Tatiana Maslany

Tatiana Maslany
Maslany at Comic-Con in 2016
Born	Tatiana Gabriele Maslany (1985-09-22) September 22, 1985[1] Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Residence	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Occupation	Actress producer
Years active	1995–present
Known for	Orphan Black
Awards	Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (2016) Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series (2013–2014)

Tatiana Gabriele Maslany^[2] (born September 22, 1985) is a Canadian actress and producer. She has starred in television series such as The Nativity, Being Erica, Heartland, and Orphan Black. In 2013, she won the ACTRA Award for her portrayal as Claire in the film Picture Day and the Phillip Borsos Award for her performance in the film Cas and Dylan. Other notable films starring Maslany are Diary of the Dead and Eastern Promises, the latter of which she narrated.

Since March 2013, Maslany has played the lead in the Canadian science fiction thriller series Orphan Black. She has received widespread critical acclaim for her performance, winning the Primetime Emmy Award (2016), the TCA Award (2013), two Critics' Choice Television Awards, and three Canadian Screen Awards (2014–2016), in addition to receiving a Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award nomination. After winning the award for Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series at the 2016 Primetime Emmy Awards, Maslany became the first Canadian actor from a Canadian series to win an Emmy Award in a key dramatic category.^[3][4]

Early life

Maslany was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, the daughter of Dan, a woodworker, and Renate, a translator.^[5][6] She has two younger brothers, Daniel (an actor) and Michael.^[5][7][8] She has Austrian, German, Polish, Romanian, and Ukrainian ancestry.^[6][9] For elementary school, Maslany was in French immersion, and was taught in German by her mother before learning English.^[10] Additionally, her grandparents spoke German around her as a child.^[11] She also speaks some Spanish.^[12] She has danced since age four and started community theatre and musicals at the age of nine.^[13]

Maslany attended Dr. Martin LeBoldus High School, where she participated in school productions and improvisation, and graduated in 2003.^[14][15] While attending high school, she found paying acting jobs that allowed her to travel all over Canada with her parents' approval. She would work for a few months at a time and then return to school in Regina. She stated, "It wasn't an easy transition. I felt a little outside of it. Outside of both experiences, really."^[10] After completing high school, she spent some time doing theatre performances and travelling before settling in Toronto, Ontario at the age of 20.^[10]

Career

Maslany was one of the stars of the 2002 Canadian TV series 2030 CE. She appeared as the character Ghost in the 2004 film Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed. Maslany performed comedic improvisation for ten years.^[16] She participated in improvisational theatre, including the Canadian Improv Games,^[17] and has since become a member of the General Fools Improvisational Theatre.^[18] She is now a certified improvisation trainer.^[19]

In 2007, Maslany appeared in The Messengers as Lindsay Rollins. She also starred in the CBC series Heartland where she plays a barrel racer, Kit Bailey, with her horse Daisy. During 2008, she had a recurring role in the Instant Star TV series. She had a lead role in the Hallmark Channel movie, An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving. In September 2008, she portrayed Penny, a kidnapping victim in the Canadian series Flashpoint.

Maslany at Comic Con International in 2015

Maslany appeared as Sarah Wexlar, the heroin-addicted daughter of Dr. Tom Wexlar in the second season of the Canadian comedy drama television series Being Erica in 2010. Also in 2010, she appeared as the protagonist Mary, the mother of Jesus, in the British four-part television series The Nativity, which received excellent ratings.

Maslany with Orphan Black cast members in 2014

Maslany appeared in Grown Up Movie Star as Ruby, a role which earned the actor a special jury breakout role award at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.^[20] She played Hannah Simmons in one episode of The Listener. In 2010, she appeared in the direct-to-video film Hardwired as Punk Red. In late 2011, she co-starred in the film adaptation of John Sandford's Certain Prey as a contract killer named Clara Rinker. In 2012, Maslany appeared as lead character Claire in the full-length feature Picture Day, for which she won a Phillip Borsos Award for Best Performance at the 2012 Whistler Film Festival.

