Tatiana Maslany

## Tatiana Gabriele Maslany

"'*Orphan Black' allows for people to have debates and theories and allegiances to different characters - to trust characters and hate other characters - but it doesn't tell you who is good or bad or right or wrong. That's the most exciting storytelling, in my book.*"
—Tatiana Maslanysrc

**Tatiana Gabriele Maslany** is a Canadian actress who portrays the Leda Clones in *Orphan Black*.

## Biography

Maslany was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, the daughter of Dan, a woodworker, and Renate, a translator. She has two younger brothers, Daniel and Michael. She has Austrian, German, Polish, Romanian, and Ukrainian ancestry. For elementary school, Maslany was in French immersion, and was taught to be fluent in German by her mother before learning English. She also speaks some Spanish. She has danced since age four and started community theatre and musicals at the age of nine.

Maslany was one of the stars of the 2002 Canadian TV series 2030 CE. She appeared as the character Ghost in the 2004 film Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed. Maslany performed comedic improvisation for ten years. She participated in improvisational theatre, including the Canadian Improv Games, and has since become a member of the General Fools Improvisational Theatre. She is now a certified improvisation trainer. In 2007, Maslany appeared in The Messengers as Lindsay Rollins. She also starred in the CBC series Heartland where she plays a barrel racer, Kit Bailey, with her horse Daisy. During 2008, she had a recurring role in the Instant Star TV series. She had a lead role in the Hallmark Channel movie, An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving. In September 2008, she portrayed Penny, a kidnapping victim in the Canadian series Flashpoint. Maslany appeared as Sarah Wexlar, the heroin-addicted daughter of Dr. Tom Wexlar in the second season of the Canadian comedy drama television series Being Erica in 2010. Also in 2010, she appeared as the protagonist Mary, the mother of Jesus, in the British four-part television series The Nativity, which received excellent ratings. Maslany appeared in Grown Up Movie Star as Ruby, a role which earned the actor a special jury breakout role award at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. She played Hannah Simmons in one episode of The Listener. In 2010, she appeared in the direct-to-video film Hardwired as Punk Red. In late 2011, she co-starred in the film adaptation of John Sandford's Certain Prey as a contract killer named Clara Rinker. In 2012, Maslany appeared as lead character Claire in the full-length feature Picture Day, for which she won a Phillip Borsos Award for Best Performance at the 2012 Whistler Film Festival.

In 2013, Maslany guest starred on Parks and Recreation for a two-episode arc as Dr. Nadia Stasky. She portrayed the lead character Dylan in the independent film Cas & Dylan, for which she won a Phillip Borsos Award for Best Performance at the 2013 Whistler Film Festival. On June 11, 2013, Maslany signed with the U.S. talent agency Resolution, which serves as her United States representation. In Canada, she continues to be managed by Magnolia Entertainment and represented by Characters Talent Agency. The 2013 Juno Award ceremonies were held in Regina, Maslany's home town, and Maslany was chosen as one of the presenters. On May 17, 2014, Maslany guest starred on the season 39 finale of Saturday Night Live. She played the character Bridget in the episode's second digital short entitled Hugs. She guest starred alongside Pharrell Williams and The Lonely Island. Maslany co-starred in the 2015 film, Woman in Gold, in the WWII flashbacks as a younger version of Maria Altmann, Helen Mirren's character. The film also starred Max Irons, Ryan Reynolds, Daniel Brühl, and Katie Holmes. She almost exclusively spoke German in the film. As of December 2014, Maslany is set to star in the upcoming independent film The Other Half which is currently in development. The film, written by Joey Klein, will be produced by Motel Pictures with A71 and Sienna Films and will costar partner Tom Cullen. On January 30, 2015, it was announced that Maslany has been cast in the leading role of Lucy in the upcoming indie drama film Two Lovers and a Bear. She will star alongside Dane DeHaan, who plays the character Roman. The film follows the two characters as they come together to find peace in their lives. Maslany will next been seen as the female lead in the film Stronger, alongside Jake Gyllenhaal who will play Jeff Bauman, a victim of the Boston Marathon bombing and Erin's boyfriend.

## Trivia

* An alumna of the Canadian Improv Games
* Has two younger brothers named Daniel and Michael.
* Did comedic improv for 10 years and participated in the Canadian Improv Games.
* Maslany has been in a relationship with Welsh actor Tom Cullen since 2011.
* She has Ukrainian, Polish, German, Austrian, and Romanian ancestry.
* Counts Gena Rowlands's harrowing performance in A Woman Under the Influence (1974) as the role that most influenced her to seriously pursue a career in acting.
* Met her beau Tom Cullen on the set of the TV series World Without End (2012) in 2011, but the couple weren't seen in public until their appearance at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2012.

## Appearances

 **Appears**
 "Variations Under Domestication":
 **Appears**

 **Appears**
 "To Hound Nature in Her Wanderings":
 **Appears**

 **Appears**
 "Certain Agony of the Battlefield":
 **Appears**

 **Appears**
 "The Scandal of Altruism":
 **Appears**

## References

1. ↑ http://www.mandatory.com/girls/Tatiana-Maslany
2. ↑ http://www.avclub.com/article/tatiana-maslany-and-tom-cullen-stole-cars-and-spel-234116