Amanda Tapping
Encyclopedia
Amanda Tapping is an English-born Canadian actress, producer and director. She is best known for portraying Samantha Carter
in the Canadian
-American
military science fiction
television series Stargate SG-1
and Stargate Atlantis
. Currently, she stars as Helen Magnus
in the Syfy Channel
series Sanctuary.
, Essex, England, she moved with her family to Ontario
, Canada when she was three years old. She attended North Toronto Collegiate Institute
where she excelled in environmental science
and drama. However, when she finished in 1984, she decided to focus her attention on drama, attending the University of Windsor
School of Dramatic Arts in Windsor
, Ontario.
, British Columbia. She has one daughter born on 22 March 2005. Tapping has two living brothers, Richard and Christopher. Chris is her fraternal twin, who works in Toronto as a database administrator
. A third brother, Steven, died in December 2006.
and The X-Files
. She also formed a comedy troupe, the "Random Acts", with collaborators Katherine Jackson and Anne Marie Kerr, in Toronto in the early 1990s.
Tapping is best known for her portrayal of Samantha Carter
in the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1
, which debuted in 1997. After SG-1 aired its final episode, Tapping reprised the role of Samantha Carter on Stargate Atlantis
as the new commander of the Atlantis expedition. In season five however, Tapping's role on the show was reduced to that of "special guest-star" with only occasional appearances due to her choosing to focus attention on the development of a new series for Syfy
called Sanctuary. The show, now in its fourth season, expanded on an original series of eight webisode
s released on the internet in 2007. The bulk of the scenery and characters are entirely green screen
and CGI
creations. Tapping serves as both star and executive producer of the show.
Tapping is also working with William Shatner
on a 2011 animated webisode series "The Zenoids," written by Alan Dean Foster
. Tapping and Shatner voice characters and Tapping is executive producer.
In 2007, she won a Canadian Comedy Award for Best Actress for her role in the short film Breakdown.
on an episode titled "Resurrection", written by co-star Michael Shanks
. She directed the seventh episode of Sanctuary season two titled "Veritas".
Samantha Carter
Samantha "Sam" Carter is a fictional character in the Canadian-American military science fiction Stargate franchise, appearing in television series Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, and Stargate Universe. SG-1 and Atlantis are both about a military team exploring the galaxy via a network of alien...
in the Canadian
Canadian science fiction television
-History of science fiction television in Canada:Science fiction in Canada was produced by the CBC in its early years, notably the series Space Command . Actors such as James Doohan and William Shatner first appeared on Canadian television, before finding success in the United States. In the 1970s,...
-American
U.S. television science fiction
U.S. television science fiction is a popular genre of television in the United States that has produced many of the best-known and most popular science fiction shows in the world. Most famous of all, and one of the most influential science-fiction series in history, is the iconic Star Trek and its...
military science fiction
Military science fiction
Military science fiction is a subgenre of science fiction in which the principal characters are members of a military service and an armed conflict is taking place, normally in space, or on a planet other than Earth...
television series Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1 is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stargate franchise. The show, created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, is based on the 1994 feature film Stargate by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich...
and Stargate Atlantis
Stargate Atlantis
Stargate Atlantis is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of MGM's Stargate franchise. The show was created by Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper as a spin-off series of Stargate SG-1, which was created by Wright and Jonathan Glassner and was itself...
. Currently, she stars as Helen Magnus
Helen Magnus
Doctor Helen Magnus is the series protagonist and central character of the Canadian fantasy-science fiction television series Sanctuary. She is portrayed by Amanda Tapping...
in the Syfy Channel
Syfy
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
series Sanctuary.
Early life and education
Born in RochfordRochford
Rochford is a small town in the Rochford district of Essex in the East of England. It is sited about 43 miles from Central London and approximately 21 miles from the Essex county town, Chelmsford...
