Amanda Tapping

Amanda Tapping was born in Rochford, Essex in England on August 28, 1965. She spent a short time in South Benfleet, Essex, and was relocated to Ontario, Canada, at the age of 3. She attended North Toronto High School where she was awarded the Dramatic Arts Award and Environmental Science Award. Her parents always wanted her to go into the science field, but her first love was acting. Amanda studied drama at the University of Windsor School of Dramatic Arts in Windsor, Ontario. After graduation Tapping continued to study theatrical arts while performing in several stage productions. She has appeared in many movies and television shows such as Booty Call (1997), Life or Something Like It (2002), Rent-a-Kid (1995) (TV), "The Outer Limits" (1995) and "The X Files" (1993). She also formed a comedy troupe, the "Random Acts", with collaborators Katherine Jackson and Anne Marie Kerr, in Toronto in the early 90s.

However, her real success that seemed to launch her career came with the role Tapping is best known for, her portrayal of Samantha Carter, in the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1, which debuted in 1997. Tapping then took the place of Torri Higginson in season four of Stargate Atlantis, as Commander of the Atlantis Expedition.[3] In season five, however, Tapping's role on the show was reduced to that of "special guest-star". In the premier episode, her character leaves Atlantis to witness the extraction ceremony of the Goa'uld, Ba'al (the opening scenes of Stargate Continuum) and reappears as temporary commander of the SGC in the Atlantis series finale.

Instead of returning for Atlantis' 5th season, Amanda chose to focus her attention on the development of a new series for the Sci Fi Channel, "Sanctuary", for which she serves as both star and Executive Producer. However, when asked if she would continue to star in Stargate related projects, she said, "I will be there for as long as they want me to".