Katharine Lee McEwan

Katharine Lee McEwan is an English actress, screenwriter, and film producer. She gained recognition in 2015 with the award-winning independent feature film , which she wrote and produced in addition to playing the lead role.

Early life

McEwan was born in Redcar, England where she spent her formative years being homeschooled and acting in local productions. Traditional education left her uninspired, so at the age of 18 she decided to forgo university and travel around the world instead. She visited a variety of countries including Australia before finally settling in Los Angeles where she now resides.

Career

McEwan returned to her love of acting in her 20s. They became longtime collaborators and married soon after.

McEwan is an accomplished stage actress. She originated the role of Breda in Bernard Farell's 2007 production of Verdi Girls at the Laguna Playhouse in Laguna Beach, California. She also played the role of Amanda Pryne in Noël Coward's Private Lives at the Long Beach Playhouse in Long Beach, California. After moving into independent film, McEwan decided "to create [her] own role" When asked about doing a movie about such a tough topic, McEwan stated that everyone "...told us how hard it would be to make this movie, but luckily neither Sarina or I have ever been much for rules." Described as a "lissome and poignant LGBT film" Mari Walker’s trans coming-of-age story Swim won the Audience Awards for Fiction Feature Film and Short Film, respectively at the 2017 Los Angeles Film Festival.

McEwan is also an award winning narrator who has lent her voice to various audiobooks spanning genres such as fiction, fantasy, drama and more, including works by Maeve Binchy and Paula McLain. In 2016 she voiced the character of Helene in A Torch Against The Night, the second book in the An Ember in the Ashes Quartet by Sabaa Tahir, the #1 New York Times bestselling author. Katharine went on to voice Helene in the final two books of the series, A Reaper at the Gates (2018) and A Sky Beyond the Storm (2020). The series has been translated into over thirty-five languages, and is described by The Washington Post as “...a harrowing, haunting reminder of what it means to be human—and how hope might be kindled in the midst of oppression and fear." Of Katharine's narration, Audiofile Magazine wrote that "...it is McEwan as Helene, the Blood Shrike, that delivers the most masterful performance. Each time Helene is forced to choose between her happiness and her duty, McEwan perfectly captures the turmoil that her choice engenders, as well as the sorrow and regret she feels for the path not taken." In 2020 Katharine narrated Ros Anderson's debut novel The Hierarchies. Set in a recognizable near future, it follows Sylv.ie, a fully sentient robot, designed to cater to her human Husband's every whim. The film and TV rights have been optioned by Margot Robbie's company LuckyChap, SK Global, and Mazur Kaplan.

Katharine co-wrote the WWII movie Hell Hath No Fury with Roman Serir, directed by Jesse V. Johnson and starring Nina Bergman and Daniel Bernhardt. The film was released in theaters and on major streaming platforms in November 2021 and distributed by WellGo Entertainment. Hell Hath No Fury is the story of Marie, a woman alone facing the power of the German war machine, the French resistance and a band of American infantrymen.

McEwan collaborated with director Jesse V. Johnson again on the Bruce Willis action film White Elephant starring Michael Rooker, John Malcovich and Olga Kurylenko. It was released in the United States by RLJE Films and AMC+ on June 3, 2022.

Personal life

McEwan is married to Sasha Krane and resides in Los Angeles, California.

Filmography

Film

Awards and nominations