Laura Dianne Vandervoort (born September 22, 1984) is a Canadian actress. She is best known for her role as Lisa in the ABC science fiction series V (2009). She is also known for her role as Sadie Harrison in the CTV teen drama series Instant Star, Arla "The Bolt-Gun Killer" Cogan in the Syfy supernatural drama series Haven, and Kara Zor-El (Supergirl) in The CW serial drama series Smallville. In 2014, she starred in the Space channel drama series Bitten, a television adaptation of Kelley Armstrong's book series Women of the Otherworld as Elena Michaels.

Early life

Vandervoort was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario. She is the daughter of a Canadian mother and a Dutch father. In the first weeks of her life, she contracted meningitis, resulting in a severe sickness that lasted a few months. Her parents were initially told she was not going to survive. Growing up, Vandervoort was involved in several sports such as football, karate (where she is a second-degree black belt), basketball, tennis, gymnastics and baseball. She has an older sister, Sarah and she is related to Canadian actor Gordon Pinsent.

Career

Laura Vandervoort in 2008

In 1997, she made her acting debut at age 13. After taking several classes and doing background work on Canadian shows such as Road to Avonlea and Harriet the Spy, she got her first speaking role in the Canadian children's horror anthology series Goosebumps and Are You Afraid of the Dark?, both series were aired on YTV.

After commercials and guest starring roles in Mutant X, Prom Queen: The Marc Hall Story, Goosebumps, Twice in a Lifetime, Doc, Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye, Troubled Waters, The Dresden Files, and a few Disney Channel original films (Mom's Got a Date with a Vampire and Alley Cats Strike), at age 19, while attending York University where she studied Psychology and English, Vandervoort landed a lead role as Sadie Harrison in the CTV teen drama series Instant Star, which ran for four seasons.

In 2006, Vandervoort starred in her first feature film titled The Lookout alongside Jeff Daniels, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Matthew Goode, and Isla Fisher. Several other television appearances such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation led Vandervoort to the role of Clark Kent's Kryptonian cousin "Kara Kent" (the woman destined to become Supergirl) in The CW serial drama series Smallville. She was a regular in season seven, and appeared in the "Bloodline" episode for season eight. She then returned for another two episodes in the tenth and final season of Smallville.

Vandervoort at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2010

Following The CW and Smallville, Vandervoort then shot the sequel to the feature film Into the Blue titled Into the Blue 2: The Reef. She next filmed an independent production titled The Jazzman, which also starred Canadian stars Michael Ironside (who appeared in the second V miniseries as well as the 1984 V regular series) and Corey Sevier.

Vandervoort portrayed "Lisa", an extraterrestrial Visitor, in the 2009 ABC science fiction series V, a reboot of the 1980s science fiction franchise of the same name.

In 2010, Vandervoort appeared in the two-part miniseries Riverworld in which she plays Jessie Machalan, the fiancée of war correspondent Matt Ellman who wakes up after death on a planet populated by everyone who has ever lived on Earth. In 2011, she starred in the suspense film The Entitled, alongside Ray Liotta and Kevin Zegers.

In October 2011, she posed for PETA as part of the "Exotic Skins" campaign and in 2014, she appeared nude again for an ad that protested against the keeping of marine mammals in captivity. In 2012, she had a small role in Seth MacFarlane's comedy film Ted, playing Mark Wahlberg's coworker Tanya.

Laura Vandervoort at the 2012 Chicago Wizard World

In 2014, she appeared in the TV adaptation of the Kelley Armstrong novel Bitten.

In 2016, Vandervoort appeared as the supervillain Indigo/Brainiac 8 in three episodes of season one of the CBS action-adventure series Supergirl.

In 2019, Vandervoort appeared in the Netflix adaptation of the Jonathan Maberry book series V Wars alongside Ian Somerhalder, Adrian Holmes, and Peter Outerbridge.

