# Ksenia Solo

Ksenia Solo (born 8 October 1987; pronounced /kəˈsɛnjə ˈsoʊloʊ/) is a Latvian-Canadian actress known for portraying Mackenzie "Kenzi" Malikov on Lost Girl. She portrayed Peggy Shippen on Turn: Washington's Spies. Solo also portrayed the character "Natasha" in the 2010 American television series Life Unexpected and Shay Davydov in Season 3 of Orphan Black.
As of 2024, her most recent work was in the main cast for the two seasons of the series Project Blue Book (2019–20).

## Early life

Solo was born in Riga and is of Russian heritage. At the age of five, she moved with her family to Toronto, where she was raised. She studied ballet until the age of 14, when a back injury forced her to stop; her mother is a former ballerina-turned-actress.

## Career

Solo played Zoey Jones on the APTN series renegadepress.com. In both 2005 and 2006, she won the Gemini Award for Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series for her work on the show. She went on to appear in other Canadian television series and movies, such as the films Love Thy Neighbor and Mayday, as well as guest-starring on the television series Kojak.
In 2010, Solo played a small role in Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan starring Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis. From 2010 to 2011 she played Natasha Siviac in the CW series Life Unexpected. From 2010 to 2015, she starred as Kenzi in the Showcase series Lost Girl; Solo's heritage and fluency in the Russian language were written into the role. She was cast as Dodge in the pilot episode of Locke & Key, but the series was not picked up by Fox. In 2013, Solo began filming the independent film Another You on location in Charleston, West Virginia.
In 2015, Solo joined the main cast of Turn: Washington's Spies as Peggy Shippen. She also had a recurring role in Season 3 of Orphan Black as Shay.
Solo is actively involved with the anti-bullying foundation Stand for the Silent, and was made one of their directors.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2001 | A Man of Substance | Hannah | Short film |
| 2001 | My Louisiana Sky | Abby Lynn Anders | |
| 2001 | What Girls Learn | Girl | |
| 2002 | Sins of the Father | Lucinda | |
| 2003 | The Republic of Love | Micheline | |
| 2003 | Defending Our Kids: The Julie Posey Story | Kristyn Posey | |
| 2006 | Love Thy Neighbor | Erin Benson | |
| 2010 | Black Swan | Veronica | |
| 2011 | The Factory | Emma | |
| 2016 | Pet | Holly Garling | |
| 2017 | Another You | Sydney Jameson | |
| 2017 | In Search of Fellini | Lucy | |
| 2017 | Tulipani, Love, Honour and a Bicycle | Anna | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2000 | I Was a Sixth Grade Alien | Xhanthippe | Episode: "Bride of Pleskit!" |
| 2000 | Earth: Final Conflict | Kathy Simmons | Episode: "Take No Prisoners" |
| 2002 | Adventure Inc. | Natalie | Episode: "Village of the Lost" |
| 2004 | Missing | Megan Hahn | Episode: "Judgement Day" |
| 2004–08 | renegadepress.com | Zoey Jones | Main role (Seasons 1–5); 52 episodes Won – Gemini Award for Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series (2005) Won – Gemini Award for Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series (2006) |
| 2005 | Kojak | Angela Howard | Episode: "All Bets Off: Part 1" |
| 2007 | Cold Case | Lena | Episode: "Cargo" |
| 2008 | Moonlight | Bonnie Morrow | Episode: "Fated to Pretend" |
| 2009 | Crime Stories | Waitress | Episode: "The Happy Face Killer" |
| 2009 | The Cleaner | Callie Bell | Episode: "Cinderella" |
| 2010–11 | Life Unexpected | Natasha Siviac | Main role (Seasons 1–2); 13 episodes |
| 2010–15 | Lost Girl | Mackenzie "Kenzi" Malikov | Main role (Seasons 1–5); 67 episodes Won – Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series (2011) Nominated – Canadian Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Series (2013) |
| 2011 | Nikita | Irina | Episode: "Alexandra" |
| 2011 | Locke & Key | Dodge | Unsold Fox pilot |
| 2012 | Lost Girl Finale Pre-Show | as self | Showcase TV special |
| 2013 | Lost Girl ConFAEdential | as self | Showcase TV special |
| 2013 | UPYURS6 | Kenzi | Lost Girl webisode |
| 2013 | Lost Girl: An Evening at the Clubhouse | as self | Showcase TV special |
| 2015–17 | Turn: Washington's Spies | Peggy Shippen | Main role (Seasons 2–4); 20 episodes |
| 2015 | Orphan Black | Shay Davydov | Recurring role (Season 3); 6 episodes |
| 2018 | The Simpsons | Anastasia Alekova (voice) | Episode: "From Russia Without Love" |
| 2019–20 | Project Blue Book | Susie Miller | Main role (Seasons 1–2); 20 episodes |