Tatiana Maslany: 20 Fascinating Facts About The Actor (2024)

Tatiana Maslany: 20 Fascinating Facts About the Actor

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a movie lover! As a devoted fan of the silver screen, certain actors captivate us with their talent and bring a special magic to the world of entertainment. One such luminary is the incredibly versatile Tatiana Maslany.

Tatiana Gabriele Maslany is a talented Canadian actress who has worn the hearts of millions with her versatile performances. She is famously known for her groundbreaking roles in the hit BBC America television series Orphan Black, which earned her millions of fans from around the globe.

Maslany’s outstanding performances and her ability to own every role she plays captivate and engross audiences. Her dedication and passion for her craft have left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry. But there is more to Maslany than meets the eye. Let me tell you 20 fascinating facts about this award-winning actress.

1. Tatiana Almost Quit Acting When She Was 20

From her early days on the stage to the groundbreaking roles that have earned her acclaim, Maslany’s story is a tapestry woven with skill, dedication, and a touch of the extraordinary.

For example, when Tatiana Maslany was 20, she nearly gave up on acting because she was not sure if it was her thing. She started her acting career when she was 9 years old by performing in community theatre and musicals.

2. She is from Regina, Saskatchewan

Maslany was born on 22nd September 1985 in Regina Saskatchewan to Dan, a woodworker, and Renate, a French translator and interpreter. She has two younger brothers, fellow actor Daniel Maslany and animator Michael Maslany who are three and twelve years younger respectively. She has Austrian, German, Polish, Romanian, and Ukrainian ancestry.

3. Tatiana Juggled Between Acting and Highschool Studies

Maslany attended Dr. Martin LeBoldus High School, a catholic secondary school located in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. While in school, she participated in school productions and improvisation. She also found paying acting jobs that allowed her to travel all over Canada with her parents’ approval. Manslay would work a few months and return to school in Saskatchewan. She graduated in 2003.

4. She Dropped Out of University to Pursue Acting

However, it was not rosy for her, she said, “It wasn’t an easy transition. I felt a little outside of it. Outside of both experiences, really.” After high school, she took a sabbatical year before joining the University of Regina, located in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. She studied Ancient Greek, German, Psychology, Philosophy and film. However, she dropped out after half a semester. Manslay did some traveling and theatre performances settling in Toronto, Ontario. During this period she was 20 years.

5. Tatiana is Multilingual

Maslany began dancing at age 4 then moved to musicals and community theatre at age 9. She speaks French, German, English, and a little Spanish. She went to French immersion for elementary school. Her mother taught her German before learning English and her grandparents often spoke German around her when she was a kid. She stated, “My mom taught me German before I knew English.” “And I went to French immersion school. It’s been around me. I think because I learned it at a young age, your brain understands how languages are structured.”

6. She Flawlessly Portrayed 14 Characters in The Award-Winning Series Orphan Black

In the unforgettable BBC America and Space original series Orphan Black, Maslany portrayed Sarah Manning (main character) and Sarah’s cohort of clones. In the series, she plays one among 14 clones, meaning she had to portray every clone that appeared in the 2013 to 2017 series, something that she did exceptionally well.

Every clone was unique, each with different hair colors, accents, walking styles, and personalities. Five of the 14 clones had multiple appearances across all five seasons including, Sarah Manning (Protagonist), Helena (A Brainwashed Serial Killer), Alison Hendrix (Suburban Mother and Keeper of Secrets), Cosima Niehaus (LGBTQ+ Clone Getting Her Ph.D.), and Rachel Duncan (Antagonist).

The show, created by Graeme Manson and John Fawcett, is exciting, and unique, and has captured the love and attention of millions of fans across the globe.

7. She Received Many Awards for Her Outstanding Performances in Orphan Black

Video Courtesy of YouTube.

Maslany’s flawless and talented performances in the BBC series did not go unnoticed. For her outstanding performances, Maslany won one TCA Award and two Critics’ Choice Television Awards. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress and received another nomination for an Emmy Award (2015). In 2016, she won the Emmy Award after being nominated again.

8. Her Character in Orphan Black Portrays the Implications of Human Cloning

Orphan black raises issues about the moral and ethical issues of cloning and its effect on human identity. Sarah, the main character in Orphan Black is an ex-foster kid, a British expatriate in her twenties who is trying to get her life in order by reuniting with her young daughter. She tragically sees her doppelgänger commit suicide by jumping in front of a moving train and decides to take the doppelganger’s things. Her life takes a spin and winds up in a scientific mystery and endless discovery of secrets and multiple clones.

9. She is The Queen of Comedic Improvisation

Maslany’s ability to undertake any role that comes her way is pure genius. She is spontaneous and passionate she is about her craft. As an actor, she participated in improvisational theatre, including the Canadian Improv Games for Young Comics, and has since become a member of the General Fools Improvisational Theatre.

Tatiana is a certified improvisation trainer. She was on the improv team in high school, and after graduation, she joined an improv company that had been established 10 years prior. Improvisation is acting, character creation, collaboration, artistic expression, and comedy.

