# Julia Benson

Julia Benson (née Anderson; 26 June 1979) is a Canadian actress. She played the character Vanessa James in the science fiction series Stargate Universe.

## Early life

Julia Anderson was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She trained as a ballet, tap, jazz dancer since age six. She graduated from the University of British Columbia (Vancouver) in 2001 with a degree in theatre and psychology. She trained as an actress at David Mamet's Atlantic Theater Company in New York City.

## Career

Benson played the role of Anna in the 2007 film Road to Victory about a stripper who falls in love with a football player who is unable to sexually perform due to an injury. She trained with a dancer from Brandi's strip club in Vancouver, British Columbia.
From 2009 to 2011, Benson appeared as 2nd Lt. Vanessa James in both seasons of TV science fiction series Stargate Universe. Her performance in the show's first-season episode "Pain" earned her a 2010 Leo award as "Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series".

## Filmography
### Films

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2005 | Crazy Late | Sarah Jones | Short film |
| 2007 | Road to Victory | Anna | |
| 2007 | Zero Hour | Allie | |
| 2007 | Numb | Sara's Girlfriend | |
| 2008 | Blonde and Blonder | Last Dancer in Line | |
| 2008 | Robin, Chuck, and Shirley | Shirley Sutherland | Short film |
| 2009 | Scott's Lands | Melissa | Short film |
| 2009 | Everything's Coming Up Rosie | Catherine | Short film |
| 2012 | Now and Forever | Lucy Redd | Short film, completed |
| 2012 | Death Do Us Part | Kennedy | Post-production |
| 2013 | Kid Cannabis | Julie Morgan | Post-production |
| 2013 | Leap 4 Your Life | Julianna | Post-production |
| 2013 | That Burning Feeling | Joyce | |
| 2014 | Death Do Us Part | Kennedy Jamieson | Producer, Writer |
| 2014 | What an Idiot | Jackie | |
| 2015 | Dead Rising: Watchtower | Amy | |
| 2016 | Interrogation | Sara Ward | |
| 2017 | My Little Pony: The Movie | Additional voices | |
| 2018 | To All the Boys I've Loved Before | Ms. Kavinsky | |
| TBA | The Ferret Squad | Marcie | In production |
| 2022 | Hello, Goodbye, And Everything In Between | Claudia | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2003 | Tru Calling | Tara | Episode: "Past Tense" |
| 2005 | The Dead Zone | Crying Girl | Episode: "The Collector" |
| 2006 | The Evidence | Sadie McAbee | Episode: "Stringers" |
| 2006 | Stargate Atlantis | Willa | Episode: "Irresistible" |
| 2007 | Masters of Horror | Abbey Addison | Episode: "Right to Die" |
| 2007 | My Neighbor's Keeper | Mom | TV film |
| 2007 | Reaper | Gloria | Episode: "All Mine" |
| 2007 | Supernatural | Woman at Bar | Episode: "Sin City" |
| 2007 | Whistler | James | Episode: "Passion Plays" |
| 2007 | Aliens in America | Clerk | Episode: "Church" |
| 2008 | Past Lies | Sarah | TV film |
| 2008 | The Unquiet | Christina | TV film |
| 2008 | Smallville | Nurse | Episode: "Arctic" |
| 2009 | Mr. Troop Mom | CC Turner | TV film |
| 2009 | Harper's Island | Officer Tyra Coulter | Episode: "Snap" |
| 2009 | SGU Stargate Universe Kino | Vanessa James | Episode: "Covered Kino" |
| 2009–11 | Stargate Universe | Lt. Vanessa James | Recurring role (36 episodes) |
| 2010 | The Ex-Convict's Guide | Shirley Sutherland | Episodes: "Be Gracious", "Respect the Rules of the House", "Do Not Convert Your Host's Possessions – Into Weapons", "Remember to Bid Your Host a Gracious Farewell!" |
| 2010 | Lying to Be Perfect | Joy | TV film (Lifetime) |
| 2010–11 | SGU Stargate Universe Kino | Vanessa James | Episodes: "Wait for It", "Favorite Meal of All Time", "One Long Endless Night", "All the Stages" |
| 2011 | Shattered | Hostess | Episode: "Unaired Pilot" |
| 2011 | Hiccups | Penelope | Episode: "Welcome Back Potter" |
| 2011 | R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour | Mom | Episodes: "Brush with Madness", "Sick" |
| 2011 | Earth's Final Hours | Chloe Edwards | TV film |
| 2012 | Mr. Young | Bianca Boyd | Episode: "Mr. Sci-Fi" |
| 2013 | Chupacabra vs. the Alamo | Tracy | TV film (Syfy) |
| 2014–15 | Cedar Cove | Jeri Drake | Episodes: "Trials and Tribulations", "One Day at a Time", "Point of No Return", "Secrets and Lies", "Stand and Deliver", "Resolutions and Revelations", "Hello Again", "A Helping Hand", "Civil War", "Batter Up", "Runaway", "The Good Fight" |
| 2017 | A Bramble House Christmas | Molly | Television film (Hallmark) |
| 2018 | Marrying Father Christmas | Ellie Whitcomb | Television film (Hallmark Movies and Mysteries) |
| 2018 | Reap What You Sew: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery | Lizzie Allison | Television film (Hallmark Movies and Mysteries) |
| 2019 | The Order | Professor Robin Benson | 3 episodes |
| 2019 | Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: An Inheritance to Die For | Lizzie Allison | Television film (Hallmark Movies and Mysteries) |
| 2019 | BH90210 | Female Exec | Episode: "The Pitch" |
| 2020 | Love is a Piece of Cake | Suzanne Cooper | Television film |
| 2020 | Chateau Christmas | Kate | TV film |
| 2021 | Seasoned With Love | Winona Applegate | Television film , with Peter Benson |