Katheryn Winnick

Edit

Overview (2)

Born	December 17, 1977 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height	5' 6" (1.68 m)

Mini Bio (1)

Canadian actress, director and producer Katheryn Winnick starred in the critically acclaimed, Emmy award-winning television series Vikings, produced by MGM and The History Channel. In addition to her lead role on Vikings, an episode directed by Winnick debuted in 2020. Entertainment Weekly declared that her role as "Lagertha may be the most exciting feminist character on TV." Her portrayal of the fierce shieldmaiden has garnered her several impressive accolades including a Women's Image Network award for Best Actress in a Drama Series in 2018, a nomination for a Critic's Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Performance by a Lead Dramatic Actress (2014), Best Actress in a Drama Series by the Women's Image Network nominations in 2014, 2015, and 2016 and a Golden Maple Award nomination for Best Actress in a TV Series. In addition to these prestigious nominations, Katheryn received the Serendipity Film's Award of Excellence at the Banff World Media Festival in 2015. She was also chosen to be a jury member for the 2019 Cannes Series festival.

A triple threat, Winnick wrapped the new Netflix series Wu Assassins that she stars in, co-executive produced and directed an episode of the series in 2019. In addition, she starred in Polar, based on the action noir comic series of the same name that premiered on Netflix.

In 2017, Winnick starred in the adaptation of the Stephen King novel, The Dark Tower, starring Academy Award-winner Matthew McConaughey and Golden Globe winner Idris Elba.

Winnick's other credits include roles in such movies as Love & Other Drugs with Jake Gyllenhaal, Killers starring Ashton Kutcher, as well as Stand Up Guys with Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin. She also starred in the Paul Giamatti comedy drama Cold Souls, which received a best ensemble performance nomination in the 2009 Gotham Independent Film Awards.

Off the big screen, Katheryn is no stranger to TV and in addition to Vikings has appeared in numerous television series including roles in Person of Interest, House, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Law & Order, and a notable recurring role on the hit prime time series Bones.

In 2015, Winnick was named as the brand ambassador for luxury Swiss watch company Raymond Weil and is the face of their 2016 elegant and feminine Shine Collection. Katheryn proudly endorses the brand of watches, which celebrates both the strength and beauty of the active modern woman worldwide. She can also be seen in the hit video game Call of Duty.

In addition to acting, Katheryn Winnick is an accomplished martial artist who holds a third-degree black belt in Taekwondo and a second-degree black belt in Karate. By twenty-one she had founded and owned three martial arts schools. After completing her university education at York University, Toronto, Katheryn went on to successfully pursue an acting career in New York and subsequently Los Angeles.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: mangement team

Family (2)

Parents	Lesia Winnick Roman Winnick
Relatives	Mark Winnick (sibling) Daria Winnick (sibling) Adam Winnick (sibling)

Trade Mark (1)

Piercing blue eyes

Trivia (18)

Studied acting at New York's William Esper Studio.

Won silver medals at the Canadian National Tae Kwon Do finals.

Her brother Adam fought in Afghanistan as a Canadian soldier.

Holds a third-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and a second-degree black belt in Karate. She is also a licensed bodyguard.

Began studying martial arts at the age of seven, and earned her first black belt at age 13. She opened her first dojo, Win Kai Martial Arts, at age 16; it has since expanded to three locations in Toronto and New York.

Chosen by "Vanity Fair" to appear in the magazine's high-profile and highly-selective "Vanities" section in September 2009.

Was handpicked from thousands of aspiring young actors to be featured in the initial season of Bravo's popular documentary TV series, The It Factor (2002).

Her brother Mark Winnick is also an actor.

Original family name means "winemaker".

Did not begin speaking English until age eight.

Speaks five languages: English, Ukrainian, French, Russian, and Italian.

Known to her family as Katrusia.

She and her three siblings dropped the final vowel from their birth name "Winnicki".

Of Ukrainian descent, parents Roman Winnicki and wife Lesya were both born in West Germany, where their families left to escape the USSR. When they were children, they moved to Canada. Her mother is Vice-President of the Ukrainian-Canadian Congress. Her father's parents were from Boryslav and Staryi Sambir. Her mother's family was from Galicia, with her maternal grandfather born in Ternopil Oblast and her maternal grandmother born in Lviv Oblast. They were all from the Soviet Socialist Republic of Ukraine.

Was born in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, now part of Toronto.

She is a popular choice among DC comics fans to play the role of Dinah Lance/Black Canary in a live-action film.

Has appeared in all three "CSI" shows.

Graduated from Richview Collegiate in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, which is known for several other notable alum such as former prime minister Stephen Harper and MLB star Joey Votto.

Personal Quotes (7)

The Norse way of speaking, no one really knew what the Vikings sounded liked, they were Norsemen. The accent is really a combination of a Scandinavian accent, maybe with a Swedish accent and an old way of speaking.

When I was growing up, there were times I had to compete against boys in tae kwon do, and I'd show them right away that I wasn't someone to mess with.

I grew up in a martial arts gym surrounded by men and boys, and I pretty much call myself a tomboy.

My first car was a Chevy Cavalier. My dad somehow convinced me that it was a hot sports car because it was red.

I grew up being a bit of a tomboy, a big-time tomboy.

I was told this is a male-dominated network and the male demographic is stronger than female. This is a show about Vikings and you are just the wife. I remember thinking that was not the way I was going to play it.

Every woman has to learn how to defend themselves. If you can protect your body and have confidence in your body, then in any situation you'd be able to defend yourself. It gives you the power, and confidence has to start within yourself.