Katharine Isabelle
{{short description|Canadian actress (born 1981)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Katharine Isabelle
| image = The Soskas at Chicago Flashback Weekend (14694222057) (Katharine Isabelle cropped).jpg
| caption = Isabelle in 2014
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1981|11|02}}
| birth_place = Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| birth_name = Katharine Isobel Murray
| other_names =
| spouse =
| children =
| occupation = Actress
| years_active = 1989–present
| website =
}}
Katharine Isobel Murray (born 2 November 1981), known professionally as Katharine Isabelle, is a Canadian actress. She has been described as a scream queen due to her roles in various horror films. She started her acting career in 1989, playing a small role in the television series MacGyver. She gained fame for the role of Ginger Fitzgerald in the films Ginger Snaps, Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed, and Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning.
In 2014, Isabelle was awarded the Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Actress for her role as Mary Mason in the Canadian body horror film American Mary.
Early life
Katharine Isabelle Murray was born on 2 November 1981, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Her parents are Graeme Murray, a production designer who has won two Emmy Awards for work on The X-Files, and Gail Johnson Murray, a writer and producer. Her paternal grandparents and maternal grandfather are from Scotland.{{cite news |last1=Reid |first1=Michael D. |title=Behind the Screen: Spooked in Rockland |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/509101418 |access-date=28 April 2019 |work=Times Colonist |date=6 November 1998 |page=C1 |url-access=limited |via=Newspapers.com |department=Life & Arts}}{{cite press release |url=http://www.ginger-snaps.com/unleashed/presskit.htm |title=Ginger Snaps II : Unleashed |website=ginger-snaps.com |date=11 May 2001 |access-date=28 April 2019}} Her paternal half-brother is Joshua Murray, a director and former actor.{{cite web |last1=Kirst |first1=Brian |title=Flashback Weekend 2009 Recap |url=http://www.horrorsociety.com/2009/11/16/flashback-weekend-2009-recap/ |publisher=Horror Society |date=16 November 2009 |access-date=28 April 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Millar |first1=John |title=Revealed: Horror queen Katharine Isabelle says she's terrified of blood |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/movies/movie-news/horror-queen-katharine-isabelle-says-1521282 |access-date=28 April 2019 |work=Daily Record |date=6 January 2013 |department=Entertainment}}{{cite news |last1=Inwood |first1=Damian |title=Siblings share movie stardom |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/502482754 |access-date=30 April 2019 |work=The Province |date=19 July 1990 |url-access=limited |via=Newspapers.com |department=Entertainment}}
Career
Isabelle has been credited under several stage names during the course of her career.
She began her acting career at the age of eight as Katie Murray, playing an episodic role in the television series MacGyver in 1989. Then she continued to act in small episodic roles in television series and films such as: Cold Front, Immediate Family, The Last Winter, Burning Bridges,{{cite news |last1=Gardella |first1=Kay |author-link1=Kay Gardella |title=ABC's 'Burning Bridges' lacks fire |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/467835624 |url-access=limited |access-date=30 April 2019 |work=Daily News|location=New York |date=6 May 1990 |page=2 |department=TV Week}} Children of the Dust, Salt Water Moose, and Married to a Stranger.
Isabelle has worked with her half-brother Joshua Murray in Cold Front and The Last Winter. In 1998, she worked with her father Graeme Murray on an episode of The X-Files titled "Schizogeny".
In 1998, she played Lindsay Clark in the film Disturbing Behavior, where Katie Holmes, James Marsden, and Nick Stahl were her film partners.