, Essex, England, she moved with her family to Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada when she was three years old. She attended North Toronto Collegiate Institute
North Toronto Collegiate Institute
North Toronto Collegiate Institute is a non-semestered public high school of over 1,000 students located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Toronto District School Board....
where she excelled in environmental science
Environmental science
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physical and biological sciences, to the study of the environment, and the solution of environmental problems...
and drama. However, when she finished in 1984, she decided to focus her attention on drama, attending the University of Windsor
University of Windsor
The University of Windsor is a public comprehensive and research university in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's southernmost university. It has a student population of approximately 15,000 full-time and part-time undergraduate students and over 1000 graduate students...
School of Dramatic Arts in Windsor
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
, Ontario.
Personal life
As of 2004, Tapping lives with her husband, Alan Kovacs, in VancouverVancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia. She has one daughter born on 22 March 2005. Tapping has two living brothers, Richard and Christopher. Chris is her fraternal twin, who works in Toronto as a database administrator
Database administrator
A database administrator is a person responsible for the design, implementation, maintenance and repair of an organization's database. They are also known by the titles Database Coordinator or Database Programmer, and is closely related to the Database Analyst, Database Modeller, Programmer...
. A third brother, Steven, died in December 2006.
Acting career
After graduation Tapping continued to study theatrical arts while performing in several stage productions. She appeared in several television commercials and played a variety of roles in television and film productions, such as The Outer LimitsThe Outer Limits (1995 TV series)
The Outer Limits is an American television series that originally aired on Showtime,the Sci Fi Channel and in syndication between 1995 and 2002...
and The X-Files
The X-Files
The X-Files is an American science fiction television series and a part of The X-Files franchise, created by screenwriter Chris Carter. The program originally aired from to . The show was a hit for the Fox network, and its characters and slogans became popular culture touchstones in the 1990s...
. She also formed a comedy troupe, the "Random Acts", with collaborators Katherine Jackson and Anne Marie Kerr, in Toronto in the early 1990s.
Tapping is best known for her portrayal of Samantha Carter
Samantha Carter
Samantha "Sam" Carter is a fictional character in the Canadian-American military science fiction Stargate franchise, appearing in television series Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, and Stargate Universe. SG-1 and Atlantis are both about a military team exploring the galaxy via a network of alien...
in the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1 is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stargate franchise. The show, created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, is based on the 1994 feature film Stargate by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich...
, which debuted in 1997. After SG-1 aired its final episode, Tapping reprised the role of Samantha Carter on Stargate Atlantis
Stargate Atlantis
Stargate Atlantis is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of MGM's Stargate franchise. The show was created by Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper as a spin-off series of Stargate SG-1, which was created by Wright and Jonathan Glassner and was itself...
as the new commander of the Atlantis expedition. In season five however, Tapping's role on the show was reduced to that of "special guest-star" with only occasional appearances due to her choosing to focus attention on the development of a new series for Syfy
Syfy
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
called Sanctuary. The show, now in its fourth season, expanded on an original series of eight webisode
Webisode
A webisode is a short episode which airs initially as Internet television, either download or stream as opposed to first airing on broadcast or cable television. The format can be used as a preview, a promotion, as part of a collection of shorts, or a commercial.A webisode can be an episode...
s released on the internet in 2007. The bulk of the scenery and characters are entirely green screen
Chroma key
Chroma key compositing is a technique for compositing two images together. A color range in the top layer is made transparent, revealing another image behind. The chroma keying technique is commonly used in video production and post-production...
and CGI
Computer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
creations. Tapping serves as both star and executive producer of the show.
Tapping is also working with William Shatner
William Shatner
William Alan Shatner is a Canadian actor, musician, recording artist, and author. He gained worldwide fame and became a cultural icon for his portrayal of James T...
on a 2011 animated webisode series "The Zenoids," written by Alan Dean Foster
Alan Dean Foster
Alan Dean Foster is an American author of fantasy and science fiction. He currently resides in Prescott, Arizona, with his wife, and is also known for his novelizations of film scripts...
. Tapping and Shatner voice characters and Tapping is executive producer.
In 2007, she won a Canadian Comedy Award for Best Actress for her role in the short film Breakdown.
