Amanda Tapping (born 28 August 1965) is a 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 starred as Dr. Helen Magnus in the science fiction-fantasy television series Sanctuary, which she also produced.
Early life 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. When she finished in 1984, she decided to focus her attention on drama, graduating from the University of Windsor School of Dramatic Arts in Windsor, Ontario.
Career
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 episodes of 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.
Tapping is best known for her portrayal of Samantha Carter in the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1, which debuted in 1997. She appeared in a main role in all ten seasons of the series. After SG-1 concluded, Tapping reprised the role of Samantha Carter on Stargate Atlantis in the fourth season. In season 5, Tapping's role on the show was reduced to that of "special guest-star" with only occasional appearances. Tapping chose to focus her attention on the development of a new series called Sanctuary. The show debuted as an original series of eight webisodes released on the internet in 2007, and was later picked up by Syfy as a television series. 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.
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. 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.
Directing Tapping's directing debut was during the seventh season of Stargate SG-1 in an episode titled "Resurrection", written by co-star Michael Shanks. She also directed the Sanctuary season two episode "Veritas". 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 directed five episodes of the Netflix series Travelers (in which she had a recurring role as Dr Perrow), and the season finale of the 2017 series Anne with an E. In 2022, Tapping also directed two episodes of the television series Motherland: Fort Salem. Amanda recently directed S1 E 4 and E7 of Crew Girl on Netflix.
Personal life Tapping is married to Allan Kovacs and they live together in Vancouver, British Columbia. Tapping has one daughter with Kovacs. 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.
Tapping has three brothers, one of whom suffered from epilepsy, often had uncontrollable seizures, and died in December 2006 of causes unreleased by the Tapping family.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1995 The DonorCassie1996What Kind of Mother Are You?Ingrid Elstad1997Booty CallDr. Moore2001The VoidProf Eva Soderstrom2002StuckLizLife or Something Like ItCarrie Maddox2012Space MilkshakeValentinaRandom Acts of RomanceDianne2012Taken Back: Finding HaleySusan2013Hell in a HandbagMother Superior2014Kid CannabisTeressia Lee Franks2018WoodlandDonnaVoice 2024 Levels MEL Voice
Television Year Title Role Notes1995Forever KnightDr. Naomi Ross"Near Death"Degree of GuiltMarcyTV filmNet WorthColleen Howe1996Side EffectsDr. Barbara Bertrand"Easy Breathing"GoosebumpsMrs. Merton"It Came from Beneath the Sink"Due SouthAudrey McKenna"Starman" The Haunting of LisaGina / AngelTV filmKung Fu: The Legend ContinuesAnnie"Shaolin Shot" The X-FilesCarina Sayles"Avatar"Golden Will: The Silken Laumann StoryKathryn LaumannTV filmRemembranceLinda The NewsroomLindsay Ward"Dinner at Eight"1996–1997Flash ForwardMiss YansouniRecurring role1997–2007Stargate SG-1Samantha Carter Replicator CarterMain role Recurring role (season 8)1998 The Outer LimitsCmdr. Kate Girard"The Joining"1999MillenniumDr. Cantor"Borrowed Time"2001 The VoidProf. Eva SoderstromTV film2004TrafficHome Owners WifeTV miniseries2005EarthseaLady Elfarren2005–2009Stargate AtlantisCol. Samantha CarterGuest role (seasons 1–3 and 5) Main role (season 4)2006Engaged to KillDet. BurnsTV film2007–2011SanctuaryDr. Helen MagnusMain role2008Stargate: The Ark of TruthCol. Samantha CarterTV filmStargate: Continuum2009Dancing TreesJosephina Rooney2009–2010Riese: Kingdom FallingNarratorMain roleStargate UniverseCol. Samantha Carter"Air: Part 1" & "Incursion: Part 1"2010Canadian Comedy ShortsMary Johnson"Breakdown"2012Taken Back: Finding HaleySusanTV film2012–2013, 2018SupernaturalNaomiRecurring role2013MotiveDr. Kate Robbins"The One That Got Away"2014Package DealJillian"Danny's New Job", "Everybody Loves Beth"2015KilljoysDr. Jaeger"Kiss Kiss, Bye Bye"2017–2018TravelersDr. PerrowRecurring role (seasons 2–3)2022Motherland: Fort SalemThe Mother Episode: "Revolution Part 2"
Director Year Series Episode(s)2004Stargate SG-1"Resurrection"2009–2011SanctuaryThree episodes2012–2013Primeval: New World2013–2014Arctic AirContinuum2014Strange Empire"Other Powers"2015Family for ChristmasHallmark Channel filmOlympusFour episodes2015–2016Dark MatterTwo episodes2015–2017X CompanyFour episodes2016 The Magicians"Remedial Battle Magic" The Romeo Section"Seeds of War"Van HelsingFour episodes2016–2018TravelersNine episodes2017–2020Anne with an EFour episodes2017Reel Women SeenShort2017–2019SupernaturalFour episodes2018–2019SirenTwo episodes2019Blindspot"Masters of War 1:5 – 8" The 100"Matryoshka"2020–2022Motherland: Fort SalemSeven episodes 2020 The Flash"Pay the Piper"Batwoman"O, Mouse!"Chilling Adventures of Sabrina"Chapter Thirty-Three: Deus Ex Machina"2022First KillTwo episodes2023 The Irrational"Lucky Charms"2024 Wild Cards"Three episodes" Dead Boy Detectives"The Case of the Two Dead Dragons"2024–2025Murder in a Small TownFour episodes
Theatre The Wizard of Oz The Lion in Winter as "Alais Capet" Steel Magnolias – West End Theater Look Back in Anger as "Alison" (1986) Children of a Lesser God as "Sarah" (1987) The Taming of the Shrew as "Bianca" (1988) Noises Off The Shadow Walkers
Awards and nominations Tapping has won six awards, out of thirteen nominations. Year Award Category For Result2000 Leo Award Best Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series Stargate SG-1: "Point of View" rowspan=4 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" Saturn Award Best Supporting Actress on Television – rowspan=2 2004Leo Award Dramatic Series: Best Direction Stargate SG-1: "Resurrection" Dramatic Series: Best Lead Performance by a Female Stargate SG-1: "Grace" rowspan=4 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) Breakdown2009Constellation Award Best Female Performance in a 2008 Science Fiction Film, TV Movie, or Mini-Series Stargate: Continuum rowspan=4 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" Gemini Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role Sanctuary 2010 Women of Distinction Awards Connecting the Community Sanctuary for Kids Received2012 Leo Award Dramatic Series: Best Lead Performance by a Female Sanctuary: "Tempus" Jules Verne Award Excellence exploration, environmental and cinematic achievements Stargate SG-1 Received
References
External links