She first found fame with the role of Ginger Fitzgerald in the film Ginger Snaps,{{Cite web |url=http://www.ginger-snaps.com/interview_katharine_isabelle.htm |title=Katharine Isabelle - GINGER SNAPS - the movie |access-date=30 July 2016}} directed by John Fawcett; actress Emily Perkins became her co-star in the film as Brigitte Fitzgerald. Casting took place in Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. Isabelle auditioned on the same day as Perkins at their agency in Vancouver, reading to one another off-camera. Screenwriter Karen Walton said that they were exactly as she had pictured the characters when their taped auditions had arrived.{{cite web |url=http://archive.salon.com/ent/movies/review/2001/10/26/ginger_snaps/index.html |title=Ginger Snaps |last=Taylor |first=Charles |date=26 October 2001 |work=Salon |access-date=30 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204075040/http://archive.salon.com/ent/movies/review/2001/10/26/ginger_snaps/index.html |archive-date=4 December 2008 |url-status=dead}} The film tells how during the filming of an amateur horror film, the two sisters find themselves being hunted by a monster. One of the sisters is bitten, but her wounds heal incredibly fast leaving the sisters suspicious of what it is that's hunting them.{{Cite web |url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/ginger-snaps/ |title=Ginger Snaps (2001) |website=Pop Matters |access-date=30 July 2016}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.hollywood.com/movies/ginger-snaps-59115521/ |title=Ginger Snaps {{!}} Movie {{!}} 2001 |website=Hollywood.com |date=4 February 2015 |access-date=30 July 2016}}
What Culture said:
Obsessed with death and morbidity, and afraid of adulthood, Ginger Fitzgerald, portrayed by Katharine Isabelle of American Mary fame, only gets worse when she's bitten by a lycanthrope and the transformation into a wolf begins. She gradually becomes aggressive and over-sexualised, loses her relationship with her sister, grows pointy teeth and sprouts hair in really weird places. She even grows a tail that she actually attempts to cut off. It takes a big set of cojones to try to cut off any body part. Ultimately though, the film is interesting because it examines the dichotomy between Ginger's humanity and her animalistic side.{{Cite web |url=http://whatculture.com/film/10-badass-female-horror-villains?page=5 |title=10 Badass Female Horror Villains |website=What Culture |date=July 18, 2014 |access-date=July 30, 2016}}
Jessica Roakes of The Toast also mentions the metaphorical nature of the character saying "Ginger's body has betrayed her by menstruating. This is a key tenet of the body-horror genre — the monstrous comes not just from the outside, but from within the human body, from infection or perversion or unwanted biological functions. In Ginger's case, it is her metamorphosis from girl to woman that renders her monstrous."{{Cite web |url=http://the-toast.net/2014/10/29/ginger-snaps-menstrual-horror-movie-dreams/ |title=Ginger Snaps: The Menstrual Horror Movie Of Your Dreams |website=The Toast |date=29 October 2014 |access-date=30 July 2016}}
File:Katharine Isabelle and Syavash Yorish (3235649210).jpg
The actress also portrayed the character in the sequel Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed (2004) and the prequel Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning.{{Cite web |url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/ginger-snaps-2-unleashed |title=Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed - Movie Review |website=Common Sense Media |access-date=30 July 2016}}
Two years later, Isabelle appeared in the film Insomnia.{{cite web |url=http://www.filmbug.com/db/145225 |title=Katharine Isabelle |publisher=Filmbug |access-date=17 July 2014}} In this detective thriller directed by Christopher Nolan, the actress played along with Al Pacino, Robin Williams and Hilary Swank. In 2012, Isabelle starred in the horror film twins Jen and Sylvia Soska American Mary.{{Cite web |url=https://monsterpictures.com.au/shop/american-mary/ |title=American Mary - A modern Horror Masterpiece |access-date=5 June 2021}} American Mary premiered at the London FrightFest Film Festival on 27 August 2012. It received a limited theatrical run in the U.S. on 31 May 2013, and became available on video on demand on 16 May 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/67132/exclusive-american-mary-clip-gets-bloody-revenge |title=Exclusive American Mary Clip Gets Bloody Revenge |last=Barton |first=Steve |work=Dread Central |date=29 May 2013 |access-date=16 November 2013}} This role brought her many awards at various horror film festivals, including the "Fangoria Chainsaw Awards".
In 2008, Isabelle received the Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series for her role in The Englishman's Boy.{{cite web |url=http://www.fanpop.com/spots/katharine-isabelle/articles/19005/title/katharine-isabelle-talented-actress-dedicated-art |title=Katharine Isabelle: Talented Actress Dedicated to Her Art}} She later reunited with Perkins in Another Cinderella Story where they played the daughters of Jane Lynch's character.
Cooperation with the gothic sisters continued in 2014 when Isabelle played a major role in their 2006 horror sequel, See No Evil 2. Later, she played a major role in the thriller Primate. In 2015, the film 88 starred Isabelle, after she played a cameo role in the film The Girl in the Photographs.
