Sonja Smits

Last updated
Sonja Smits
Born (1958-09-08) September 8, 1958 (age 65)
Ottawa Valley, Ontario, Canada
Years active1978–present

Sonja Smits (born September 8, 1958) [1] is a Canadian actress. She was nominated for two Genie Awards: for Videodrome (1983) and That's My Baby! (1984). On television, she starred in Street Legal (1987-1992) and Traders (1996-2000).

Contents

Life and career

Smits was born in the Ottawa Valley, Ontario, Canada. She went to Bell High School in Bells Corners, she also attended Woodroffe High School and South Carleton High School in Richmond, a village outside Ottawa. She studied acting at Ryerson Polytechnic Institute until she was invited to join the Centre Stage theatre company in London, Ontario.

Smits has played roles in many television series, including Falcon Crest , Airwolf , Odyssey 5 , The Outer Limits , Street Legal , Traders , The Best Laid Plans and The Eleventh Hour . Smits also played Bianca O'Blivion in the David Cronenberg horror movie Videodrome (1983) and was lead actress in 2021 drama film Drifting Snow . [2]

She portrayed Mona Parsons in Heritage Minutes: Mona Parsons (Historica Canada) [3]

Smits is married to Atlantis Films co-founder Seaton McLean with whom she has two children. They live in the Rosedale neighbourhood of Toronto and are the owners of the Closson Chase winery in Prince Edward County. They also own a farm close to the winery. [4]

In 2009, Smits was elected president of the board of directors of the Harbourfront Centre. [5]

Smits has been nominated for five Gemini Awards, winning in 1988, and two Genie Awards. She has also received the ACTRA Toronto Award of Excellence.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1978 Tyler Sharon
1981 The Pit Mrs. Lynde
1983 Videodrome Bianca O'BlivionNominated — Genie Award for Best Supporting Actress
1984 That's My Baby! SuzanneNominated — Genie Award for Best Actress
2003 Owning Mahowny Dana Selkirk
2003 How to Deal Carol Warsher
2004 A Different Loyalty Fay Tolland
2006 One Way Linda Birk
2021 Drifting Snow Joanne
2022 Better Days Kate

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1980 War Brides LisaTV film
1984 Falcon Crest Lydia Boulanger"Suitable for Framing"
1984–85 The Hitchhiker Nina Russell / Susan Carter"Face to Face", "Murderous Feelings"
1985 The Fall Guy Jessica Beaumont"Her Bodyguard"
1985Command 5Chris WinslowTV film
1986Loose EndsCarlaTV film
1987 Airwolf Alexandria Rostov"Stavograd: Parts 1 & 2"
1987–1992 Street Legal Carrington 'Carrie' BarrMain role, 83 episodes
Gemini Award for Best Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role (1988)
Nominated — Gemini Award for Best Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role (1993)
1988 The Ray Bradbury Theater Mary"The Fruit at the Bottom of the Bowl"
1993 The Diviners MoragTV film
Nominated — Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series
1993 Counterstrike Julia Devane"Betrayed"
1994 Spenser: Pale Kings and Princes Carolyn RogersTV film
1994 TekWar Kate CardiganTV film
1994 TekLords Kate CardiganTV film
1995 The Outer Limits Dr. Anne Crain"White Light Fever"
1996–2000 Traders Sally RossMain role, 83 episodes
Nominated — Gemini Award for Best Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role (1999-2000)
1998 Dead Husbands Sheila FeinsteinTV film
2001 Made in Canada Angela Widstrom"Teamwork"
2001 Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows Kay Thompson TV miniseries
2002–03 Odyssey 5 Cynthia HodgeRecurring role
2002–2005 The Eleventh Hour Megan RednerMain role
2003 The Atwood Stories Mrs. Anderson"The Man from Mars"
2005 Heritage Minutes Mona Louise Parsons "Mona Parsons"
2007–08 Rent-a-Goalie Texas"Texas", "Upstairs"
2012 Cybergeddon Amanda Jocelyn"Chapter 3", "Chapter 6"
2012Cybergeddon ZipsAmanda Jocelyn"Amanda"
2014 The Best Laid Plans Diane GagnonTV miniseries
2016Flower Shop Mystery: Dearly DepottedGlory OsbourneTV film
2017 Ransom Gwyneth Davenport"The Artist"
2017 American Gods Laura's Mother"The Bone Orchard", "Git Gone", "A Murder of Gods"
2017 Murdoch Mysteries Belinda Carlyle"Brackenreid Boudoir"
2017Save MeGloriana"Code 5"
2018 Mary Kills People Estelle"The Connection"
2022 Pretty Hard Cases Judy Wazowski9 episodes
2024 Hudson and Rex Minister Fulford“Wag The Dog"

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References

  1. "Sonja Smits Biography". Tribute .
  2. Niazi, Amil (May 11, 2021). "Review: Canadian drama Drifting Snow finds brutal beauty in Prince Edward County". The Globe and Mail via www.theglobeandmail.com.
  3. "Heritage Minutes: Mona Parsons". YouTube . 2 March 2016.
  4. "Sonja Smits Talks Country Living, Roles for Older Actresses and Her New Film, 'Drifting Snow'". www.everythingzoomer.com.
  5. "Sonja Smits". Post City. November 2009.