Directing experience
Tapping's first directing experience was during the seventh season of Stargate SG-1Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1 is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stargate franchise. The show, created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, is based on the 1994 feature film Stargate by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich...
on an episode titled "Resurrection", written by co-star Michael Shanks
Michael Shanks
Michael Garrett Shanks is a Canadian actor who achieved fame for his role as Dr. Daniel Jackson in the long-running Canadian-American military science fiction television series Stargate SG-1.-Early life:...
. She directed the seventh episode of Sanctuary season two titled "Veritas".
Selected filmography
| Actress | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Other notes |
| 1994 | Forever Knight Forever Knight Forever Knight was a Canadian television series about Nick Knight, an 800-year-old vampire working as a police detective in modern day Toronto. Wracked with guilt for centuries of killing others, he seeks redemption by working as a homicide detective on the night shift while struggling to find a... |
Dr. Naomi Ross | Television series, episode "Near Death" |
| 1995 | Rent-A-Kid | Mrs. Nicely | Television movie |
| Net Worth | Colleen Howe | Television movie | |
| The Haunting of Lisa | Gina/Angel | Television movie | |
| Degree of Guilt | Marcy | Television movie | |
| 1996 | Flash Forward Flash Forward Flash Forward is a Disney Channel Original Series produced in Canada for pre-teens and teenagers which aired on both the Disney Channel and ABC from 1996-1997.... |
Miss Yansouni | Television series |
| Remembrance | Linda | Television movie | |
| Golden Will: The Silken Laumann Story | Kathryn Laumann | Television movie | |
| What Kind of Mother Are You? | Ingrid Elstad | Film | |
| Due South Due South Due South is a Canadian crime drama series with elements of comedy. The series was created by Paul Haggis, produced by Alliance Communications, and stars Paul Gross, David Marciano, and latterly Callum Keith Rennie... |
Audrey McKenna | Television series, episode "Starman" | |
| The X-Files The X-Files The X-Files is an American science fiction television series and a part of The X-Files franchise, created by screenwriter Chris Carter. The program originally aired from to . The show was a hit for the Fox network, and its characters and slogans became popular culture touchstones in the 1990s... |
Carina Sayles | Television series, episode "Avatar" | |
| 1997 | The Donor | Cassie | Film |
| Booty Call Booty Call Booty Call is a 1997 comedy film, written by J. Stanford Parker and Takashi Bufford, and directed by Jeff Pollack. The film stars Jamie Foxx, Tommy Davidson, Vivica A. Fox and Tamala Jones.-Plot:... |
Dr. Moore | Film | |
| Stargate SG-1 Stargate SG-1 Stargate SG-1 is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stargate franchise. The show, created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, is based on the 1994 feature film Stargate by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich... |
Captain/Major/Lt. Col. Samantha Carter Samantha Carter Samantha "Sam" Carter is a fictional character in the Canadian-American military science fiction Stargate franchise, appearing in television series Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, and Stargate Universe. SG-1 and Atlantis are both about a military team exploring the galaxy via a network of alien... |
Television series, starring 1997–2007 | |
| 1998 | Millennium Millennium (TV series) Millennium is an American television series created by Chris Carter, creator of The X-Files. Millennium aired on the Fox Network from 1996 to 1999. The series was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, though most episodes were ostensibly set in or around Seattle, Washington... |
Dr. Cantor | Television series, episode "Borrowed Time" |
| The Outer Limits The Outer Limits (1995 TV series) The Outer Limits is an American television series that originally aired on Showtime,the Sci Fi Channel and in syndication between 1995 and 2002... |
Cmdr. Kate Girard | Television series, episode "The Joining" | |
| 2000 | Blacktop Blacktop (film) Blacktop is an American thriller film starring Meat Loaf released in 2000.-Plot:When David , a comedian, gets a three night gig at a trucker's bar, his girlfriend, Sylvia , leaves him and accepts a ride from a trucker, Jack .Problems arise when we discover that Jack may be a deranged serial killer... |
Waitress | Television movie |