Also, she played a small role in the short film Iteration 1 and one of the main roles in the action film Countdown in 2016. In 2019, Isabelle was cast as Vera Stone in the Netflix horror-drama series, The Order.{{cite web |url=https://www.thetvjunkies.com/little-dog-katharine-isabelle-interview/ |title=Little Dog's Katharine Isabelle on what Ginny may be trying to hide |last=Liszewski |first=Bridget |work=The TV Junkies |date=7 February 2019 |access-date=27 February 2019 |archive-date=14 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114182003/https://thetvjunkies.com/little-dog-katharine-isabelle-interview/ |url-status=dead }}
Personal life
Despite acting in a large number of gory films and television productions, Isabelle is uneasy with the sight of real blood.
In 2003, Isabelle almost died from a viral infection, which caused one of her lungs to collapse, as well as kidney failure. She fell into a coma and had to be put on a ventilator. Isabelle made this revelation in 2020, on her Instagram account.{{Cite web |title=Katharine Isabelle on Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B-x2V53Fg9z/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/B-x2V53Fg9z |archive-date=24 December 2021 |url-access=limited |website=Instagram |language=en |access-date=22 May 2020}}{{cbignore}}
Filmography
=Film=
=Television films=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| scope="col"| Year
!scope="col"| Title !scope="col"| Role !scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1990
| data-sort-value="Last Train Home, The" | The Last Train Home | Sarah Bradshaw | |
| 1990
| Burning Bridges | Emily Morgan | |
| 1991
| Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus | |
| 1996
| Fiona | |
| 1997
| Lacey Potter | |
| 1998
| Aly Tauber | |
| 2002
| Due East | Reba | |
| 2002
| data-sort-value="Secret Life of Zoey, The" | The Secret Life of Zoey | Kayla | |
| 2002
| Carrie | Tina Blake | |
| 2004
| data-sort-value="Life, The" | The Life | Amber Reilly | |
| 2004
| Earthsea | Yarrow | |
| 2004
| data-sort-value="Last Casino, The" | The Last Casino | Elyse | |
| 2006
| Lucinda Klunn | |
| 2006
| Engaged to Kill | Maddy Lord | |
| 2006
| Amber | |
| 2008
| Ogre | Jessica | |
| 2008
| Mail Order Bride | Jen | |
| 2009
| Killer Hair | Cherise Smithsonian | |
| 2009
| Cherise Smithsonian | |
| 2009
| Beyond Sherwood Forest | Alina | |
| 2010
| Sins of the Mother | Ivy | |
| 2010
| Smoke Screen | Wife | |
| 2012
| Goodnight for Justice: Queen of Hearts | Lucy Truffaut | |
| 2017
| Undercover Angel | Robin Bladen | |
| 2021
| data-sort-value="Long Island Serial Killer: A Mother's Hunt for Justice, The" | The Long Island Serial Killer: A Mother's Hunt for Justice | Shannan Gilbert | |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| scope="col"|Year
! scope="col"|Title !scope="col"| Role !scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1989
| MacGyver | Violet | Episode: "The Madonna"; as Katie Murray{{cite news |last1=Carroll |first1=Liz |title=On Location: Early Christmas |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/329208924 |access-date=28 April 2019 |work=The Sunday News |location=British Columbia |date=29 October 1989 |pages=A-9 |department=Entertainment |url-access=limited |via=Newspapers.com}} |
| 1990
| Maxine 'Max' Forrest | Episode: "Running Man" |
| 1992
| {{sortname|The|Ray Bradbury Theater}} | Mink | Episode: "Zero Hour" |
| 1995
| Young Rachel | Television miniseries |
| 1995
| Francis Maitland | Episode: "Rebellion" |
| 1996
| Kat Merton | Episode: "It Came from Beneath the Sink" |
| 1996
| Titanic | Ophelia Jack | Television miniseries |
| 1997
| Madison | Allysia Long | 4 episodes |
