Jewel Staite
Staite at the 2013 Phoenix Comicon
Born
Jewel Belair Staite

(1982-06-02) June 2, 1982 (age 41)
White Rock, British Columbia, Canada
OccupationActress
Years active1991–present
Spouses
Matt Anderson
​
​
(m. 2003; div. 2011)​
Charlie Ritchie
​
(m. 2016)​
Children1

Jewel Belair Staite[1] (born June 2, 1982[2][3]) is a Canadian actress. She is known for her roles as Kaylee Frye in the series Firefly (2002–2003) and its spin-off theatrical film Serenity (2005), and as Jennifer Keller on science fiction television series Stargate Atlantis (2007–2009). Staite also starred as Catalina in Space Cases (1996), as "Becca" Fisher in Flash Forward (1996–1997), as Raquel Westbrook in the Canadian drama The L.A. Complex (2012), and as Caroline Swift in AMC's crime drama The Killing (2013–2014). Since 2021, she has starred as Abigail Bianchi in the Canadian legal drama series Family Law.

Early life

Staite was born in White Rock, British Columbia, the youngest of seven children. She has said that she is of British, Irish, French Canadian, and Iroquois ancestry.[4] She began her career in early childhood, working both as a model and, from the age of six, as an actor. She attended Vancouver Film School and developed her stagecraft at the Vancouver Youth Theatre.[5]

Career

Staite's first high profile appearances as a child actor came in television movies such as CBC's Liar, Liar in 1993 (which was later aired on CBS in the United States that same year)[6] and ABC's The Only Way Out.[7] In 1995, she had a key guest-starring role in a third-season episode of The X-Files, "Oubliette".

Staite at the 2005 Serenity Flanvention

After appearing on Are You Afraid of the Dark? (1994), Staite's first co-starring role on a television series was as Catalina, the ship's engineer, in the first season of the Nickelodeon science fiction series Space Cases in 1996. This was immediately followed by her role as Rebecca "Becca" Fisher on the 1995–1997 Disney Channel series Flash Forward, a series in which Staite was the co-lead with Ben Foster.[8]

In 2000, she was cast in a main role on the FOX Family Channel drama series Higher Ground.[9] She was also a voice actress in the animated TV series Mummies Alive! and Sabrina: The Animated Series for DIC Entertainment.

Staite in 2013

Staite played Kaylee Frye in the short-lived television series Firefly[10][11] and its subsequent 2005 film, Serenity.[12] She wrote a chapter in the book Finding Serenity, called "Kaylee Speaks: Jewel Staite On Firefly".[13] She played the recurring role of Heidi Gotts in the television series Wonderfalls in 2004.

Staite played the role of head medical doctor Jennifer Keller in the Stargate SG-1 spinoff Stargate Atlantis,[14] making her one of three actors from the Firefly series to move on to appear in a Stargate series (the others being Adam Baldwin, who appeared in the episode "Heroes", and Morena Baccarin, who played Adria in the tenth season of SG-1). She replaced Paul McGillion (Dr. Carson Beckett). In the fifth season of Stargate, her character was changed from recurring status to part of the main cast. Before taking on the role as Dr. Keller, she previously played the Wraith child Ellia in the Stargate Atlantis episode "Instinct".[15] She also appeared in the 2010 Syfy film, Mothman, under direction from Sheldon Wilson.[13][16] Also in 2010, Staite guest-starred in an episode of Warehouse 13 as the love interest of Sheldon (played by Sean Maher, who played her love interest in Firefly), and in 2011, she guest-starred on an episode of Supernatural as a former love interest of Sam.[17]

In 2012, Staite was a series regular on The L.A. Complex, in which she portrayed Raquel Westbrook, a struggling actress.[18] The show aired in Canada on CTV and MuchMusic and in the U.S. on The CW.[19] She also appeared in an episode of The Listener. Staite appeared in 10 episodes of the AMC crime drama, The Killing, as Detective Stephen Holder's girlfriend Caroline Swift, from 2013–2014.[20]

Personal life

Staite was married to actor Matt Anderson from 2003 to 2011.[21] In 2015, she became engaged to her boyfriend Charlie Ritchie.[22][23] In May she announced she was pregnant with her first child,[24][25] a boy, who was born on December 9, 2015.[26] She married Charlie Ritchie on July 23, 2016.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1995 Gold Diggers: The Secret of Bear Mountain Samantha
1996 Carpool Soap Opera Actress
2002 Cheats Teddy Blue
2005 Serenity Kaylee
2009 After Dusk They Come Liz Straight-to-video
2011 The Pact Anna Short film
2015 She Who Must Burn Margaret [27]
2015 40 Below and Falling Kate Carter [28]
2015 How to Plan an Orgy in a Small Town Cassie Cranston [29]

