# Rukiya Bernard

Rukiya Bernard (born January 20, 1983) is a Canadian actress, producer and interior designer. She is known for her role as Doc in Syfy's Van Helsing, The Cabin in the Woods (2012), The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) and Stuck (2007).

## Early life

Rukiya Bernard was born in Toronto, Ontario, to Nyakiringa Magugu, an African art store owner, and Gilbert Bernard, a car wash owner. From a very young age, Rukiya’s parents immersed her in sport and art programming. She took part in basketball and track while studying classical ballet, karate and piano. She was accepted into Ryerson University’s theatre program from which she graduated with honours.

## Career

Rukiya's first job was the supporting role of Sophie Newman in Ernest Dickerson’s award-winning Our America opposite Josh Charles, Irma P. Hall and Mykelti Williamson. Rukiya has appeared in TV shows including SyFy's Van Helsing, The CW’s Supernatural, A&E’s The Returned, USA Network’s Fairly Legal, Hallmark’s The Gourmet Detective, NBC’s Eureka, Showtime’s The L Word, SyFy’s Sanctuary and SGU Stargate Universe, BBC America’s Intruders and Lifetime’s Witches Of The East End. She has also appeared in The Cabin In The Woods, Stuck and That Burning Feeling.

### Interior design

Rukiya is an interior designer and starred on HGTV’s reality TV show The Stagers for two seasons.

## Personal life

Rukiya is married to P. J. Prinsloo, they have two children.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2001 | Get Over It | Girl with Tampons in Hair | |
| 2002 | Our America | Sophie Newman | TV movie |
| 2003 | Nigel's Fingerprint | Mona Jenkins | |
| 2005 | Fallen | Woman On Beach | Short Film |
| 2005 | Cantata for the King | Congregation | TV movie |
| 2005 | Playing the Role | LaShaquandiqua Jones | Short Film |
| 2005 | Supervolcano | Soldier | TV movie |
| 2006 | 12 Hours To Live | Deputy Dana Franklyn | TV movie |
| 2007 | My Name Is Sarah | Barista | TV movie |
| 2007 | Stuck | Tanya | |
| 2008 | The Most Wonderful Time of the Year | Denise | TV movie |
| 2008 | The Day the Earth Stood Still | Student | |
| 2009 | The Farm | Ammo | TV movie |
| 2009 | Spectacular! | Receptionist | TV movie |
| 2009 | Christmas in Canaan | Charlene | TV movie |
| 2010 | Tooth Fairy | Amnesia Woman | |
| 2011 | Christmas Lodge | Yolanda | TV movie |
| 2012 | The Cabin in the Woods | Labcoat Girl | |
| 2012 | Big Time Movie | Woman with Dog | TV movie |
| 2012 | The Music Teacher | Sheila | TV movie |
| 2013 | The BFF Club | Shoniqua | Short Film |
| 2013 | That Burning Feeling | Janine Clarke | |
| 2015 | The Unspoken | Portia | |
| 2015 | Breed | Violet | TV movie |
| 2015 | Just the Way You Are | Claire | TV movie |
| 2015 | Accidental Obsession | Lisa | TV movie |
| 2015 | Ungodly Acts | Sgt. King | TV movie |
| 2015 | Debbie Macomber's Dashing Through the Snow | Agent Hobbs | TV movie |
| 2016 | Colossal | Marie | |
| 2017 | Christmas in Evergreen | Hannah Turner | Hallmark Channel TV Movie |
| 2018 | One Winter Weekend | Megan Marquant | Hallmark Channel TV Movie |
| 2018 | Christmas in Evergreen : Letters to Santa | Hannah Turner | Hallmark Channel TV Movie |
| 2019 | One Winter Proposal | Megan Marquant | Hallmark Channel TV Movie |
| 2019 | Christmas in Evergreen : Tidings of Joy | Hannah Turner | Hallmark Channel TV Movie |
| 2020 | Hearts of Winter | Emerson | Hallmark Channel TV Movie |
| 2020 | Christmas in Evergreen : Bells are Ringing | Hannah Turner | Hallmark Channel TV Movie |
| 2021 | One Winter Wedding | Megan Marquant | Hallmark Channel TV Movie |
| 2023 | Float | Lena | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1999–2002 | Undressed | Talia | |
| 2002 | Relic Hunter | Meg Ryerson | Episode: Warlock of Nu Theta Phi |
| 2002 | Spynet | Liza Carrington | |
| 2002 | Doc | Receptionist | Episode: "Love of the Game" |
| 2004 | This is Wonderland | Aisha | Episode: #1.2 |
| 2004 | Blue Murder | Eva Jordan | Episode: "Blind Eye" |
| 2005 | Killer Instinct | Eden Cavanaugh | 2 episodes |
| 2006 | Falcon Beach | Andrea Walters | 2 episodes |
| 2006 | Eureka | IT Technician | Episode: "Primal" |
| 2008 | Sanctuary | Kayla Bradley | Episode: "Warriors" |
| 2009 | The L Word | Babysitter | Episode: "Lactose Intolerant" |
| 2008–2009 | The Stagers | Support Stager | 11 episodes |
| 2010 | Stargate Universe | Airman Richmond | Episode: "Space" |
| 2011 | Fairly Legal | Susan Williams | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2011, 2017 | Supernatural | Camille Thibideaux Mia Vallens | Episode: "The Mentalists" Episode: "The Big Empty" |
| 2013 | RL Stine's The Haunting Hour | Mrs. Stevenson | Episode: "Terrible Love" |
| 2013 | Primeval: New World | Lisa Merriweather | 2 episodes |
| 2013 | Delete | Victoria "Tori" Mendes | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | Witches of East End | Mrs. Jacobs | Episode: "Boogie Knight" |
| 2014 | Intruders | Karen | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Sorority Murder | Detective Sanchez | Television film |
| 2015 | The Returned | Pilar | Episode: "Camille" |
| 2015 | Gourmet Detective | Dee Dee | Episode: "The Gourmet Detective" |
| 2015 | Proof | Nurse #1 | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2016–2021 | Van Helsing | Doc | 34 episodes Main role Nominated – Leo Award for Best Lead Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series (2017) |
| 2017 | Travelers | Dr. Carroll | Episode: "Simon" |
| 2019 | The Magicians | "Ru, Queen of West Loria" | Episode: "The Serpent" |
| 2019 | Molly of Denali | Violetta Lawrence (voice) | Episode: "Visit Qyah" |
| 2021 | Nancy Drew | Val Samuels | 4 episodes |
| 2021–2023 | Yellowjackets | Simone | Recurring |