Sonja Smits
Template:Short description Template:Infobox person Sonja Smits (born September 8, 1958)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> is a Canadian actress. She was nominated for two Genie Awards: for Videodrome (1983) and That's My Baby! (1984). On television, she starred in Street Legal and Traders.
Early life and education
Smits was born in the Ottawa Valley, Ontario, Canada. She went to Bell High School in Bells Corners, she also attended Woodroffe High School and South Carleton High School in Richmond, a village outside Ottawa. She studied acting at Ryerson Polytechnic Institute until she was invited to join the Centre Stage theatre company in London, Ontario.
Career
- Television
Besides her starring roles in Street Legal (1987–1992) and Traders (1996-2000), Smits plays a main role as Megan Redner on The Eleventh Hour (2002–2005), and a recurring role as Cynthia Hodge on Odyssey 5 (2002–2003).
Smits' guest roles in television series, including Falcon Crest (1984), Airwolf (1987), Counterstrike (1993), The Outer Limits (1995), and the miniseries The Best Laid Plans (2014).
- Film
On the big-screen, Smits played Bianca O'Blivion in David Cronenberg's horror Videodrome (1983), and was lead actress in the 2021 drama Drifting Snow.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She portrayed Mona Louise Parsons in the Heritage Minutes short documentary film by Historica Canada.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2025, Smits portrayed the Terran Proctor in Star Trek: Section 31.<ref name="PM2024" />
Awards and nominations
Smits has been nominated for five Gemini Awards, winning in 1988, and two Genie Awards. She has also received the Toronto Women in Film and Television (TWIFT) Outstanding Achievement Award, and the ACTRA Toronto Award of Excellence.<ref name="PM2024">Template:Cite web</ref>
Personal life
Smits is married to Atlantis Films co-founder Seaton McLean with whom she has two children. They live in the Rosedale neighbourhood of Toronto and are the owners of the Closson Chase winery in Prince Edward County. They also own a farm close to the winery.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2009, Smits was elected president of the board of directors of the Harbourfront Centre.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Template:Abbr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Tyler | Sharon | <ref name="RTf">Template:Cite web</ref> | |
| 1981 | Template:Sortname | Mrs. Lynde | <ref name="TCMf">Template:Cite web</ref> | |
| 1983 | Videodrome | Bianca O'Blivion | Nominated — Genie Award for Best Supporting Actress | <ref name="TCMf" /><ref name="PM2024" /> |
| 1984 | That's My Baby! | Suzanne | Nominated — Genie Award for Best Actress | <ref name="TCMf" /><ref name="PM2024" /> |
| 2003 | Owning Mahowny | Dana Selkirk | <ref name="TCMf" /> | |
| 2003 | How to Deal | Carol Warsher | <ref name="TCMf" /> | |
| 2004 | Template:Sortname | Fay Tolland | ||
| 2006 | One Way | Linda Birk | <ref name="TCMf" /> | |
| 2021 | Drifting Snow | Joanne | <ref name="RTf" /> | |
| 2022 | Better Days | Kate | Nominated — ACTRA Award for Outstanding Performance – Gender Non-conforming or Female | <ref name="RTf" /><ref name="PM2024" /> |
| 2025 | Star Trek: Section 31 | Terran Proctor | <ref name="PM2024" /> |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Template:Abbr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | War Brides | Lisa | TV movieTemplate:BrNominated — ACTRA Award | <ref name="RTf" /><ref name="PM2024" /> |
| 1984 | Falcon Crest | Lydia Boulanger | Episode: "Suitable for Framing" | |
