Amanda Tapping

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Amanda Tapping
Tapping at the Phoenix Comicon, 2013
Born (1965-08-28) 28 August 1965 (age 58)
Rochford, Essex, England
NationalityCanadian/British
Education
Occupation(s)Actress, director
Years active1995–present
SpouseAlan Kovacs
Children1
Websiteamandatapping.com

Amanda Tapping (born 28 August 1965) is a British-Canadian actress and director. She is best known for portraying Samantha Carter in the Canadian–American military science fiction television series Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, and Stargate Universe. She also starred as Helen Magnus in the science fiction-fantasy television series Sanctuary.

Early life[edit]

Born in Rochford, Essex, England, Tapping moved with her family to Ontario, Canada, when she was three years old. She attended North Toronto Collegiate Institute, where she excelled in environmental science and drama. However, when she finished in 1984, she decided to focus her attention on drama, attending the University of Windsor School of Dramatic Arts in Windsor, Ontario.[1]

Career[edit]

Tapping at Comic Con 2007 in San Diego

After graduation, Tapping continued to study theatrical arts while performing in several stage productions. She appeared in several television commercials and played a variety of roles in television and film productions, such as The Outer Limits and The X-Files. She also formed a comedy troupe, the "Random Acts", with collaborators Katherine Jackson and Anne Marie Kerr, in Toronto in the early 1990s.[2]

Tapping is best known for her portrayal of Samantha Carter in the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1, which debuted in 1997. After SG-1 aired its final episode, Tapping reprised the role of Samantha Carter on Stargate Atlantis as the new commander of the Atlantis expedition.[3] In season 5, however, Tapping's role on the show was reduced to that of "special guest-star" with only occasional appearances[4] because she chose to focus her attention on the development of a new series for Syfy called Sanctuary. The show expanded on an original series of eight webisodes released on the internet in 2007. The bulk of the scenery and characters were entirely green screen and CGI creations. Tapping served as both star and executive producer of the show.

In 2007, she won a Canadian Comedy Award for Best Actress for her role in the short film Breakdown.[5]

On 18 September 2012, she was cast as an angel named Naomi on season 8 of the TV series Supernatural. She was a recurring character who appeared in seven episodes.[6] She reprised the role in season 13's "Funeralia", nearly five years after the character's apparent death.

She was also named as ACTRA's 2015 Woman of the Year.[7]

Directing[edit]

Tapping's directing debut was during the seventh season of Stargate SG-1 on an episode titled "Resurrection", written by co-star Michael Shanks.[8] She also directed the Sanctuary season two episode "Veritas".[9] She has directed three episodes of Primeval: New World, three episodes (2.12; 3.06; 3.07) of Continuum, and four episodes of Olympus and more recently episodes of Dark Matter, Van Helsing, The Magicians, and Supernatural, as well as the historical drama X Company She also directed five episodes of the Netflix series Travelers and the season finale of the 2017 series Anne with an E.[10]

Personal life[edit]

Tapping is married to Alan Kovacs and they live together in Vancouver, British Columbia.[11][12] Tapping has one daughter with Kovacs.[11] Tapping has openly shared the difficult experiences she has undergone through eight miscarriages during her marriage in hope that her story would help other miscarrying women feel less isolated.[11]

Tapping has two living brothers, Richard and Christopher. A third brother Steven, who suffered from epilepsy and often uncontrollable seizures, died in December 2006 of causes unreleased by the Tapping family.[13]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1995 The Donor Cassie
1996 What Kind of Mother Are You? Ingrid Elstad
1997 Booty Call Dr. Moore
2002 Stuck Liz
Life or Something Like It Carrie Maddox
2012 Space Milkshake Valentina
Random Acts of Romance Dianne
2001 The Void Prof Eva Soderstrom
2013 Hell in a Handbag Mother Superior
2014 Kid Cannabis Teressia Lee Franks
2018 Woodland Donna Voice

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1995 Forever Knight Dr. Naomi Ross "Near Death"
Degree of Guilt Marcy TV film
Net Worth Colleen Howe
1996 Side Effects Dr. Barbara Bertrand "Easy Breathing"
Goosebumps Mrs. Merton "It Came from Beneath the Sink"
Due South Audrey McKenna "Starman"
The Haunting of Lisa Gina / Angel TV film
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues Annie "Shaolin Shot"
The X-Files Carina Sayles "Avatar"
Golden Will: The Silken Laumann Story Kathryn Laumann TV film
Remembrance Linda
The Newsroom Lindsay Ward "Dinner at Eight"
1996–1997 Flash Forward Miss Yansouni Recurring role
1997–2007 Stargate SG-1 Samantha Carter
Replicator Carter
Main role
Recurring role (season 8)
1998 The Outer Limits Cmdr. Kate Girard "The Joining"
1999 Millennium Dr. Cantor "Borrowed Time"
2001 The Void Prof. Eva Soderstrom TV film
2004 Traffic Home Owners Wife TV miniseries
2005 Earthsea Lady Elfarren
2005–2009 Stargate Atlantis Col. Samantha Carter Guest role (seasons 1–3 and 5)
Main role (season 4)
2006 Engaged to Kill Det. Burns TV film
2007–2011 Sanctuary Dr. Helen Magnus Main role
2008 Stargate: The Ark of Truth Col. Samantha Carter TV film
Stargate: Continuum
2009 Dancing Trees Josephina Rooney
2009–2010 Riese: Kingdom Falling Narrator Main role
Stargate Universe Col. Samantha Carter "Air: Part 1" & "Incursion: Part 1"
2010 Canadian Comedy Shorts Mary Johnson "Breakdown"
2012 Taken Back: Finding Haley Susan TV film
2012–2013, 2018 Supernatural Naomi Recurring role
2013 Motive Dr. Kate Robbins "The One That Got Away"
2014 Package Deal Jillian "Danny's New Job", "Everybody Loves Beth"
2015 Killjoys Dr. Jaeger "Kiss Kiss, Bye Bye"
2017–2018 Travelers Dr. Perrow Recurring role (seasons 2–3)
2022 Motherland: Fort Salem The Mother Episode: "Revolution Part 2"