10. Maslany Starred in a BBC Miniseries

Maslany can handle any script thrown at her. In 2010 she acted in a British 4-part miniseries known as The Nativity. In the series, she portrayed Mary the mother of Jesus Christ. The mini-series is a re-telling of Jesus’s nativity and was broadcast on BBC One and BBC HD across four days.

The drama series was rebroadcast in two hour-long parts on the mornings of 24 and 25 December 2011 and across four days starting on 19 December 2016. The first episode was watched by 5.21 million viewers. Filming took place in Ouarzazate, Morocco, and lasted a month.

11. She Admits It Was Tough Shooting Orphan Black

Manslay’s role in Orphan Black was not a walk in the park. She had to portray multiple characters at a time, including addressing X’s on the walls, or tennis balls on sticks, which represented the other doppelgangers. She also had to respond to recorded dialogue played over an earpiece.

In a blog she wrote for BBC, she stated that the project was one of the biggest challenges that she faced as an actor. She said, “I look insane when we shoot those scenes because ultimately I’m on an empty set talking and reacting to nothing. It’s very much about imagination. At the same time it’s a highly technical process because I have to hit certain marks and my eyes have to be focused in the right place for the special effects to layer in seamlessly.”

12. Tatiana Has Also Acted In Horror Films

Maslany has acted in various horror films. She appeared as the character Ghost in the 2004 film Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed. The film was written by Megan Martin and directed by Brett Sullivan. It is the second installment in the Ginger Snap series and the sequel to Ginger Snap.

She also appeared in the film The Messengers as the character Lindsay Rollins and was directed by the Pang Brothers, and produced by Sam Raimi. The film was originally written as a psychological thriller as opposed to a supernatural horror film.

In the Diary of the Dead, Maslany played Mary Dexter in 2007 in the found footage horror film written and directed by George A. Romero. In the Stir of Echoes: The Homecoming, Maslany plays the character Sammi, a hurt and revengeful daughter who exacts revenge on an innocent person for her father’s death in the army.

13. She Made Her Film Debut in 1999

Maslany made her film debut in the 1999 Canadian horror film Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed when she was just 14 years old. She won the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards for Best Supporting Actress. She has also been nominated for other awards, including a Golden Globe Award, a Genie Award, a Critics’ Choice Television Award, a Canadian Screen Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for her work on Orphan Black among others.

14. Dancing Is One Of Her Favorite Things To Do

Maslany is multitalented and her skills don’t stop at acting only. She is a great dancer having trained in modern jazz, and ballet. She stated, “Dance has always been a really important thing for me, so being able to physically express the characters through music and dance is like another layer to things.” During her days off, she likes to relax by taking dance classes, traveling, chilling, and meeting up with loved ones and friends. She also enjoys working with different acting teachers.

15. She Does Voice-Over Casts

Maslany’s flexibility and versatility in acting are admirable. She has appeared in different genres including comedy, horror, drama, and animation. Over the years, she lent her voice to several animated projects, including; 3Below: Tales of Arcadia, The Harper House, Animals, Captain Canuck, Robot Chicken, BoJack Horseman, and most recently Butterfly Tale.

16. Maslany Appeared in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022)

Maslany plays the lead role of Jennifer Walter, a single attorney in her thirties who also happens to be a green 6-foot-7-inch superpowered Hulk. She becomes a Hulk after an accidental cross-contamination of her blood with the Hulk’s blood. The nine-episode series never picked a firm narrative as it pivoted from comedy to action, to failed social commentary, to rom-com and it didn’t make a second season due to budgetary concerns.

17. Tatiana Is Brendan Hines Wife

Maslany first met her husband Brendan as they were shooting the film World Without End in Budapest. They dated for some time and had a secret wedding because they wanted to keep things private and out of the scrutiny of the public eye. Their wedding was intimate and it happened amid the coronavirus pandemic. Hines has acted in several films and television roles including; Betrayal, Suits, Lie to Me, Locke &Key, and Secrets and Lies.

18. She’s An Award Winning Actress

Maslany has won numerous awards for her incredible work in film and television, including an Emmy Award, Gemini Award, Borsos Film Award, Sundance Film Festival Award, ACTRA Award, Canadian Screen Awards, and more. She was also awarded the 2nd Canadian Screen Award for her challenging roles in ‘Orphan Black’TCA Award, the 3rd Critics’ Choice Television Award, and the Young Hollywood Award.

19. She Supports The LGBTQ+ Community

Maslany uses her platform to raise awareness for LBGTQ+ rights. In the Doctor Strange 2 premiere, she wore a Trevor Project t-shirt, an organization that promotes suicide prevention for people in the LGBTQ+ community. She also wore a sweatshirt saying “Support Trans Futures” during the She-Hulk: Attorney at Law promotions.

20. She is Philanthropic

Maslany is known for her down-to-earth and humble personality and commitment to social causes. She supports mental health awareness and organizations such as Artists for Peace and Justice. The Artists for Peace and Justice focuses on providing healthcare and education to communities in Haiti. This goes to show how kind-hearted and generous she is, and her commitment to making the world a better place.

Those are the 20 facts about Tatiana Maslany is one of the most versatile, diverse, spontaneous, and committed actors of all time. Her ability to adapt to any role she undertakes sets her apart and puts her in a league of her own. She has gained critical acclaim from millions of fans across the globe.