Yvonne Strahovski

Yvonne Strahovski
Strahovski in 2014
Born
Yvonne Jaqueline Strzechowski

(1982-07-30) 30 July 1982 (age 42)
Werrington Downs, New South Wales, Australia
EducationUniversity of Western Sydney (BA)
OccupationActress
Years active2004–present
Spouse
Tim Loden
​
(m. 2017)​
Children3

Yvonne Jaqueline Strzechowski[a] (born 30 July 1982),[1] known professionally as Yvonne Strahovski (/strəˈhɒvski/), is an Australian actress. She is known for roles as Sarah Walker in the spy comedy drama series Chuck (2007–2012), Hannah McKay in the drama series Dexter (2012–2013) and Kate Morgan in the event series 24: Live Another Day (2014). Strahovski stars as Serena Joy Waterford in the drama series The Handmaid's Tale (2017–present), for which she has received nominations for two Primetime Emmy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards and a Golden Globe Award.

Her other notable works include Lego: The Adventures of Clutch Powers (2010), The Guilt Trip (2012), Killer Elite (2011), I, Frankenstein (2014), The Astronaut Wives Club (2015), Manhattan Night (2016), All I See Is You (2016), He's Out There (2018), The Predator (2018) and The Tomorrow War (2021). She voiced Miranda Lawson in the Mass Effect video game series and Batwoman in the animated superhero film Batman: Bad Blood (2016).

Early life and education

Strahovski was born Yvonne Jaqueline[2] Strzechowski on 30 July 1982[1] in Werrington Downs, a suburb of Sydney, Australia.[3] She is the only child of Bożena, a lab technician, and Peter[4] Strzechowski, an electronic engineer.[5] Her parents are Polish emigrants from Warsaw.[6]

The family relocated to Bass Hill when Strahovski was five years old and later to the coastal suburb of Maroubra. She began acting lessons at age 12. Straight after high school, Strahovski went to the University of Western Sydney's[7] Theatre Nepean, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in performance in 2003. She then worked professionally in theatre in Australia for three years before landing a role in the American TV series Chuck.[3][8]

Career

Strahovski about the beginning of her acting career

Strahovski started acting at school when she played Viola in the school production of Twelfth Night.[9] She appeared in film and television roles in Australia, including a turn on satirical show Double the Fist and as Freya Lewis in the Australian drama series headLand. She has also appeared in Channel Nine's Sea Patrol.

Strahovski sent in her audition tape for the TV series Chuck while in the United States auditioning for roles in other shows, namely NBC's 2007 series Bionic Woman.[10] She was cast as Sarah Walker after running lines with Zachary Levi. She relocated to the United States six months later.[11] Strahovski adopted the more phonetic spelling of Strahovski as her stage name in place of Strzechowski at this time.[12]

Strahovski at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con

In addition to English, Strahovski is fluent in Polish, and employed it in a brief exchange with a colleague in the Chuck episode "Chuck Versus the Wookiee" and again in the episodes "Chuck Versus the Three Words" and "Chuck Versus the Honeymooners". Although she portrays an American in the series, she briefly spoke in a "Hollywood" Australian accent in the episode "Chuck Versus the Ex".

Strahovski appears in Mass Effect Galaxy, Mass Effect 2, and Mass Effect 3 as the voice of Miranda Lawson. She had her face scanned and animated so she could portray Lawson in Mass Effect 2.

Strahovski voices Aya Brea in the English version of the Parasite Eve spinoff, The 3rd Birthday. She appeared in a CollegeHumor sketch in April 2011, parodying the music styles of Katy Perry, Ke$ha, Lady Gaga, and Justin Bieber.[13]

Strahovski appeared in the 2011 film Killer Elite, alongside Jason Statham, Clive Owen, and Robert De Niro.[14] She appeared in the 2012 comedy The Guilt Trip, opposite Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand.[15]

In 2010, Strahovski received the Teen Choice Award for Choice Action TV Actress for Chuck, as well as a nomination for Spike Video Game Awards for Best Performance by a Human Female for Mass Effect 2. In 2011, Strahovski was nominated again for the Teen Choice Awards for Choice Action TV Actress. In 2011, Cosmopolitan Magazine (Australia) named Strahovski the Fun Fearless Female of the Year, along with Favorite TV Actress.

