Ksenia Solo

Ksenia Solo
Solo in 2011
Born (1987-10-08) 8 October 1987 (age 37)
Riga, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union
OccupationActress
Years active2000–present

Ksenia Solo (born 8 October 1987; pronounced /kəˈsɛnjə ˈsoʊloʊ/[1]) 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[2] and is of Russian heritage.[3][4] At the age of five, she moved with her family to Toronto, where she was raised.[5] She studied ballet until the age of 14, when a back injury forced her to stop;[6] her mother is a former ballerina-turned-actress.[7][8]

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.[9] 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,[10] 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.[11]

In 2015, Solo joined the main cast of Turn: Washington's Spies as Peggy Shippen.[12] She also had a recurring role in Season 3 of Orphan Black as Shay.[13]

Solo is actively involved with the anti-bullying foundation Stand for the Silent, and was made one of their directors.[14]

Filmography

Solo in 2010

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)[15]
Won – Gemini Award for Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series (2006)[16]
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)[17]
Nominated – Canadian Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Series (2013)[18]
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

References

  1. ^ Ksenia Solo on 'In Search of Fellini'. Photon Films and Media. 13 January 2018. Event occurs at 0:20. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  2. ^ Ksenia Solo: "I was born in Riga!" on Twitter
  3. ^ Ksenia Solo Biography
  4. ^ Ksenia Solo Biography
  5. ^ Randoja, Ingrid (November 2010). "Ksenia Solo Dances with the Stars" (PDF). Cineplex Magazine. 11 (11). Cineplex Entertainment: 14. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  6. ^ "Ksenia Solo Interview". TheCelebrityCafe.com Magazine. 6 November 2010. Archived from the original on 27 March 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  7. ^ Longman, Haley (30 November 2010). "Exclusive! 'Black Swan' Star Ksenia Solo Talks Nat Portman — and Chanel!". Teen.com. Alloy Media, LLC. Archived from the original on 12 August 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
  8. ^ Cooperberg, Anna (23 August 2010). "Q & A: Ksenia Solo". Elle Girl. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
  9. ^ "Awards - Renegadepress.com". Vérité Films. OH! Media. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  10. ^ Melrose, Kevin (21 February 2011). "Fox's Locke & Key Finds Its Dodge". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on 22 February 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
  11. ^ "'ANOTHER YOU' Starring Ksenia Solo And Diego Boneta". Prnewswire.com. 16 May 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  12. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (26 September 2014). "'Lost Girl' Favorite Boards AMC's 'Turn' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  13. ^ ""Lost Girl" star Ksenia Solo to join 'Orphan Black'". AfterEllen.
  14. ^ "Ksenia Solo (Canadian-Latvian Actress) | Celebrity Ping". celebrityping.com. Archived from the original on 5 August 2018.
  15. ^ "APTN Programs Win Gemini Awards". Broadcaster Magazine. 22 November 2005. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  16. ^ "APTN Series Wins Gemini Award". Broadcaster Magazine. 20 October 2006. Archived from the original on 17 February 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  17. ^ "26th Annual Gemini Awards 2011". geminiawards.tribute.ca. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  18. ^ "2013 nominees" (PDF). backalleyfilms.ca. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
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