Julia Chan, also known as Julia Taylor Ross, is an English actress and television host. She is best known for her portrayal of Sophia in the horror film Silent House (2011), Dr. Maggie Lin in the television series Saving Hope (2012-2017), as co-host of The Great Canadian Baking Show during its first two seasons (2017–2019), and as Pepper Smith in The CW television series Katy Keene (2020).
Julia Chan | |
---|---|
Born | |
Other names | Julia Taylor Ross |
Education | University College London Harvard University (BA) New School (MFA) |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 2009–present |
Spouse | Erik Ratensperger
(m. 2011; div. 2019) |
Chan's father, Roy Chan, is a Hong Kong–based solicitor of Chinese heritage; her mother, Lorna, is a Canadian ballerina.[1] She was raised in Cheshire and attended University College, in London, England, and then attended Harvard, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. While at Harvard, she frequently acted at the nearby American Repertory Theater.[1] Chan graduated with a BA in History of Art and Architecture.[1] She received her master's degree from New York's New School of Drama in 2010.[1] Chan was married to Erik Ratensperger, but they divorced in 2019.[2]
While still at graduate school, she garnered a role in the Global Television Network's Rookie Blue (2010) (airing in the United States on ABC). From 2011 to 2017 Chan played regular series character Dr. Maggie Lin for five seasons on CTV's Saving Hope, which was carried in the U.S. by NBC.[1] She appeared in the role of Sophia in Silent House, a 2011 American horror film directed by Chris Kentis and Laura Lau,[3] and the following year the romantic comedy film Missed Connections.
Chan has appeared in two Canadian television programs, miniseries Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures and series Republic of Doyle.[4] In 2015, Chan appeared in the movie, Ava's Possessions. Chan has also made guest appearances in episodes of Gotham (2016) and Schitt's Creek (2017).
She hosted The Great Canadian Baking Show[5] with Dan Levy, which premiered November 1, 2017, on CBC.[6] Chan returned as host for the second season in 2018,[7][8] but neither she nor Levy returned for the show's third season.[9]
On February 21, 2019, it was announced that she had landed the role of Pepper Smith in The CW's Katy Keene, a spin-off series of Riverdale which started airing in 2020. She appears alongside Lucy Hale, Ashleigh Murray, and Jonny Beauchamp.[10] In 2021, Chan appeared in the stage play 2:22 A Ghost Story. She appeared in Archive 81 which premiered on Netflix January 14, 2022.[11]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2008 | Twenty One | Kate | credited as Julia Taylor Ross |
2010 | B.U.S.T. | Tina | drama short; credited as Julia Taylor Ross |
2010 | Feather Weight | Kate | horror shor |
2012 | Silent House | Sophia | credited as Julia Taylor Ross |
2012, | Missed Connections | Yoga Zoe | romantic comedy; credited as Julia Taylor Ross |
2014 | Dear Dead Abby | Rachel | credited as Julia Taylor Ross |
2015 | Ava's Possessions | Punk Rock Chick | comedy–horror |
2018 | A Kid Like Jake | Michelle | |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | Rookie Blue | Emily Starling | 1 episode; as Julia Taylor Ross |
2012 | Pan Am | Female Art Patron | credited as Julia Taylor Ross; 1 episode |
2010 | Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures | Adrianne | 1 episode; as Julia Taylor Ross |
2010-2012 | Republic of Doyle | Karen Becker | 2 episodes; as Julia Taylor Ross |
2012-2016 | Saving Hope | Dr. Maggie Lin | Main role; 79 episodes; credited as Julia Taylor Ross |
2015 | Gotham | Karen Jennings | 1 episode; as Julia Taylor Ross |
2017 | Schitt's Creek | Elaine | 1 episode; as Julia Taylor Ross |
2017-2018 | The Great Canadian Baking Show | Herself | series co-host; as Julia Chan |
2018 | Little Dog[12] | recurring role | as Julia Chan |
2019 | BoJack Horseman | Pickles Aplenty (voice) | replaced Hong Chau |
2020 | Katy Keene | Pepper Smith | Series regular; as Julia Chan |
2021 | Archive 81 | Anabelle | 8 episodes |
Actors Daniel Levy and Julia Chan will return as hosts, along with judges Bruno Feldeisen and Rochelle Adonis.