KATHERYN WINNICK

Date of Birth
17 December 1977, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Height
5' 6" (1.68 m)

Mini Biography
As her impressively diverse list of credits attests, Canadian-born Katheryn Winnick has always been drawn to the unconventional. Next year alone, Katheryn is due to appear onscreen alongside Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin in Lakeshore Entertainment's Stand Up Guys (2012); with Kurt Russell and Matt Dillon in The Black Marks (2013); and as Charlie Sheen's ex in A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III (2012) (a film whose star-studded cast also includes Bill Murray, Patricia Arquette and Jason Schwartzman). Currently, Katheryn is shooting "Vikings" (2013), the new, eagerly-anticipated television series from MGM & The History Channel; an epic period drama, she stars opposite Golden Globe winner, Gabriel Byrne.

Recent career highlights include a sexy turn opposite Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway in Ed Zwick's Love and Other Drugs (2010); a fun, physically-demanding role as one of the eponymous assassins in the Ashton Kutcher/Katherine Heigl action-comedy, Killers (2010) (in which she did all her own stunts); and a recurring role as David Boreanaz's love interest on Fox's hit prime-time TV series, "Bones" (2005). But it was her subtly endearing performance in Sophie Barthes' Cold Souls (2009) - one that that resulted in a nod for Best Ensemble Cast at that year's Independent Spirit Awards, together with her Academy Award-nominated co-stars Paul Giamatti, Emily Watson and David Strathairn - that Katheryn considers among her most precious acting memories to date.

Finally, lest anyone be fooled by her striking and oft-commented-on beauty, it should be noted that Katheryn is not only a rising star in Hollywood... she is an accomplished martial artist, as well. After receiving her first Black Belt at the ripe old age of thirteen, she went on to compete in the Canadian Nationals, opened a handful of highly successful Tae Kwon Do schools in and around Toronto, and - as if all that weren't enough - eventually trained to become a licensed bodyguard. She currently holds a third-degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and a second-degree Black Belt in Karate, and she can pretty much kill you in her sleep.

Trivia
Studied acting at New York's William Esper Studio.

Is fluent in Ukrainian.

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

Got kicked out of summer camp for "reckless behavior" when she was 14.

Her brother Adam is a Canadian soldier fighting in Afghanistan.

Holds a 3rd-Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, a 2nd-Degree Black Belt in Karate, and is a licensed bodyguard.

Opened her first martial arts studio at the age of sixteen, Win Kai Martial Arts, which quickly expanded to three successful branches in New York and Toronto.

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