Director[edit]

Year Series Episode(s)
2004 Stargate SG-1 "Resurrection"
2009–2011 Sanctuary Three episodes
2012–2013 Primeval: New World
2013–2014 Arctic Air
Continuum
2014 Strange Empire "Other Powers"
2015 Family for Christmas Hallmark Channel film
Olympus Four episodes
2015–2016 Dark Matter Two episodes
2015–2017 X Company Four episodes
2016 The Magicians "Remedial Battle Magic"
The Romeo Section "Seeds of War"
Van Helsing Four episodes
2016–2018 Travelers Nine episodes
2017–2020 Anne with an E Four episodes
2017 Reel Women Seen Short
2017–2019 Supernatural Four episodes
2018–2019 Siren Two episodes
2019 Blindspot "Masters of War 1:5 – 8"
The 100 "Matryoshka"
2020–2022 Motherland: Fort Salem Seven episodes
2020 The Flash "Pay the Piper"
Batwoman "O, Mouse!"
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina "Chapter Thirty-Three: Deus Ex Machina"
2022 First Kill Two episodes
2023 The Irrational "Lucky Charms"

Theatre[edit]

Awards and nominations[edit]

Tapping has won 6 awards, out of 13 nominations.

Year Award Category For Result
2000 Leo Award Best Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series Stargate SG-1: "Point of View" Nominated
Saturn Award Best Supporting Actress on Television
2001 Gemini Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role Stargate SG-1: "2010"
Saturn Award Best Supporting Actress on Television
2002 Leo Award Dramatic Series: Best Lead Performance – Female Stargate SG-1: "Ascension" Won
Saturn Award Best Supporting Actress on Television Nominated
2004 Leo Award Dramatic Series: Best Direction Stargate SG-1: "Resurrection"
Dramatic Series: Best Lead Performance by a Female Stargate SG-1: "Grace" Won
Saturn Award Best Supporting Actress on Television
2005 Leo Award Dramatic Series: Best Lead Performance by a Female Stargate SG-1: "Threads"
2007 Canadian Comedy Award Best Actress (Film) Breakdown
2009 Constellation Award Best Female Performance in a 2008 Science Fiction Film, TV Movie, or Mini-Series Stargate: Continuum Nominated
Best Female Performance in a 2008 Science Fiction Television Episode Sanctuary: "Requiem"
Outstanding Canadian Contribution to Science Fiction Film or Television in 2008
Leo Award Lead Performance by a Female in a Feature Length Drama Stargate: Continuum
Dramatic Series: Best Lead Performance by a Female Sanctuary: "Requiem" Won
Gemini Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role Sanctuary Nominated
2010 Women of Distinction Awards Connecting the Community Sanctuary for Kids Received
2012 Leo Award Dramatic Series: Best Lead Performance by a Female Sanctuary: "Tempus" Nominated
Jules Verne Award Excellence exploration, environmental and cinematic achievements Stargate SG-1 Received

References[edit]

  1. ^ Warriner, Tiffany. "Amanda Tapping BFA '88". University of Windsor. Archived from the original on 16 April 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  2. ^ "Biography". The Official Amanda Tapping website. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  3. ^ Ryan, Maureen (23 February 2007). "'Stargate' expands its mission". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Atlantis To Start Season 5". Sci Fi Wire. SCI FI. 6 February 2008. Archived from the original on 6 July 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2008.
  5. ^ "The Archives – 2007". The Comedy Network. CTVglobemedia. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2008.
  6. ^ "'Supernatural' spoilers: Amanda Tapping cast in major new angel role, Mike Farrell goes mental". Zap2It. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012.
  7. ^ "ACTRA names Amanda Tapping 2015 Woman of the Year". 4 March 2015.
  8. ^ "Official Stargate Website: Episode: Resurrection". MGM. Archived from the original on 13 July 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
  9. ^ Szymanski, Mike (11 September 2009). "How did Amanda Tapping produce, direct and act Sanctuary". Sci Fi Wire. Archived from the original on 14 September 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
  10. ^ AnneTheSeries [@AnneTheSeries] (30 April 2017). "#AnneTheSeries Season Finale Tonight at 8/8:30NT on @CBC (also, it's directed by @amandatapping!)" (Tweet). Retrieved 3 June 2017 – via Twitter.
  11. ^ a b c "Amanda Tapping on coping with miscarriage". Vancouver is Awesome. 7 May 2013 – via www.vancouverisawesome.com.
  12. ^ "The Official Amanda Tapping Website". www.amandatapping.com. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  13. ^ Tapping, Amanda (26 December 2006). "From Amanda – Her brother Steven". The Official Amanda Tapping website. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2009.

External links[edit]