Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe (born Yan-Kay Lo; January 20, 1981[citation needed]) is a Canadian actress and director. She is known for her scream queen roles in horror films such as Children of the Corn: Revelation (2001), Final Destination 3 (2006), Black Christmas (2006), and Wrong Turn 2: Dead End (2007). She played Rita Haywith in Hallmark Channel's television and television film series Signed, Sealed, Delivered (2013–present).

Early life and family

Lowe was born Yan-Kay Lo in Vancouver, British Columbia to a Scottish mother and Chinese father from Hong Kong. When she was young the family moved to Hong Kong, where they lived for several years. In an interview in 2016, Lowe said that she had wanted to be an actress since the age of five.

Career

Lowe started her career as a model. Her first acting role was at age 15 as Nya on an episode of Stargate SG-1. Lowe went on to guest star in several popular television shows like Masters of Horror, Psych, Supernatural, Stargate: Atlantis, The L Word, plus many more.

Lowe's first film role came in 2000 when she was cast in the film Get Carter. Soon after she was cast as Tiffany in the horror film Children of the Corn: Revelation. In 2006, Lowe was cast as Ashlyn Halperin in Final Destination 3. Her next role was as Lauren in the remake of Black Christmas. Lowe later went on to star as Elena in Wrong Turn 2: Dead End.

Lowe went on to do cameo roles in the films Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and Good Luck Chuck. In 2008 she was reunited with her Final Destination 3 co-stars Sam Easton and Amanda Crew in the film That One Night. Also in 2008, Lowe was cast in supporting roles for the films Yeti: Curse of the Snow Demon, Poison Ivy: The Secret Society and Center Stage: Turn It Up.

In 2010, Lowe appeared as Zoe in the film Hot Tub Time Machine, as Vala in the ninth season of the CW show Smallville and as Nina in Sheldon Wilson's horror/thriller film Killer Mountain. In mid-2011, Lowe was cast as Tina in A Little Bit Zombie and as Piper/Peaches in the TV movie To the Mat. In early 2012, she was cast as Toby Nance, one of the lead characters in the new series Primeval: New World.

In 2014, Lowe was cast as Rita Haywith in the Hallmark series Signed, Sealed, Delivered, which aired for one season in 2014 before becoming successive television films. In 2015, she took a role behind the camera, directing the locally produced short film Becoming Sophie which was featured at Cannes Short Film Library and L.A. Women's Film Festival.

In 2017, Lowe played Sarah Albans, the mother of Julian, the main antagonist in the film version of Wonder, based on the 2012 novel.

Personal life

On August 8, 2009, Lowe married Miko Tomasevich at Vancouver's historic Hycroft Manor. She and her husband own Hyde Restaurant in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Lowe is fluent in Cantonese.

In February 2025, Lowe was diagnosed with stage-3 breast cancer and underwent chemotherapy and had a double mastectomy.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2000Get CarterNikki
SanctimonyVirginia
2001Children of the Corn: RevelationTiffany
2002InsomniaKay Connell
2002I SpyBeautiful Girl
2004Going the DistanceWaitress
2005ThrallsTanya Watner
2006Final Destination 3Ashlyn Halperin
Scary Movie 4Chingy's Girl
Snakes on a PlaneAutograph Girl
Black ChristmasLauren Hannon
2007Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver SurferHot Party Girl
Wrong Turn 2: Dead EndElena Garcia
Good Luck ChuckCam's Wedding Friend
2008That One NightStacy
Center Stage: Turn It UpLexi
Dim Sum FuneralJane
2009Driven to KillTanya
2010Hot Tub Time MachineZoe
2012A Little Bit ZombieTina
2013CharlieRose
2014Becoming SophieN/ADirector, producer
2016Rampage: President DownCrystal
2017WonderSarah Albans
2019Benchwarmers 2: Breaking BallsRamona
2023Break InEllen

