Ksenia Solo
{{short description|Latvian-Canadian actress (born 1987)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| image = Ksenia Solo in 2011 (cropped).jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Solo in 2011
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|10|8|df=y}}
| birth_place = Riga, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union
| occupation = Actress
| yearsactive = 2000–present
}}
Ksenia Solo (born 8 October 1987; pronounced {{IPAc-en|k|ə|'|s|ɛ|n|j|ə|nbsp|ˈ|s|oʊ|l|oʊ}}{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r137RqCmMvk|title=Ksenia Solo on 'In Search of Fellini' |publisher= Photon Films and Media |date=2018-01-13|accessdate=2022-09-02|time=0:20}}) is a Latvian-Canadian actress known for portraying Mackenzie "Kenzi" Malikov on Lost Girl. She portrayed Peggy Shippen on Turn: Washington's Spies. Solo also portrayed the character "Natasha" in the 2010 American television series Life Unexpected and Shay Davydov in Season 3 of Orphan Black.
As of 2024, her most recent work was in the main cast for the two seasons of the series Project Blue Book (2019–20).
Early life
Solo was born in Riga{{Twitter|KseniaSolo/status/331942684841365504|Ksenia Solo: "I was born in Riga!"}} and is of Russian heritage.[https://web.archive.org/web/20200414180405/http://nidi.online/ksenia-solo-profile-biography-pictures-news/ Ksenia Solo Biography][http://www.listal.com/ksenia-solo/ Ksenia Solo Biography] At the age of five, she moved with her family to Toronto, where she was raised.{{cite journal |last=Randoja |first=Ingrid |date=November 2010 |title=Ksenia Solo Dances with the Stars |journal=Cineplex Magazine |volume=11 |issue=11 |page=14 |publisher=Cineplex Entertainment |url=http://mediafiles.cineplex.com/FamousMagazineArchive/NOV2010/EN/FullMag_November2010.pdf |access-date=5 August 2013 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303172048/http://mediafiles.cineplex.com/FamousMagazineArchive/NOV2010/EN/FullMag_November2010.pdf |url-status=dead }} She studied ballet until the age of 14, when a back injury forced her to stop;{{cite web |url=http://thecelebritycafe.com/2010/11/ksenia-solo-2 |title=Ksenia Solo Interview |date=6 November 2010 |website=TheCelebrityCafe.com Magazine |access-date=13 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327054820/http://thecelebritycafe.com/2010/11/ksenia-solo-2/ |archive-date=27 March 2017 |url-status=dead }} her mother is a former ballerina-turned-actress.{{cite web |url=http://www.teen.com/2010/11/30/celebrities/the-new-star/ksenia-solo-black-swan-interview/ |title=Exclusive! 'Black Swan' Star Ksenia Solo Talks Nat Portman — and Chanel! |last=Longman |first=Haley |website=Teen.com |publisher=Alloy Media, LLC |date=30 November 2010 |access-date=21 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812125143/http://www.teen.com/2010/11/30/celebrities/the-new-star/ksenia-solo-black-swan-interview/ |archive-date=12 August 2017 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://ellegirl.elle.com/girl-gossip/2010/q-a-ksenia-solo/ |title=Q & A: Ksenia Solo |last=Cooperberg |first=Anna |website=Elle Girl |date=23 August 2010 |access-date=21 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710182125/http://ellegirl.elle.com/girl-gossip/2010/q-a-ksenia-solo/ |archive-date=10 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}
Career
Solo played Zoey Jones on the APTN series renegadepress.com. In both 2005 and 2006, she won the Gemini Award for Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series for her work on the show.{{cite web |url=http://veritefilms.ca/awards/renegadepresscom |title=Awards - Renegadepress.com |website=Vérité Films |publisher=OH! Media |access-date=17 June 2013 |archive-date=12 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812213523/http://veritefilms.ca/awards/renegadepresscom |url-status=dead }} She went on to appear in other Canadian television series and movies, such as the films Love Thy Neighbor and Mayday, as well as guest-starring on the television series Kojak.