Strahovski at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con

In November 2011, Strahovski was cast as the female lead in I, Frankenstein (2014).[16] In March 2012, she featured in a new SoBe Life commercial. In May 2012, Strahovski ranked No. 35 in Maxim Hot 100. In June 2012, Showtime announced Strahovski had joined the cast for the seventh season of Dexter portraying Hannah McKay, a woman involved with an investigation following the death of her former lover, a spree killer whom she accompanied when she was a teenager.[17] She reprised the role in the eighth season of Dexter.[18]

In December 2012, she made her Broadway debut in a revival of Clifford Odets' Golden Boy,[19][20] for which she won a Theatre World Award.[21] Strahovski was honored along with Liam Hemsworth for their work in international roles with the 2012 Australians in Film Breakthrough Award.[22]

In 2014, Strahovski joined Fox's TV series 24: Live Another Day cast as Kate Morgan, CIA agent.[23] Later that year, she was cast as Rene Carpenter on the ABC limited series The Astronaut Wives Club.[24] In 2016, she starred, along with Adrien Brody, as Caroline Crowley in the film noir Manhattan Night. She was featured in Maxim Hot 100 from 2009 to 2013.[25]

Since 2017, she has starred as Serena Joy Waterford in the acclaimed Hulu drama series The Handmaid's Tale. For her performance, Strahovski earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2018.[26] She also starred as Sofie Werner in the limited series Stateless (2020).[27]

Personal life

In 2017 at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards, Strahovski revealed that she had married Tim Loden, her partner of six years.[28] The couple have three sons, born in 2018, 2021 and 2023.[29][30][31]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2007 Gone Sondra
2008 The Plex Sarah
2009 Persons of Interest Lara Short film
2009 The Canyon Lori Conway
2010 I Love You Too Alice
2010 Matching Jack Veronica
2010 Lego: The Adventures of Clutch Powers Peg Mooring Voice
2011 Killer Elite Anne Frazier
2012 Koala Kid Miranda Voice
2012 The Guilt Trip Jessica
2014 I, Frankenstein Dr. Terra Wade
2016 Batman: Bad Blood Kate Kane/Batwoman Voice[32]
2016 Manhattan Night Caroline Crowley
2016 All I See Is You Karen
2018 He's Out There Laura
2018 The Predator Emily McKenna
2019 Angel of Mine Claire [33]
2021 The Tomorrow War Colonel Muri Forester
2023 Scrambled Sara

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2004 Double the Fist Suzie Episode: "Fear Factory"
2005–06 headLand Freya Lewis 33 episodes
2006 BlackJack: Dead Memory Belinda Television movie
2007 Sea Patrol Martina Royce Episode: "Cometh the Hour"
2007–12 Chuck CIA Agent Sarah Walker Main role (91 episodes)
2012–13 Dexter Hannah McKay Recurring role (17 episodes)
2014 Louie Blake Episode: "Model"
2014 24: Live Another Day CIA Agent Kate Morgan Main role (12 episodes)
2015 The Astronaut Wives Club Rene Carpenter Main role (10 episodes)
2015 Edge Beth Pilot
2017–present The Handmaid's Tale Serena Joy Waterford Main role (56 episodes)
2018 Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure Stalyan (voice) 2 episodes
2020 Stateless Sofie Werner 6 episodes[34]
2024 Teacup Maggie Chenoweth Main role (8 episodes)

Video games

Year Title Voice role Notes
2009 Mass Effect Galaxy Miranda Lawson
2010 Mass Effect 2 Also likeness
2011 The 3rd Birthday Aya Brea English dub
2012–2013 Mass Effect 3 Miranda Lawson Also likeness

Web

Year Title Role Notes
2011 Three Pop Stars, One Song Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Ke$ha and Justin Bieber CollegeHumor YouTube video[35]
2015 Princess Rap Battle Daenerys Targaryen YouTube video series; 1 episode

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2010 Teen Choice Awards Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress – Action Chuck Won [36]
2011 TV Guide Awards TV Guide Award for Favorite Actress Won
TV Guide Award for Favorite Couple Who Have (Shared with Zachary Levi) Won
Teen Choice Awards Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress – Action Nominated
2012 Teen Choice Awards Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress – Action Nominated
2013 Saturn Award Saturn Award for Best Guest Starring Role on Television Dexter Won
2018 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series The Handmaid's Tale Nominated [37]
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Nominated [38]
2019 Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Nominated [39]
Critics' Choice Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Nominated [40]
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Nominated [41]
2020 Screen Actors Guild Awards Nominated [42]
AACTA Awards Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama Stateless Won [43]
2021 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series The Handmaid's Tale Nominated [44]

Footnotes

  1. ^ Polish pronunciation: [iˈvɔn ˈdʐaklin stʂɛˈxɔfskʲi]; Polish: Strzechowska [stʂɛˈxɔfska]

