Katheryn Winnick (born December 17, 1977) is a Canadian actress. She is known for her starring roles in the television series Vikings (2013–2020), Wu Assassins (2019), and Big Sky (2020–2023), and her recurring role on the television series Bones (2010–2011). She also starred in the films Amusement (2008), Choose (2010), A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III (2012), The Art of the Steal (2013), Polar (2019), and The Marksman (2021).
Early life and education
Katheryn Winnick was born on December 17, 1977, in Toronto, and is of Ukrainian descent. She spoke Ukrainian as her first language and did not begin speaking English until she was eight years old. She has two brothers.
She began training in martial arts at age seven, and obtained her first black belt at 13. By age 21, she had started three Taekwondo schools. She taught Taekwondo and self-defense to actors while completing her degree in kinesiology at York University, Toronto. Winnick studied at and is an alumnus of the William Esper Studio.
Winnick started acting as a young girl at her community centre in Toronto. She had directed plays in her high school and won a scholarship for drama and directing while attending Richview Collegiate Institute.
Career
Winnick entered the film industry by teaching martial arts to actors on movie sets; the experience inspired her to pursue professional acting. She was then cast as a series regular on Student Bodies.
Since then, she has appeared in many films, including Stand Up Guys, Failure to Launch, Love & Other Drugs, and Killers. She has guest-starred in numerous television shows, most notably House, The Glades, Bones, Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, CSI, CSI: NY, CSI: Miami, Criminal Minds, Person of Interest, and Nikita. In 2010, she joined the cast of Bones, in the recurring role of Hannah Burley, a glamorous war correspondent and love interest for main character Seeley Booth.
Winnick starred in the comedy-drama film Cold Souls, which had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival 2009. In 2011, she was cast in a guest role on The CW's spy drama Nikita. In 2013, she starred in A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III and appeared in the comedy The Art of the Steal. She also joined History Channel's Vikings, starring as Lagertha, a legendary figure in Viking history. In July 2017, Winnick stated on her Twitter account that she had been cast for a role in what was thought to be a film project, and that it would be announced at San Diego Comic-Con. She was later revealed to be cast as a main character in the Nazi Zombies mode of the video game Call of Duty: WWII.
In July 2018, it was announced that Winnick had been cast in the series regular role of Christine "C.G." Gavin on the Netflix series, Wu Assassins. In February 2020, Winnick was announced to play the starring role of Jenny Hoyt on the ABC crime drama series Big Sky.
Personal life
In 2015, Winnick said she has dual American and Canadian citizenship. Her brothers have made appearances on Vikings.
In March 2022, Winnick, together with her mother, created the charity "The Winnick Foundation" to raise funds for the needs of Ukraine during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In November 2022, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs banned Winnick from entering Russia, along with 99 other Canadians, in response to international sanctions.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 2001 Biohazardous Jennifer 2002 Smoking Herb Marcia The It Factor Herself Fabled Liz Two Weeks Notice Tiffany 2003 What Alice Found Julie 2004 50 First Dates Young Woman Satan's Little Helper Jenna Whooly Going the Distance Trish Our Time Is Up Waif Short film 2005 Hellraiser: Hellworld Chelsea 2006 Cloud 9 Olga Kiss Me Again Chalice Failure to Launch Melissa 2007 When Nietzsche Wept Lou Salome 2008 Amusement Tabitha "Tabby" Wright 2009 Cold Souls Sveta 2010 Tranced Cleo Radio Free Albemuth Rachel Brady Choose Fiona Wagner Killers Vivian Love & Other Drugs Lisa 2011 Bat $#*! Crazy Girlfriend 2012 Stand Up Guys Oxana A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III. Ivana 2013 The Art of the Steal Lola 2016 Stripped Margaret Dupre Short film 2017 The Dark Tower Laurie Chambers 2018 Speed Kills Emily Gowen 2019 Polar Vivian 2020 Wander Elsa Viceroy 2021 The Marksman Sarah Pennington Flag Day Patty Vogel Also co-producer
Television
Year Title Role Notes 1999 PSI Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal Suzie Episode: "Sacrifices" Student Bodies Holly Benson Recurring role, 5 episodes 2000 Relic Hunter Roselyn Episode: "Nine Lives" 2001 Screech Owls Brianna Styles Episode: "Face Off" 2002 Tracker Laura 2 episodes Law & Order: Criminal Intent Karyn Bennett Episode: "Seizure" 2003 Oz Liesel Robson Episode: "4giveness" Wild Card Kendall Episode: "Hell Week" 10-8: Officers on Duty Lucy Johnson Episode: "Lucy in the Sky" 2004 CSI: Miami Nicole Harjo Episode: "Rap Sheet" 1-800-Missing Julie Snyder Episode: "In the Midnight Hour" 2005 CSI: NY Lisa Kay Episode: "Corporate Warriors" Trump Unauthorized Ivana Trump Television film 2006 Criminal Minds Maggie Lowe Episode: "Somebody’s Watching" 13 Graves Amy Television film 2007 House Eve Episode: "One Day, One Room" Tipping Point Nina Patterson Television film Law Dogs Lisa Bennett Television film 2008 Law & Order Sarah Shipley Episode: "Excalibur" Law & Order: Criminal Intent Carrie Conlon Episode: "Faithfully" 2009 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Maureen Martin Episode: "One to Go" 2010 The Gates Kat Russo Episode: "Identity Crisis" 2010–2011 Bones Hannah Burley Recurring role, 11 episodes 2011 The Glades Valerie Dorman Episode: "Lost and Found" Nikita Kelly Episode: "Partners" 2012 Transporter: The Series Darcy Daniels Episode: "Hot Ice" 2013–2020 Vikings Lagertha Main role 2015 Person of Interest Frankie Wells Episode: "Skip " 2019 Wu Assassins Christine "C.G." Gavin Main role and also co-executive producer 2020–2023 Big Sky Jenny Hoyt Main role
Video games
Call of Duty: WWII (2017), as Marie Fischer
As a director
Wu Assassins (2019), episode: "Legacy" Vikings (2020), episode: "Valhalla Can Wait"
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result Refs. 2012 Beverly Hills Film Festival Best Actress Children of the Air 2014 Canadian Screen Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role Vikings Women's Image Network Awards Best Actress in a Drama Series Vikings 2015 Critics' Choice Television Award Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Vikings Golden Maple Awards Best Actress in a TV series broadcast in the U.S. Vikings Women's Image Network Awards Best Actress in a Drama Series Vikings 2016 Women's Image Network Awards Best Actress in a Drama Series Vikings
References Alt URL
External links
The Winnick Foundation Katheryn Winnick's organization