In 2010, Solo played a small role in Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan starring Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis. From 2010 to 2011 she played Natasha Siviac in the CW series Life Unexpected. From 2010 to 2015, she starred as Kenzi in the Showcase series Lost Girl; Solo's heritage and fluency in the Russian language were written into the role. She was cast as Dodge in the pilot episode of Locke & Key,{{cite web |url=http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2011/02/21/foxs-locke-key-finds-its-dodge/ |title=Fox's Locke & Key Finds Its Dodge |last=Melrose |first=Kevin |website=Comic Book Resources |date=21 February 2011 |access-date=21 February 2011 |archive-date=22 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222080301/http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2011/02/21/foxs-locke-key-finds-its-dodge/ |url-status=dead }} but the series was not picked up by Fox. In 2013, Solo began filming the independent film Another You on location in Charleston, West Virginia.{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/another-you-starring-ksenia-solo-and-diego-boneta-207747841.html |title='ANOTHER YOU' Starring Ksenia Solo And Diego Boneta|publisher=Prnewswire.com |date=16 May 2013 |access-date=25 June 2014}}
In 2015, Solo joined the main cast of Turn: Washington's Spies as Peggy Shippen.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/lost-girl-favorite-boards-amcs-735981|title='Lost Girl' Favorite Boards AMC's 'Turn' (Exclusive)|first=Lesley|last=Goldberg|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=26 September 2014}} She also had a recurring role in Season 3 of Orphan Black as Shay.{{cite web|url=http://www.afterellen.com/tv/401073-lost-girl-star-ksenia-solo-join-orphan-black|title="Lost Girl" star Ksenia Solo to join 'Orphan Black'|work=AfterEllen}}
Solo is actively involved with the anti-bullying foundation Stand for the Silent, and was made one of their directors.{{cite web |url=https://celebrityping.com/ksenia-solo/ |title=Ksenia Solo (Canadian-Latvian Actress) {{!}} Celebrity Ping |website=celebrityping.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805112923/https://celebrityping.com/ksenia-solo/ |archive-date=2018-08-05}}
Filmography
= Film =
class="wikitable sortable" |
Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
---|
2001
|{{sortname|A|Man of Substance|nolink=1}} |Hannah |Short film |
2001
|Abby Lynn Anders | |
2001
|What Girls Learn |Girl | |
2002
|Lucinda | |
2003
|{{sortname|The|Republic of Love}} |Micheline | |
2003
|Defending Our Kids: The Julie Posey Story |Kristyn Posey | |
2006
|Erin Benson | |
2010
|Veronica | |
2011
|{{sortname|The|Factory|The Factory (2012 film)}} |Emma | |
2016
|Pet |Holly Garling | |
2017
| Another You |Sydney Jameson | |
2017
|Lucy | |
2017
|Tulipani, Love, Honour and a Bicycle |Anna | |
= Television =
class="wikitable sortable" |
Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
---|
2000
|Xhanthippe |Episode: "Bride of Pleskit!" |
2000
|Kathy Simmons |Episode: "Take No Prisoners" |
2002
|Natalie |Episode: "Village of the Lost" |
2004
|Megan Hahn |Episode: "Judgement Day" |
2004–08
|Zoey Jones |Main role (Seasons 1–5); 52 episodes |
2005
|Angela Howard |Episode: "All Bets Off: Part 1" |
2007
|Lena |Episode: "Cargo" |
2008
|Bonnie Morrow |Episode: "Fated to Pretend" |
2009
|Waitress |Episode: "The Happy Face Killer" |
2009
|{{sortname|The|Cleaner|The Cleaner (American TV series)}} |Callie Bell |Episode: "Cinderella" |
2010–11
|Natasha Siviac |Main role (Seasons 1–2); 13 episodes |
2010–15
|Mackenzie "Kenzi" Malikov |Main role (Seasons 1–5); 67 episodes |
2011
|Irina |Episode: "Alexandra" |
2011
|Dodge |Unsold Fox pilot |
2012
|Lost Girl Finale Pre-Show |as self |Showcase TV special |
2013
|Lost Girl ConFAEdential |as self |Showcase TV special |
2013
|UPYURS6 |Kenzi |Lost Girl webisode |
2013
|Lost Girl: An Evening at the Clubhouse |as self |Showcase TV special |
2015–17
| Main role (Seasons 2–4); 20 episodes |
2015
| Shay Davydov | Recurring role (Season 3); 6 episodes |
2018
| Anastasia Alekova (voice) | Episode: "From Russia Without Love" |
2019–20
| Susie Miller | Main role (Seasons 1–2); 20 episodes |
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{IMDb name|989959}}
- {{twitter|kseniasolo}}
- {{instagram|therealksolo}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Solo, Ksenia}}
Category:21st-century Canadian actresses
Category:Canadian child actresses
Category:Canadian female dancers
Category:Canadian film actresses
Category:Canadian television actresses
Category:Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Canadian Screen Award winners
Category:Latvian emigrants to Canada