In 2013, Maslany guest starred on Parks and Recreation for a two-episode arc as Dr. Nadia Stasky. She portrayed the lead character Dylan in the independent film Cas and Dylan, for which she won a Phillip Borsos Award for Best Performance at the 2013 Whistler Film Festival.^[21]

On June 11, 2013, Maslany signed with the U.S. talent agency Resolution, which serves as her United States representation. In Canada, she continues to be managed by Magnolia Entertainment and represented by Characters Talent Agency.^[22] The 2013 Juno Award ceremonies were held in Regina, Maslany's home town, and Maslany was chosen as one of the presenters.^[23]

On May 17, 2014, Maslany guest starred on the season 39 finale of Saturday Night Live. She played the character Bridget in the episode's second digital short entitled Hugs. She guest starred alongside Pharrell Williams and The Lonely Island.^[24]

Maslany co-starred in the 2015 film, Woman in Gold, in the WWII flashbacks as a younger version of Maria Altmann, Helen Mirren's character. The film also starred Max Irons, Ryan Reynolds, Daniel Brühl, and Katie Holmes.^[25] She almost exclusively spoke German in the film.

Maslany also starred in the independent film The Other Half.^[26] The film, written by Joey Klein, was produced by Motel Pictures with A71 and Sienna Films and co-stars partner Tom Cullen.^[27] It had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 12, 2016.^[28]

On January 30, 2015, it was announced that Maslany has been cast in the leading role of Lucy in the 2016 indie drama film Two Lovers and a Bear. She starred alongside Dane DeHaan, who plays the character Roman. The film follows the two characters as they come together to find peace in their lives.^[29]

Maslany will next be seen as Erin Hurley, the female lead in the film Stronger, alongside Jake Gyllenhaal who will play Jeff Bauman, a victim of the Boston Marathon bombing and Erin's boyfriend.^[30]

Orphan Black

The five main clone characters all played by Tatiana Maslany (from left to right, top to bottom: Sarah, Alison, Helena, Cosima, and Rachel)

Maslany currently stars in the BBC America and Space original series Orphan Black.^[31] She plays the lead character, Sarah Manning, as well as Sarah's cohort of clones: Cosima Niehaus, Alison Hendrix, Helena, Rachel Duncan, Elizabeth Childs, Veera Suominen (also known as M.K.), Katja Obinger, Janika Zingler, Aryanna Giordano, Danielle Fournier, Jennifer Fitzsimmons, Krystal Goderitch, and Tony Sawicki. Maslany won two Critics' Choice Television Award and one TCA Award for her performance in the series. She was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for these roles, but lost to Robin Wright of House of Cards.^[32] Maslany's failure to garner a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series nomination for her work on the first two seasons generated some negative press from television critics. In 2015, Maslany received a nomination for the award for her performance, but lost to Viola Davis. She was again nominated in 2016^[33] and won the category.^[34]

In 2014, The Guardian praised Maslany's performance in the series, calling it "Olympic-level acting," writing:

Maslany plays half a dozen different clones over season one, with who knows how many more promised for the imminent second season. We start with the street-smart Sarah, but soon meet her test tube sisters: soccer mom Alison, microbiology student Cosima, assassin Helena and more. Delivering one creditable performance for a show is tough enough, but Maslany nails several here, often appearing in scenes as multiple versions interacting seamlessly. This is Olympic-level, endurance acting. It's like watching a long-distance runner do several races all at once. It's always clear which clone she's playing – accent, attitude and body language, along with wardrobe and makeup conspire to create Maslany's collection of characters. Each new turn is full of surprises, such as with the aforementioned soccer mom Alison, who starts off strident and uptight, seeming to be no fun at all, then rapidly steals all the wittiest and most moving scenes. But the real fun comes from watching Maslany immersing herself in myriad layers of performance: such as the scene when Sarah has to adopt the personality of another clone. It's dizzying, impressive stuff to watch, let alone act.

Personal life

Maslany has been dating Welsh actor Tom Cullen since 2011.^[35] The two met in Budapest while filming the Channel 4 miniseries World Without End.^[10][36][37] They reside together in Toronto, Ontario.^[38]

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

Other works

Stage

Audio books

Awards and nominations

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tatiana Maslany.

• Tatiana Maslany on Twitter
  
• Tatiana Maslany at the Internet Movie Database
• Tatiana Maslany at Rotten Tomatoes