References

  1. ^ a b "Famous birthdays". United Press International. 30 July 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  2. ^ @Y_Strahovski (10 December 2012). "Jaqueline :)" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2012 – via Twitter.
  3. ^ a b "How We Do What We Do...Yvonne Strahovski with Marika Aubrey". Aussietheatre.com.au (Interview). Interviewed by Aubrey, Marika. 14 September 2013. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  4. ^ "10 Minutes With ... I Love You Too's Yvonne Strahovski". Who (Interview). Interviewed by Casey, Simone. 29 May 2010. Archived from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2010 – via Yahoo7.
  5. ^ "Chuck – Yvonne Strahovski gallery". Virgin1. Archived from the original on 21 August 2009. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  6. ^ Lowman, Rob (15 October 2012). "Yvonne Strahovski: 'Chuck's' sexy spy more of a mystery woman in 'Dexter'". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  7. ^ Aquilina, Jessica (2 October 2014). "From Sydney's west to role in US drama series". Penrith City Gazette. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  8. ^ "Career Advice: Yvonne Strahovski, Aussie star". Mamamia (Interview). 30 September 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Acting bug". Virgin Media. Archived from the original on 21 September 2009. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
  10. ^ Special features of disc 3 of Chuck Season 1 "Chuck's World"
  11. ^ "Hemsworth and Strahovski to share award". Archived from the original on 22 December 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  12. ^ "Yvonne Strahovski". gq.com.au. 14 January 2015. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  13. ^ "Three Pop Stars, One Song (with Yvonne Strahovski) – CollegeHumor Video". CollegeHumor.com. 11 April 2011. Archived from the original on 29 August 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  14. ^ Michael Bodey (28 April 2010). "Elite signed up for killer roles". The Australian. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  15. ^ Kit, Borys (13 May 2011). "'Chuck' Actress Joins Barbra Streisand Road Trip Comedy 'Guilt Trip' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 15 May 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
  16. ^ Kit, Borys (17 November 2011). "'Chuck' Star Yvonne Strahovski to Play Scientist in 'I, Frankenstein' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 19 November 2011. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
  17. ^ "Yvonne Strahovski Joins Dexter". Seat42f. Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
  18. ^ "'Dexter': Yvonne Strahovski Set to Return". The Hollywood Reporter. 10 April 2013. Archived from the original on 13 April 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  19. ^ Isherwood, Charles (6 December 2012). "The Sweet Science vs. the Stradivarius". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  20. ^ Kennedy, Mark (6 December 2012). "Review: 'Golden Boy' returns with golden touches". Associated Press.[dead link‍]
  21. ^ "Tom Hanks, Bertie Carvel, Valisia LeKae, Rob McClure and More Are Theatre World Award Winners". Playbill. Archived from the original on 7 June 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  22. ^ "Australians in Film Breakthrough Awards". Australiansinfilm.org. Archived from the original on 3 July 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  23. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (13 January 2014). "Yvonne Strahovski Joins '24' Limited Series". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  24. ^ "Yvonne Strahovski to Co-Star in ABC's 'Astronaut Wives Club'". The Hollywood Reporter. 30 September 2014. Archived from the original on 18 June 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  25. ^ "Hot 100 Details". Maxim. 15 January 2013. Archived from the original on 29 July 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  26. ^ "Emmy Nominations 2018: The Complete List of Nominees". TheWrap. 12 July 2018. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  27. ^ "Yvonne Strahovski Interview: Stateless | Tell-Tale TV". telltaletv.com. 17 July 2020. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  28. ^ Char Adams (17 September 2017). "Handmaid's Tale Yvonne Strahovski Reveals She Secretly Married Boyfriend Tim Loden Over the Summer". People. Archived from the original on 22 November 2017.
  29. ^ Karen Mizoguchi (15 October 2018). "Blessed Be the Fruit! The Handmaid's Tale Star Yvonne Strahovski Welcomes First Child, a Son". People. Archived from the original on 17 October 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  30. ^ Benjamin VanHoose (9 December 2021). "Yvonne Strahovski and Husband Tim Loden Welcome Second Baby: 'An Angel Joined Our World'". People. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  31. ^ Hannah Sacks and Jenny Haward (31 December 2023). "Yvonne Strahovski Welcomes Baby No. 3 with Husband Tim Loden: 'We Have Been Waiting for You'". People. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  32. ^ Sands, Rich (15 July 2015). "Yvonne Strahovski and Gaius Charles Get Animated for Batman: Bad Blood". TV Insider. Archived from the original on 20 July 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  33. ^ McNary, Dave (28 March 2018). "Yvonne Strahovski Joins Noomi Rapace in Thriller 'Angel of Mine'". Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  34. ^ "News & Events - South Australian Film Corporation". Archived from the original on 4 April 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  35. ^ "Three Pop Stars, One Song (with Yvonne Strahovski)", CollegeHumor, 12 April 2011, retrieved 28 August 2017[dead YouTube link]
  36. ^ "Teen Choice Awards Winners List". MTV. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  37. ^ "24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards Nominees & Recipients". Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  38. ^ "70th Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners". Archived from the original on 19 July 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  39. ^ "Golden Globe Awards Winners & Nominees". Archived from the original on 7 December 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  40. ^ "Critics' Choice Awards: 'The Favourite' Leads With 14 Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. 10 December 2018. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  41. ^ "The 25th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards Nominees & Recipients". Archived from the original on 10 September 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  42. ^ "The 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards Nominees & Recipients". Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  43. ^ "Lights, cameras, AACTAs: Awards celebrate best of bingeworthy Aussie TV and films". www.abc.net.au. 29 November 2020. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  44. ^ Greene, Steve (13 July 2021). "2021 Emmy Nominations: Netflix and HBO Lead a Field of Surprises". Indiewire. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yvonne Strahovski.