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1991 Posing: Inspired by Three Real Stories Jennifer Lanahan Television film
1992 The Odyssey Labelia Episode: "The Believers"
1993 Liar, Liar Dorianna Television film; aired in the U.S. as Liar, Liar: Between Father and Daughter
1993 The Only Way Out Alexandra Carlisle Television film
1994 The Odyssey Labelia Episode: "The Prophecy"
1994 Are You Afraid of the Dark? Kelly Episode: "The Tale of Watcher's Woods"
1995 Are You Afraid of the Dark? Cody Episode: "The Tale of the Unfinished Painting"
1995 The X-Files Amy Jacobs Episode: "Oubliette"
1996 The Prisoner of Zenda, Inc. Theresa Television film
1996 Space Cases Catalina Main role (season 1)
1996–1997 Flash Forward Rebecca "Becca" Fisher Lead role
1997–1999 Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show Tiara VanHorn Recurring role, 5 episodes
1998–2001 Da Vinci's Inquest Gabriella Da Vinci Recurring role, 13 episodes
1999 So Weird Callie Snow Episode: "Siren"
1999 Sabrina: The Animated Series N/A Voice role, 4 episodes
1999 Nothing Too Good for a Cowboy Sally Prentiss Episodes: "Happy Trails", "Fools for Love"
2000 Higher Ground Daisy Lipenowski Main role
2001 The Immortal Danielle Jenkins Episode: "Learning Curve"
2001 2gether: The Series Josie Episode: "Kiss"
2001 Seven Days Molly Episode: "Empty Quiver"
2002 Roughing It Susan Olivia Clemens Television film
2002 Damaged Care Bryanna (15–20 years) Television film
2002 Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction Carly / Shannon Episode: "The Fine Line"
2002 Just Deal Laurel Recurring role, 8 episodes
2002–2003 Firefly Kaylee Frye Main role
2003 Dead Like Me Goth Girl Episode: "Rest in Peace"
2004 Huff Carolyn Episode: Pilot
2004 Cold Squad Thora Andrews Episode: "Girlfriend in a Closet"
2004 Wonderfalls Heidi Gotts Recurring role, 4 episodes
2005 Widow on the Hill Jenny Cavanaugh Television film
2005 Stargate Atlantis Ellia Episode: "Instinct"
2007–2009 Stargate Atlantis Jennifer Keller Recurring role (season 4); main role (season 5); 33 episodes
2010 Mothman Katharine Grant Television film
2010 Warehouse 13 Loretta Episode: "Mild Mannered"
2010 Debbie Macomber's Call Me Mrs. Miracle Holly Television film; also known as Mrs Miracle 2: Miracle in Manhattan
2011 Doomsday Prophecy Brook Calvin Television film[30]
2011 Supernatural Amy Pond Episode: "The Girl Next Door"
2012 The L.A. Complex Raquel Westbrook Main role
2012–2013 Animism: The Gods' Lake Melody Ravensfall Main voice role
2013 The Listener Lori Black Episode: "Blast from the Past"
2013 The Christmas Ornament Jenna Television film
2013 State of Syn Annika Drake TV shorts, 6 episodes[31]
2013–2014 The Killing Caroline Swift Recurring role, 11 episodes
2015 A Frosty Affair Kate Television film
2016 Legends of Tomorrow Dr. Bryce Episode: "Progeny"[32]
2016 Castle Erin Cherloff Episode: "Much Ado About Murder"
2016 Undercover Wife Monica Boland Television film; also known as Not with His Wife
2017 Blindspot Kiva Garen Episode: "Regard a Mere Mad Rager"
2017 The Wrong Bed: Naked Pursuit Stella Williams Television film
2017 Same Time Next Week Sarah Television film
2018 The Detectives Detective Penny Hart Episode: "She Said"
2018 Take Two Jackie Jarvis / Angela Truman Episode: "About Last Night"
2018 The Good Doctor Stella Episode: "Two Ply (or Not Two Ply)"
2019 The Order Renee Marand Episodes: "Homecoming, Parts One & Two"
2019 The Magicians Phyllis 4 episodes (seasons 4–5)
2021–present Family Law Abigail Bianchi Main role
2022 Quantum Leap Naomi Harvey Episode: "What a Disaster!"