| 2001 | The Void The Void (film) The Void is a 2001 American direct-to-DVD science-fiction thriller film which follows a scientist who has discovered that a man who's been attempting to solve an energy crisis has inadvertently created a black hole which, unless stopped, will swallow the world.The film features Amanda Tapping as... |
Prof. Eva Soderstrom | Direct-to-DVD film |
| 2002 | Stuck Stuck (2002 film) Stuck is a 2002 Canadian feature-length video drama film written and directed by Lindsay Bourne. It features Amanda Tapping as Liz, JR Bourne as Bernie, Fred Henderson as Gordon, and Courtney Kramer as Cindy.-Synopsis:... |
Liz | Film |
| Life or Something Like It Life or Something Like It Life or Something Like It is a 2002 romantic comedy film directed by Stephen Herek. The film focuses on television reporter Lanie Kerrigan and her quest to find meaning in her life. The original music score was composed by David Newman... |
Carrie Maddox | Film | |
| 2004 | Traffic | Home owner's wife | Television miniseries |
| Legend of Earthsea | Lady Elfarren | Television movie | |
| Proof Positive Proof Positive Proof Positive was a reality television paranormal investigation show broadcast by the SciFi Channel beginning in October 6, 2004 through December 8, 2004. It was shown as part of the "SciFi Wednesday" evening schedule line up in the United States along with other reality television programs as... |
Host | Television series 2004–2005 | |
| 2005 | Stargate Atlantis Stargate Atlantis Stargate Atlantis is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of MGM's Stargate franchise. The show was created by Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper as a spin-off series of Stargate SG-1, which was created by Wright and Jonathan Glassner and was itself... |
Colonel Samantha Carter | Television 2005–2009, Starring 2007–2008 |
| 2006 | Breakdown | Mary Johnson | Short film |
| Engaged to Kill | Detective Burns | Television movie | |
| 2007 | Sanctuary | Helen Magnus Helen Magnus Doctor Helen Magnus is the series protagonist and central character of the Canadian fantasy-science fiction television series Sanctuary. She is portrayed by Amanda Tapping... |
Web series |
| 2008 | Sanctuary | Helen Magnus | Television series, starring from 2008-present |
| Stargate: The Ark of Truth Stargate: The Ark of Truth Stargate: The Ark of Truth is a 2008 Canadian-American military science fiction film written and directed by Robert C. Cooper. The film is the conclusion of Stargate SG-1 Ori arc, and picks up after the SG-1 series finale, but takes place before the fourth season of Stargate Atlantis. The Ark of... |
Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter | Direct-to-DVD film | |
| Stargate: Continuum Stargate: Continuum Stargate: Continuum is a Canadian-American military science fiction film released through MGM Home Entertainment , written by Brad Wright and directed by Martin Wood. The film is a time-travel adventure and is the second sequel to Stargate SG-1, after Stargate: The Ark of Truth... |
Colonel Samantha Carter | Direct-to-DVD film | |
| Ghost Hunters Ghost Hunters Ghost Hunters is an American paranormal reality television series that premiered on October 6, 2004, on Syfy . The program features paranormal investigators Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson who investigate places that are reported to be haunted. The two originally worked as plumbers for Roto-Rooter as... |
Herself | 2008 Halloween Live | |
| 2009 | Dancing Trees | Josephina Rooney | Film |
| Stargate Universe Stargate Universe Stargate Universe is a Canadian-American military science fiction television series and part of MGM's Stargate franchise. It follows the adventures of a present-day, multinational exploration team traveling on the Ancient spaceship Destiny many billions of light years distant from the Milky Way... |
Colonel Samantha Carter | Television series, 2 episodes | |
| 2010 | Canadian Comedy Shorts Canadian Comedy Shorts Canadian Comedy Shorts is a television show airing on The Comedy Network which showcases the short films and videos of Canadian filmmakers.-External links:* at The Comedy Network... |
Mary Johnson | Television series, episode Holy War Dance Party |
| 2012 | Space Milkshake | Valentina | filming |
Theatre
- The Wizard of OzThe Wizard of Oz (adaptations)The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a 1900 novel by L. Frank Baum, which has been adapted into several different works, the most famous being the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, starring Judy Garland...