| 1998
| data-sort-value="X-Files, The" | The X-Files | Lisa Baiocchi | Episode: "Schizogeny"; worked with father Graeme Murray |
| 1998
| Audrey | Episodes: "Little Sister: Part 2", "Little Sister: Part 3" |
| 1998
| Elizabeth | Episode: "Book of Shadows" |
| 1999
| Denise | Episode: "The Channel" |
| 1999
| Madeline Marquetti | Episodes: "A Cinderella Story: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 1999
| {{sortname|The|Net|The Net (U.S. TV series)}} | Malika | Episode: "In Dreams" |
| 2000
| {{sortname|The|Fearing Mind}} | Josie Hogan | Episode: "Good Harvest" |
| 2001
| {{sortname|The|Immortal|The Immortal (TV series, Canadian)}} | Taurez | Episode: "Wired" |
| 2001
| {{sortname|The|Chris Isaak Show}} | Melissa | Episode: "Smackdown" |
| 2001
| Vicki | Episode: "Rest Stop" |
| 2002
| {{sortname|The|Outer Limits|The Outer Limits (1995 TV series)}} | Tammy Sinclair | Episode: "Dark Child" |
| 2002
| Mentors | Anne Sullivan | Episode: "Breakthrough" |
| 2002
| John Doe | Shayne Pickford | Episode: "Blood Lines" |
| 2003
| Sara Conroy | Episode: "Slumber" |
| 2004
| {{sortname|The|Eleventh Hour|The Eleventh Hour (Canadian TV series)}} | Petrel | Episode: "Stormy Peterel" |
| 2005
| Celeste La Rue | Episode: "To Heir is Human" |
| 2006
| Valencia | Episode: "Camelot" |
| 2006
| Reunion | Courtney | Episode: "1998" |
| 2007
| Episodes: "Hunted", "All Hell Breaks Loose: Part 1" |
| 2008
| Psych | Sigrid | Episode: "Black and Tan: A Crime of Fashion" |
| 2008
| {{sortname|The|Englishman's Boy}} | Norma Carlyle | Television miniseries |
| 2008
| Sophie | Episode: "Nubbins" |
| 2009
| Mindy Fanshaw | Episode: "Starstruck!" |
| 2009
| {{sortname|The|L Word}} | Marci Salvatore | Episode: "Leaving Los Angeles" |
| 2009
| {{sortname|The|Assistants}} | Paulette Reubin | Episode: "The Bully" |
| 2009
| {{sortname|The|Good Wife |
| Cindy Lewis
| Episode: "Pilot"
|-
| 2011
| Health Nutz
| Jennifer
| Episodes: "The Local Hero", "The Sponsor"
|-
| 2011
| Endgame
| Danni
| Main role, 13 episodes
|-
| 2012
| Madelyn 'Maddie'
| Episode "Run To Me"
|-
| 2013–2014
| Susanna Waite
| Recurring role; seasons 3–4
|-
| 2013
| Motive
| Liane Healey
| Episode: "Pushover"
|-
| 2013
| Calla
| Television miniseries
|-
| 2013
| Cecilia Rendall
| Episode: "Pilot"
|-
| 2014
| Psych
| Priscilla Morganstern
| Episode: "Cloudy with a Chance of Improvement"
|-
| 2014–2015
| Hannibal
| Margot Verger
| Recurring role; seasons 2–3
|-
| 2015
| Detective Frankie Anderson
| Episodes: "Integrity Test", "Ninety Degrees", "74 Epiphanies"
|-
| 2017
| Rosewood
| Naomi
| Episode: "Puffer Fish & Personal History"
|-
| 2017–2018
| data-sort-value="Arrangement, The" | The Arrangement
| Hope
| Recurring role; 8 episodes
|-
| 2018–present
| Ginny Ross
| Main role
|-
| 2019–2020
| data-sort-value="Order, The" | The Order
| Vera Stone
| Main role
|-
| 2021
| Ghosts
| Liz
| Episode: "The Vault"
|-
| 2023
| Marissa
| Episode: "Sinkhole"
|-
| 2024
| Tracker
| Mallory Banks
| Episode: "St. Louis"
|-
| 2025
| Gina Mathison
| Episode: "Episode 2.1"
|}
Awards and nominations
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Katharine Isabelle}}
- {{IMDb name|410622|Katharine Isabelle}}
- {{twitter|Katie_Isabelle}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Isabelle, Katharine}}
Category:20th-century Canadian actresses
Category:21st-century Canadian actresses
Category:Actresses from Vancouver
Category:Canadian child actresses
Category:Canadian film actresses
Category:Canadian television actresses
Category:Canadian people of Scottish descent
Category:Best Supporting Actress in a Television Film or Miniseries Canadian Screen Award winners