*Velma Kelly is one of the main characters of the musical Chicago. Kelly is an aloof nightclub singer/vaudevillian of the 20's, who plays sensationalist musical numbers at the jazz nightclub "The Onyx" in Chicago.

Velma is portrayed by Catherine Zeta-Jones as a vaudevillian with great talent and charm, but also as a smug and classist woman behind doors who dismisses the people she thinks are not "at her level" (like Roxie Hart).

On the contrary, she treats people with influence, like Matron "Mama" Morton and lawyer Billy Flynn, with tenderness and charm. She also treats some fellow inmates with respect (and she shows sadness when a fellow inmate is sentenced to death).

She also shows her emotional side when she feels alone at jail with no media attention, and is deeply hurt by the betrayal of her sister and her husband.

Grew up… in the limelight. Velma came of age in Chicago’s hot jazz clubs in the 1920s. She and her sister “Had an act that couldn’t flop,” as Velma sings. “My sister and I were headed straight for the top. My sister and I earned a thou a week at least, but my sister is now unfortunately deceased.”

Living… in Cook County Jail. Velma was arrested for the double murder of her husband and her sister, who she caught doing “the spread-eagle” one night after a show. As she explains it, "Well, I was in such a state of shock that I completely blacked out; I can’t remember a thing. It wasn’t until later, when I was washing the blood of my hands, I even knew they were dead."

Profession… former starlet turned death row inmate. Velma’s fame has only increased after committing murder. The whole spectacle's ending up to be good for her career.

Interests… herself, just like anyone else in show business. The vain and self-centered singer enjoys all the attention that her murder trial has brought her, until her limelight is stolen by the newest Cook County inmate, Roxie Hart.

Challenge… getting acquitted and reclaiming her fame. There isn’t much room on death row for two celebrity murderers, and now that the newer, more scandalous Roxie Hart is getting noticed, Velma has to figure out a way to re-capture the spotlight. As she gripes about Roxie, “First she steals my publicity. Then she steals my lawyer, my trial date. And now she steals my goddamn garter.”*