- The Lion in Winter as "Alais Capet"
- Steel MagnoliasSteel MagnoliasSteel Magnolias is a 1989 American comedy-drama film directed by Herbert Ross that stars Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, Dolly Parton, Daryl Hannah and Julia Roberts....
– West End Theater - Look Back in Anger as "Alison" (1986)
- Children of a Lesser God as "Sarah" (1987)
- The Taming of the ShrewThe Taming of the ShrewThe Taming of the Shrew is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1591.The play begins with a framing device, often referred to as the Induction, in which a mischievous nobleman tricks a drunken tinker named Sly into believing he is actually a nobleman himself...
as "Bianca" (1988) - Noises Off
- The Shadow Walkers
Awards and nominations
Tapping has won 6 awards, out of 13 nominations.| Year | Award | Category | Episode/Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Leo Award | Best Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series | Stargate SG-1 Stargate SG-1 Stargate SG-1 is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stargate franchise. The show, created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, is based on the 1994 feature film Stargate by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich... : "Point of View" |
|
| 2000 | Saturn Award Saturn Award The Saturn Award is an award presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films to honor the top works in science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film, television, and home video. The Saturn Awards were devised by Dr. Donald A. Reed in 1972, who felt that films within... |
Best Supporting Actress on Television | – | |
| 2001 | Gemini Award Gemini Award The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are... |
Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role | Stargate SG-1: "2010" | |
| 2001 | Saturn Award | Best Supporting Actress on Television | – | |
| 2002 | Leo Award | Dramatic Series: Best Lead Performance – Female | Stargate SG-1: "Ascension" | |
| 2002 | Saturn Award | Best Supporting Actress on Television | – | |
| 2004 | Leo Award | Dramatic Series: Best Direction | Stargate SG-1: "Resurrection" | |
| 2004 | Leo Award | Dramatic Series: Best Lead Performance by a Female | Stargate SG-1: "Grace Grace (Stargate SG-1) "Grace" is an episode from Season 7 of the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1. Amanda Tapping won a Leo Award in the category "Dramatic Series: Best Lead Performance - Female" for this episode.-Plot:... " |
|
| 2004 | Saturn Award | Best Supporting Actress on Television | – | |
| 2005 | Leo Award | Dramatic Series: Best Lead Performance by a Female | Stargate SG-1: "Threads Threads (Stargate SG-1) "Threads" is an episode from Season 8 of the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1. Amanda Tapping won a Leo Award in the category "Dramatic Series: Best Lead Performance - Female" and Michael Shanks was nominated for a Leo Award in the category "Dramatic Series: Best Lead Performance -... " |
|
| 2007 | Canadian Comedy Award | Best Actress (Film) | Breakdown | |
| 2009 | Constellation Award | Best Female Performance in a 2008 Science Fiction Film, TV Movie, or Mini-Series | Stargate: Continuum Stargate: Continuum Stargate: Continuum is a Canadian-American military science fiction film released through MGM Home Entertainment , written by Brad Wright and directed by Martin Wood. The film is a time-travel adventure and is the second sequel to Stargate SG-1, after Stargate: The Ark of Truth... |
|
| 2009 | Constellation Award | Best Female Performance in a 2008 Science Fiction Television Episode | Sanctuary: "Requiem" | |
| 2009 | Constellation Award | Outstanding Canadian Contribution to Science Fiction Film or Television in 2008 | – | |
| 2009 | Leo Award | Lead Performance by a Female in a Feature Length Drama | Stargate: Continuum | |
| 2009 | Leo Award | Dramatic Series: Best Lead Performance by a Female | Sanctuary: "Requiem" | |
| 2009 | Gemini Award Gemini Award The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are... |
Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role | Sanctuary |