References

  1. ^ "Jewel Staite".
  2. ^ Bianco, Julia (June 2, 2015). "5 Reasons 'Firefly' Birthday Girls Kaylee And Inara Are The Best". MTV News. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  3. ^ Jewel Staite. TV Insider.
  4. ^ Lee, Michael (September 15, 2005). "Jewel Staite Interview". Radio Free Entertainment. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  5. ^ Media, Kohoot (May 3, 2013). "Jewel Staite! – Hal-Con". Hal-Con. Retrieved January 7, 2017.[dead link]
  6. ^ Scott, Tony (June 21, 1993). "Review: 'CBS Tuesday Movie Liar, Liar'". Variety. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  7. ^ Everett, Todd (December 15, 1993). "Review: 'ABC Sunday Night Movie the Only Way Out'". Variety. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  8. ^ "Ben Foster: 5 Things to Know About the Actor". The Hollywood Reporter. August 2, 2011. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  9. ^ Zahed, Ramin (January 13, 2000). "Review: 'Higher Ground'". Variety. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  10. ^ Speier, Michael (September 18, 2002). "Review: 'Firefly'". Variety. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  11. ^ Morfoot, Addie (October 10, 2015). "NYCC: 'Firefly' Cast Members Discuss Possibility of Second Season". Variety. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  12. ^ Snyder, Gabriel (March 2, 2004). "Whedon's 'Serenity' greenlit". Variety. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  13. ^ a b Foy, Scott (November 10, 2009). "Firefly Star Encounters Mothman on Syfy". Dread Central. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  14. ^ Perenson, Melissa (June 11, 2007). "Firefly's Staite Joins Atlantis". SciFi Wire. Archived from the original on October 4, 2008. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
  15. ^ Barton, Steve (April 21, 2010). "Syfy's Mothman Spreads Its Wings in New Clip". Dread Central. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  16. ^ Miska, Brad (April 21, 2010). "TV: First Look at 'Mothman' Creature in Clip". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  17. ^ Nguyen, Hanh (October 6, 2011). "Firefly's Jewel Staite on Sam's First Supernatural Kiss, Eating Brains". TV Guide. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  18. ^ Lowry, Brian (January 10, 2012). "Review: 'The L.A. Complex'". Variety. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  19. ^ Weisman, Jon (April 20, 2012). "CW acquires Canadian skein". Variety. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  20. ^ Ng, Philiana (June 2, 2013). "'The Killing' Premiere: Linden and Holder Embark on a Brand New Mystery (Poll)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  21. ^ Staite, Jewel (December 13, 2011). "Happier Than a Pig In..." Happy Opu. Archived from the original on September 18, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  22. ^ "Charlie Ritchie on Instagram". Instagram. May 16, 2015. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  23. ^ Jewel Staite. Twitter Dec 31, 2015. Accessed 2023-02-09. Quote="In a year with an engagement..."
  24. ^ "You think your year's been crazy? I'll show you crazy. We're having a baby! Due on my Dad's birthday, which caps off an already amazing surprise. I need me a teeny tiny Jayne hat". Instagram. May 26, 2015. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  25. ^ Staite, Jewel (August 16, 2015). "Jewel Staite (@jewelstaite)". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  26. ^ "Wilder Cathcart Ritchie, born at 1:55am December 9 at almost 9 lbs! He's feisty, strong-willed, and totally adorable. Can't believe our good luck". Instagram. December 9, 2015. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  27. ^ Harvey, Dennis (November 23, 2015). "Film Review: 'She Who Must Burn'". Variety. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  28. ^ "40 Below and Falling". Calgary International Film Festival. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  29. ^ Vlessing, Etan (August 5, 2014). "Jewel Staite Lands Lead in 'How to Plan an Orgy in a Small Town'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  30. ^ Ng, Philiana (July 26, 2011). "'Firefly,' 'CSI: NY' Actors Star in Syfy Telepics". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  31. ^ Spangler, Todd (December 12, 2013). "Sci-Fi Series 'State of Syn', Running on Hulu Next Year, to Get Google Glass Game". Variety. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  32. ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (January 7, 2016). "Legends of Tomorrow: Jewel Staite Cast as a Future Genius With Ties to...?". TV Line. Retrieved March 13, 2016.

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