessible.^[5]

In December 2021, Cat-Wells was a speaker at the International Paralympic Committee's 2021 Inclusion Summit.^[9]

In early 2022, Cat-Wells participated in the first Mental Health Youth Action Forum at the White House.^[10]

She later co-founded Making Space Media with Sophie Morgan.^[11][12]

Cat-Wells is a member of the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100.^[13]

In 2020, Cat-Wells was named one of Aerie's #AerieReal Changemakers.^[5]

In 2021, Cat-Wells was a Diana Award recipient^[14] and a member of Forbes 30 Under 30 North America.^[3]

Cat-Wells was one of six young activists honored at the 2022 Young Activists Summit.^[15] That same year, she was also one of five entrepreneurs honored as part of the One Young World Entrepreneur of the Year Award.^[16]

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