Personal life

Vandervoort resides in Toronto, Ontario. In 2013, she was engaged to actor Oliver Trevena, but the engagement was called off in 2015. In 2023, she became engaged to Adam Coates, chief revenue officer of the Decibel Cannabis Company and they married on September 6, 2025 in Langdon Hall County House, Hotel & Spa, in Canada.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1999Penny's OdysseyTanyaTelevision film
2000Alley Cats StrikeLaurenTelevision film (Disney Channel Original Movie)
Mom's Got a Date with a VampireChelsea HansenTelevision film (Disney Channel Original Movie) Nominated – Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Movie (Comedy): Leading Young Actress
2004Prom Queen: The Marc Hall StoryYoung GirlTelevision film; uncredited
2005Falcon BeachAshleyTelevision film
2006Troubled WatersCarolyn
2007The LookoutKelly
2009Out of ControlMarcie CutlerTelevision film
Into the Blue 2: The ReefDani WhiteDirect-to-video
The JazzmanSara
DamageFrankieDirect-to-video
2010RiverworldJessie MachalanTelevision film
2011The EntitledHailey Jones
Desperately Seeking SantaJennifer WalkerTelevision film
2012This Means WarBritta
Broken TrustSophieTelevision film
TedTanya
Finding Mrs. ClausNoelleTelevision film
2014Cubicle WarriorsJessica
Life of the PartyBea
2014Coffee ShopDonavan TurnerTelevision film
2017JigsawAnna
2019RabidRose Miller
2021Trigger PointFiona Snow
See for MeDebra

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1997–1998GoosebumpsNadine Platt / Sheena Deep"The Haunted House Game" (season 3; episode 10) "Deep Trouble: Part 1" (season 4; episode 7) "Deep Trouble: Part 2" (season 4; episode 8)
2000Are You Afraid of the Dark?Ashley Fox"The Tale of the Laser Maze" (season 7; episode 11)
Twice in a LifetimeMisty Reynolds"Even Steven" (season 2; episode 15)
2001Mutant XTina"Russian Roulette" (season 1; episode 3)
2002The Gavin Crawford ShowThe Girl1 episode
2004–2008Instant StarSadie HarrisonMain role; 49 episodes
2004DocAnnis Bennington"The Family Tree" (season 5; episode 6)
200572 Hours: True CrimeLeanne"Head in a Bucket" (season 2; episode 10)
Sue Thomas: F.B.EyeGabbie"Bad Girls" (season 3; episode 18)
2007The Dresden FilesNatalie"Bad Blood" (season 1; episode 5)
CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationMiss Tangiers"Big Shots" (season 7; episode 19)
2007–2011SmallvilleKara Zor-El23 episodes Main role (season 7) Guest star (season 8 and season 10)
2009–2011VLisaMain role; 22 episodes
2011Family GuyJenny / Third Bully Girl (voices)"Friends of Peter G." (season 9; episode 10) "Trading Places" (season 9; episode 13)
2012White CollarSophie Covington"Parting Shots" (season 4; episode 4)
Finding Mrs. ClausNoelleTelevision film
2013HavenArla Cogan"Reunion" (season 3; episode 12) "Thanks for the Memories" (season 3; episode 13)
CSI: NYMarcy Sullivan"Nine Thirteen" (season 9; episode 13)
2014–2016BittenElena MichaelsMain role
2016SupergirlIndigo / Brainiac 8Recurring role; 3 episodes
2016–2018IceTessaRecurring role; 5 episodes
2017Frankie Drake MysteriesSophia Devoe"Out of Focus" (season 1; episode 5)
2018–2019Private EyesDana Edson"Shadow of a Doubt" (season 2; episode 18) and "Catch Me If You Can" (season 3; episode 1)
2019V WarsMila Dubov6 episodes
2020A Christmas ExchangeMollyTelevision film
2021Playing CupidMs Kerri FoxTelevision film
The Handmaid's TaleDaisy"Nightshade" (season 4; episode 2)
Romance in the WildsRoma ThompsonTelevision film
Christmas in the WildsRoma ThompsonTelevision film
A Christmas Together with YouMeganTelevision film
2023Black BagsSaraTelevision film
2025Law & Order Toronto:Criminal IntentJessica Cartwright"The Man in the Stadium" (season 2; episode 7)
Murdoch MysteriesAgent DuMaurier"The Borden Ultimatum"

Video games

YearTitleVoice roleNotes
2011Spider-Man: Edge of TimeMary Jane Watson

Music videos

YearTitleArtistRoleNotes
2015"Ruthless Love"Alexz JohnsonBallerina

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResultReference
2001Young Artist AwardsBest Performance in a TV Movie (Comedy) – Leading Young ActressMom's Got a Date with a VampireNominated
2016Golden Maple AwardsBest actress in a TV series broadcast in the U.S.Bitten

External links