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1997Stargate SG-1NyaEpisode: "Emancipation"
Breaker HighMelinaEpisode: "Beware of Geeks Baring Their Gifts"
1998Cold SquadSamantha GordonEpisode: "Merv Doucette"
Da Vinci's InquestShelley DunneEpisode: "The Most Dangerous Time"
The Adventures of Shirley HolmesPascalEpisode: "The Case of the Open Hand"
1999–2000Cold SquadMyra LarsonEpisodes: "Deadly Games: Part 2", "Death by Intent: Part 1"
2001Da Vinci's InquestSylviaEpisodes: "Banging on the Wall", "Cheap Aftershave"
2002MTV's Now What?ShannonEpisodes: "Zack's Little Problem", "Reality Bites", "Purity Test"
The Secret Life of ZoeyCheerleaderTelevision film
The Twilight ZoneGroupieEpisode: "Harsh Mistress"
2004Life as We Know ItJulieEpisode: "Natural Disasters"
2005The LifeStudent #3Television film
The CollectorCreeEpisode: "The Tattoo Artist"
The L WordCocktail WaitressEpisode: "Lap Dance"
2006Masters of HorrorLilyEpisode: "Pick Me Up"
Killer InstinctYvetteEpisode: "She's the Bomb"
The EvidenceDeb KintzaEpisode: "And the Envelope Please"
Totally AwesomePretty GirlTelevision film
2007Falcon BeachKellyEpisode: "Strawberry Social Reject"
PsychEdenEpisode: "Scary Sherry: Bianca's Toast"
PsychDaphneEpisode: "If You're So Smart, Then Why Are You Dead?"
Bionic WomanJessicaEpisode: "Second Chances"
2008Stargate AtlantisMardolaEpisode: "Harmony"
Poison Ivy: The Secret SocietyIsabel TurnerTelevision film
Yeti: Curse of the Snow DemonAshleyTelevision film
The Boy Next DoorNicole WarnerTelevision film
2009SupernaturalLeticia Gore ActressEpisode: "The Real Ghostbusters"
What Color Is Love?FaizaTelevision film
TrustMichelleTelevision film
2010SmallvilleValaRecurring role (season 9)
2011ShatteredWomanEpisode: "Finding the Boy"
Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin StoryNatalieTelevision film
To the MatPiper / PeachesTelevision film
Killer MountainDr. Nina PrestonTelevision film
2012R.L. Stine's The Haunting HourCassandraEpisode: "Headshot"
2012–2013Primeval: New WorldToby NanceMain role
2013–2014Signed, Sealed, DeliveredRita HaywithMain role
2014Almost HumanJeannieEpisode: "Simon Says"
Republic of DoyleMichelle CantwellEpisode: "No Rest for the Convicted"
2014–2018; 2021; 2024; 2025Signed, Sealed, DeliveredRita HaywithTelevision film series
2015Gourmet Detective: A Healthy Place to DieGretchen / Linda FrenchTelevision film
2016Hearts of ChristmasLauren WrightTelevision film
2017Christmas at Holly LodgeCallieTelevision film
2017Marry Me At ChristmasIsabelTelevision film
2019Flip That RomanceKatTelevision film
Christmas at DollywoodMaggie DavisTelevision film
2020The Wrong Wedding PlannerAshleyTelevision film; credited as Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe
2022Old Flames Never DieKiraTelevision film; credited as Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe
2024Wild CardsSiobhanEpisode: "Howl to Get Away With Murder"; credited as Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe
Shifting GearsN/ATelevision film; Director credited as Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe
This Time Each YearN/ATelevision film; Director credited as Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe
2025The Wish SwapJessTelevision film; credited as Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe
A Pie To Die For: A Hannah Swensen MysteryN/ATelevision film; Director credited as Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe
2026Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of MurderLeahTelevision film; credited as Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe

Awards and nominations

YearEventAward/categoryWorkResultRef.
2006Fangoria Chainsaw AwardsLine That Killed (Best One-Liner)Final Destination 3Nominated
2012Canada International Film FestivalRising Star Award (shared with Shawn Roberts and Kristopher Turner, among others)A Little Bit ZombieWon
2014UBCP/ACTRA AwardsBest ActressSigned, Sealed, DeliveredNominated
2016UBCP/ACTRA AwardsBest ActressSigned, Sealed, Delivered: From Paris with LoveNominated
2017The IndieFest Film AwardsAward of Excellence for Best Short FilmThe CurtainWon
LA Shorts AwardsPlatinum Award for Best Short FilmThe CurtainWon
Los Angeles Independent Film Festival AwardsLAIFF August Award for Best Drama ShortThe CurtainNominated
NYC Indie Film AwardsNYC Indie Film Award for Best Short FilmThe CurtainWon

Notes

External links