Sonja Smits
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Sonja Smits (born September 8, 1958) 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 and Traders.
Early life and education
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.
Career
Television
Besides her starring roles in Street Legal (1987–1992) and Traders (1996-2000), Smits plays a main role as Megan Redner on The Eleventh Hour (2002–2005), and a recurring role as Cynthia Hodge on Odyssey 5 (2002–2003).
Smits' guest roles in television series, including Falcon Crest (1984), Airwolf (1987), Counterstrike (1993), The Outer Limits (1995), and the miniseries The Best Laid Plans (2014).
Film
On the big-screen, Smits played Bianca O'Blivion in David Cronenberg's science fiction body horror film Videodrome (1983), and was lead actress in the 2021 drama Drifting Snow. She portrayed Mona Louise Parsons in the Heritage Minutes short documentary film by Historica Canada. In 2025, Smits portrayed the Terran Proctor in Star Trek: Section 31.
Awards and nominations
Smits has been nominated for five Gemini Awards, winning in 1988, and two Genie Awards. She has also received the Toronto Women in Film and Television (TWIFT) Outstanding Achievement Award, and the ACTRA Toronto Award of Excellence.
Personal life
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.
In 2009, Smits was elected president of the board of directors of the Harbourfront Centre.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Tyler | Sharon | ||
| 1981 | The Pit | Mrs. Lynde | ||
| 1983 | Videodrome | Bianca O'Blivion | Nominated — Genie Award for Best Supporting Actress | |
| 1984 | That's My Baby! | Suzanne | Nominated — 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 | Nominated — ACTRA Award for Outstanding Performance – Gender Non-conforming or Female | |
| 2025 | Star Trek: Section 31 | Terran Proctor |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | War Brides | Lisa | TV movie Nominated — ACTRA Award | |
| 1984 | Falcon Crest | Lydia Boulanger | Episode: "Suitable for Framing" | |
| 1984–1985 | The Hitchhiker | Nina Russell / Susan Carter | Episodes: "Face to Face", "Murderous Feelings" | |
| 1985 | The Fall Guy | Jessica Beaumont | Episode: "Her Bodyguard" | |
| 1985 | Command 5 | Chris Winslow | TV movie | |
| 1986 | Loose Ends | Carla | TV movie | |
| 1986 | Danger Bay | Unknown | 1 episode | |
| 1987 | Airwolf | Alexandria Rostov | Episode: "Stavograd: Parts 1 & 2" | |
| 1987–1992 | Street Legal | Carrington 'Carrie' Barr | Main 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 | Episode: "The Fruit at the Bottom of the Bowl" | |
| 1993 | The Diviners | Morag | TV movie Nominated — Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series | |
| 1993 | Counterstrike | Julia Devane | Episode: "Betrayed" | |
| 1994 | Spenser: Pale Kings and Princes | Carolyn Rogers | TV movie | |
| 1994 | TekWar | Kate Cardigan | TV movie | |
| 1994 | TekLords | Kate Cardigan | TV movie | |
| 1995 | The Outer Limits | Dr. Anne Crain | Episode: "White Light Fever" | |
| 1995 | Nothing Sacred | Unknown | TV movie | |
| 1996–2000 | Traders | Sally Ross | Main role, 83 episodes Nominated — Gemini Award for Best Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role (1999-2000) | |
| 1998 | Dead Husbands | Sheila Feinstein | TV movie | |
| 2001 | Made in Canada | Angela Widstrom | Episode: "Teamwork" | |
| 2001 | Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows | Kay Thompson | TV miniseries | |
| 2002 | Mom's on Strike | First Lady | TV movie | |
| 2002–2003 | Odyssey 5 | Cynthia Hodge | Recurring role | |
| 2002–2005 | The Eleventh Hour | Megan Redner | Main role | |
| 2003 | The Atwood Stories | Mrs. Anderson | Episode: "The Man from Mars" | |
| 2004 | Siblings | Mom | TV movie | |
| 2005 | Heritage Minutes | Mona Louise Parsons | Episode: "Mona Parsons" | |
| 2007–2008 | Rent-a-Goalie | Texas | Episodes: "Texas", "Upstairs" | |
| 2012 | Cybergeddon | Amanda Jocelyn | Episodes: "Chapter 3", "Chapter 6" | |
| 2012 | Cybergeddon Zips | Amanda Jocelyn | Episode: "Amanda" | |
| 2014 | The Best Laid Plans | Diane Gagnon | TV miniseries | |
| 2016 | Flower Shop Mystery: Dearly Depotted | Glory Osbourne | TV movie | |
| 2017 | Ransom | Gwyneth Davenport | Episode: "The Artist" | |
| 2017 | American Gods | Laura's Mother | Episodes: "The Bone Orchard", "Git Gone", "A Murder of Gods" | |
| 2017 | Murdoch Mysteries | Belinda Carlyle | Episode: "Brackenreid Boudoir" | |
| 2017 | Save Me | Gloriana | Episode: "Code 5" | |
| 2018 | Mary Kills People | Estelle | Episode: "The Connection" | |
| 2021 | A Mother's Lie | Joyce | TV movie. AKA Hidden Family Secrets | |
| 2022 | Pretty Hard Cases | Judy Wazowski | 9 episodes Nominated — ACTRA Award for Best Series Ensemble | |
| 2024 | Hudson and Rex | Minister Fulford | Episode: "Wag the Dog" |
External links
- at the TCM Movie Database
- at Rotten Tomatoes
- at IMDb