| 1984–1985 | Template:Sortname | Nina Russell / Susan Carter | Episodes: "Face to Face", "Murderous Feelings" | <ref name="RTf" /> |
| 1985 | Template:Sortname | Jessica Beaumont | Episode: "Her Bodyguard" | <ref name="RTf" /> |
| 1985 | Command 5 | Chris Winslow | TV movie | <ref name="TCMf" /> |
| 1986 | Loose Ends | Carla | TV movie | <ref name="TCMf" /> |
| 1986 | Danger Bay | Template:Unk | 1 episode | <ref name="RTf" /> |
| 1987 | Airwolf | Alexandria Rostov | Episode: "Stavograd: Parts 1 & 2" | <ref name="RTf" /> |
| 1987–1992 | Street Legal | Carrington 'Carrie' Barr | Main role, 83 episodesTemplate:BrGemini Award for Best Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role (1988)Template:BrNominated — Gemini Award for Best Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role (1993) | |
| 1988 | Template:Sortname | Mary | Episode: "The Fruit at the Bottom of the Bowl" | <ref name="RTf" /> |
| 1993 | Template:Sortname | Morag | TV movieTemplate:BrNominated — Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series | <ref name="TCMf" /> |
| 1993 | Counterstrike | Julia Devane | Episode: "Betrayed" | |
| 1994 | Spenser: Pale Kings and Princes | Carolyn Rogers | TV movie | <ref name="TCMf" /> |
| 1994 | TekWar | Kate Cardigan | TV movie | <ref name="TCMf" /> |
| 1994 | TekLords | Kate Cardigan | TV movie | <ref name="TCMf" /> |
| 1995 | Template:Sortname | Dr. Anne Crain | Episode: "White Light Fever" | <ref name="RTf" /> |
| 1995 | Nothing Sacred | Template:Unk | TV movie | <ref name="RTf" /> |
| 1996–2000 | Traders | Sally Ross | Main role, 83 episodesTemplate:BrNominated — Gemini Award for Best Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role (1999-2000) | |
| 1998 | Dead Husbands | Sheila Feinstein | TV movie | <ref name="TCMf" /> |
| 2001 | Made in Canada | Angela Widstrom | Episode: "Teamwork" | |
| 2001 | Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows | Kay Thompson | TV miniseries | <ref name="TCMf" /> |
| 2002 | Mom's on Strike | First Lady | TV movie | <ref name="TCMf" /> |
| 2002–2003 | Odyssey 5 | Cynthia Hodge | Recurring role | |
| 2002–2005 | Template:Sortname | Megan Redner | Main role | |
| 2003 | Template:Sortname | Mrs. Anderson | Episode: "The Man from Mars" | |
| 2004 | Siblings | Mom | TV movie | <ref name="RTf" /> |
| 2005 | Heritage Minutes | Mona Louise Parsons | Episode: "Mona Parsons" | |
| 2007–2008 | Rent-a-Goalie | Texas | Episodes: "Texas", "Upstairs" | |
| 2012 | Cybergeddon | Amanda Jocelyn | Episodes: "Chapter 3", "Chapter 6" | |
| 2012 | Cybergeddon Zips | Amanda Jocelyn | Episode: "Amanda" | |
| 2014 | Template:Sortname | Diane Gagnon | TV miniseries | |
| 2016 | Flower Shop Mystery: Dearly Depotted | Glory Osbourne | TV movie | <ref name="RTf" /> |
| 2017 | Ransom | Gwyneth Davenport | Episode: "The Artist" | <ref name="RTf" /> |
| 2017 | American Gods | Laura's Mother | Episodes: "The Bone Orchard", "Git Gone", "A Murder of Gods" | |
| 2017 | Murdoch Mysteries | Belinda Carlyle | Episode: "Brackenreid Boudoir" | |
| 2017 | Save Me | Gloriana | Episode: "Code 5" | |
| 2018 | Mary Kills People | Estelle | Episode: "The Connection" | |
| 2021 | A Mother's Lie | Joyce | TV movie. AKA Hidden Family Secrets | <ref name="RTf" /> |
| 2022 | Pretty Hard Cases | Judy Wazowski | 9 episodesTemplate:BrNominated — ACTRA Award for Best Series Ensemble | <ref name="RTf" /><ref name="PM2024" /> |
| 2024 | Hudson and Rex | Minister Fulford | Episode: "Wag the Dog" |
References
External links
Template:Best Actress in a Drama Series CSA Template:Authority control