Katheryn Winnick is just friggin’ beautiful. She has got that fresh, will-never-expire beauty you’d want to see the moment you open your eyes. She’s got the body of a goddess, and it sure can stop you in your tracks. Man, she really can brighten up a shitty day.
And we’re pretty sure that you’d be looking for her movies, guestings, and interviews after this article. We did the same… The first time we laid eyes on her.
Who is Katheryn Winnick
Katheryn Winnick is a Canadian actress who has built an impressive career across television and film. She’s best known for playing Lagertha in Vikings (2013–2020), a role that proved she could command a battlefield—and probably make a few viewers reconsider their life choices. She also starred in Wu Assassins (2019) and Big Sky (2020–2023), with a recurring role in Bones (2010–2011). Her film credits include Amusement (2008), Choose (2010), A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III (2012), The Art of the Steal (2013), Polar (2019), and The Marksman (2021).
Her Early Life
Born on December 17, 1977, in Toronto, Katheryn Winnick comes from a Ukrainian background and spoke Ukrainian as her first language. She didn’t start speaking English until she was eight, and she has two brothers. Clearly, she had plenty to learn before taking over Hollywood—and the battlefield in Vikings.
Winnick began martial arts training at seven and earned her first black belt at 13. By 21, she had already opened three Taekwondo schools. She even taught martial arts and self-defense to actors while earning a kinesiology degree at York University. Talk about having a backup career that could literally knock you off your feet.
But acting was also part of the plan. She started performing at her Toronto community centre, directed plays in high school, and won a scholarship for drama and directing while attending Richview Collegiate Institute. She later studied at William Esper Studio, adding formal acting training to an already impressive skill set.
Career Journey
Katheryn Winnick’s journey into acting began in an unexpected place: movie sets, where she taught martial arts to actors. Somewhere between the kicks and punches, she discovered a new passion and decided to pursue acting professionally. Her first major break came with a series-regular role in Student Bodies. Not a bad career pivot for someone who could probably teach Hollywood a thing or two about self-defense.
She went on to appear in films such as Stand Up Guys, Failure to Launch, Love & Other Drugs, and Killers. Her television résumé grew just as quickly, with guest appearances in House, The Glades, Bones, Law & Order, CSI, Criminal Minds, Person of Interest, and Nikita, among others. In 2010, she joined Bones as Hannah Burley, a glamorous war correspondent who becomes a love interest for Seeley Booth. Apparently, even crime-solving television needs a little romance.
Winnick also starred in Cold Souls, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2009. In 2011, she appeared in Nikita, followed by roles in A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III and The Art of the Steal in 2013. That same year, she landed the role that would make her especially recognizable to television audiences: Lagertha in History Channel’s Vikings. Playing a legendary Viking warrior was practically a perfect match for someone with her martial arts background. Less acting like a fighter, more putting those skills to dramatic use.
In 2017, Winnick revealed that she had landed a role in an upcoming project, which was later announced as her appearance as a main character in the Nazi Zombies mode of the video game Call of Duty: WWII. Because apparently, conquering television wasn’t enough.
In 2018, she joined Netflix’s Wu Assassins as Christine “C.G.” Gavin. Then, in 2020, she took on the starring role of Jenny Hoyt in ABC’s crime drama Big Sky. From martial arts instructor to Viking shieldmaiden and crime-solving lead, Winnick has built a career that’s anything but one-dimensional. And if Hollywood ever needs someone to choreograph a fight scene, she’s already ahead of the game.
Facts and Trivia
Katheryn Winnick holds dual American and Canadian citizenship, as she revealed in 2015. Her family has even made its way onto Vikings, with her brothers appearing in the series. Apparently, raiding the small screen was a family affair.
Winnick spoke Ukrainian as her first language and didn’t begin learning English until she was eight. Today, she speaks five languages fluently: English, Ukrainian, French, Russian, and Italian. She also graduated from York University with a degree in kinesiology. Brains, brawn, and a multilingual vocabulary? Talk about an unfair advantage.
Her martial arts background came in handy on Vikings, where she performed many of her own demanding combat stunts. She also stepped behind the camera to direct the season six episode “Valhalla Can Wait,” earning a Women’s Image Network (WIN) Award for her work.
Beyond Hollywood, Winnick has put her efforts toward helping Ukraine. In March 2022, she and her mother founded The Winnick Foundation to raise funds for humanitarian needs amid Russia’s invasion. Later that year, Russia’s Foreign Ministry included her among 100 Canadians banned from entering the country in response to international sanctions.
Whether she’s fighting on screen, directing an episode, or supporting humanitarian relief, Winnick clearly has no interest in sitting on the sidelines.
Her Body Measurements
Katheryn stands 5 feet, 6 inches and she rocks a 34–24–35 figure.
Katheryn Winnick Photos
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