Kristin Kreuk

Kristin Laura Kreuk (; born December 30, 1982) is a Canadian actress. Debuting on teen drama Edgemont, she became most known for her television roles as Lana Lang in the superhero television series Smallville (2001–2009), Catherine Chandler in The CW sci-fi series Beauty & the Beast (2012–2016) and as Joanna Hanley in the CBC legal drama series Burden of Truth (2018–2021). In 2009, she portrayed Chun-Li in the American martial arts film Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li.

Early life Kreuk was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, to Deanna Che and Peter Kreuk, two landscape architects. Her father is of Dutch descent. Her mother is of Chinese descent, born in Indonesia. Her maternal grandmother was Chinese Jamaican. Her mother and grandmother lived in Singapore and the Solomon Islands before settling in Vancouver. She has a younger sister, Justine Kreuk. Kreuk trained in karate and gymnastics at the national level until high school but quit in grade 11 due to scoliosis. She played Hannah, a computer troubleshooter who joins the Buy More Nerd Herd after being laid off from her previous job.

In 2010, she portrayed Judah Ben-Hur's sister Tirzah in the TV movie Ben Hur, which aired in Canada and later on ABC in the United States.

Kreuk was involved with two pilots that did not get picked up: a 2010 CBS sitcom entitled Hitched (which was co-created by Josh Schwartz, who was also the creator of Chuck) and a 2011 NBC drama series called 17th Precinct, which was made by Ronald D. Moore.

In February 2012, Kreuk was announced as the lead female character in The CW's reboot of Beauty & the Beast, which was picked up on May 11, 2012, and started airing in fall 2012. The CW announced in October 2015 that the show's upcoming fourth season, scheduled to air over the summer of 2016, would be its final season. The series finale aired on August 25, 2016.

In 2018, Kreuk played the lead role in Burden of Truth, a CBC Television production in which she portrays a "big-city lawyer who takes on a case for a group of sick girls in her hometown". The show premiered on January 10, 2018. On April 5, 2018, The CW announced that they had acquired the rights to air the show beginning in summer 2018. CBC has renewed Burden of Truth for a fourth season. The series concluded in 2021 after four seasons.

In 2024, Kreuk was cast as the lead female character in Murder in a Small Town, which airs on Global in Canada, and Fox in the United States. In 2025, the series was renewed for a second season, with Kreuk reprising her starring role as Cassandra Lee.

Films Kreuk appeared in the comedy film EuroTrip (2004), playing the girlfriend who cheats on the protagonist with a musician (played by Matt Damon).

In early 2005, Kreuk signed on to the Canadian independent film Partition (2007), playing Naseem, a vulnerable 17-year-old whose world is shattered by the trauma of the Partition of India in 1947; the character also falls in love with an ex-British Indian Army officer. In the summer of 2006, Kreuk starred in the short film, Dream Princess by comic book writer/artist Kaare Andrews. The film is a modern sci-punk retelling of the tale of Sleeping Beauty, with a twist. However, it never aired. Kreuk starred in the film Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (2009), in which she played the title character, Chun-Li. She tested for the sequel Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011), with the role going to Paula Patton.

In early 2010, Kreuk signed onto the Japanese horror film Vampire (2011). In 2010, Kreuk also starred in the music video "I Heard" by musician Hill Zaini.

Kreuk stars as Heather in the film Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy (2011), based on Irvine Welsh's novel. She also stars as Tilda in the science fiction comedy film Space Milkshake (2012).

Film production Kreuk, with Rosena Bhura, whom Kreuk met on the set of Partition, started a production company called Parvati Creative Inc, which focuses on "human-centric films as seen through a female lens". Parvati's first production was a short film directed by Rick Rosenthal called Blink, of which Kreuk is listed as an executive producer. The second project was a comedy web series titled Queenie which featured Kreuk's friend Olivia Cheng.

Advertising work In 2003, Neutrogena made her the spokesmodel for their worldwide advertising campaign. In this role, Kreuk followed in the footsteps of fellow teen stars such as Jennifer Love Hewitt and Mandy Moore. In 2005, she renewed her contract with Neutrogena for another two years, becoming the company's longest-serving model spokesperson.

Voice acting In August 2017, Kreuk provided the voice for Princess Shuyan in Shuyan Saga, a graphic novel series set in an ancient Chinese martial arts fantasy universe. She also reprised her role as Catherine Chandler from Beauty & the Beast on Robot Chicken.

Personal life Kreuk holds a purple belt in Shotokan karate, and is learned in acrobatics and wushu.

Kreuk moved back to Vancouver in September 2022, after living in Toronto for a few years to study for her undergraduate degree and to pursue producing opportunities. She stated on Live with Kelly and Michael in October 2012 that she is a pescetarian.

In April 2018, her Smallville co-star Allison Mack was arrested for her involvement in NXIVM, a cult founded by Keith Raniere. Mack stated in November 2025 that Kreuk had introduced her to NXIVM in 2006. In March 2018, following Raniere's arrest, Kreuk had previously disclosed on her Twitter account that she had joined NXIVM in 2006, when she was 23, believing it was a "self-help" group but left in 2013, and had not witnessed any illegal or nefarious activities during her time in the group. Kreuk's statement was backed by actress and former NXIVM member Sarah Edmondson, who left in 2017 and helped expose its activities.

Filmography Television Year Title Role Notes 2001 Snow White: The Fairest of Them All Snow White Television film The Weekenders Gina Episode: "My Punky Valentine"; voice role 2001–2005 Edgemont Laurel Yeung Main role; 67 episodes 2001–2009 SmallvilleLana LangMain role (seasons 1–7, recurring season 8); 154 episodesLouise McCallum Episode: "Relic" Margaret Isobel Thoreaux 3 episodes 2004 Earthsea Tenar Television miniseries 2010 Ben Hur Tirzah Television mini-series Chuck Hannah Recurring role; 4 episodes 2012–2016 Beauty & the Beast Catherine Chandler Main role; 70 episodes, also producer 2015 Robot Chicken Oblina / Catherine Chandler Episode: "Ants on a Hamburger"; voice role 2018–2021 Burden of Truth Joanna Hanley, later Joanna Chang Main role, 2022 Reacher Charlene "Charlie" Hubble 4 episodes 2024–2025 Murder in a Small Town Cassandra Lee Main role

Film Year Title Role Notes 2004 EuroTrip Fiona 2006 Dream Princess Princess Short film 2007 Partition Naseem Khan 2009 Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li Chun-Li 2011 Vampire Maria Lucas Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy Heather Thompson 2012 Space Milkshake Tilda also executive producer 2017 The Emissary The Emissary Short film

Video games Year Title Role Notes 2017 Shuyan Saga Shuyan voice role 2020 Watch Dogs: Legion Kaitlin Lau Voice and performance capture

Producer Year Title Notes 2011 Blink Short film; also executive producer TBA Phoolan Documentary film; post-production, also executive producer

Awards and nominations In 2015, Kreuk was ranked as Canada's most beautiful person in an online poll organized by ET Canada.

Year Association Category Work Result 2002 Saturn Awards Best Actress in a Television Series Smallville 2003 Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress: Action 2004 Saturn Awards Best Actress in a Television Series 2005 Leo Awards Best Actress in Feature Length Drama Earthsea Best Performance in Youth's Series Edgemont 2006 Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress: Action/Drama Smallville Saturn Awards Best Actress in a Television Series 2008 Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress: Action 2009 2013 Choice TV Actress: Fantasy/Sci-Fi Beauty & the Beast 2014 People's Choice Awards Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actress 2015 2019 Rockie Awards Canadian Award of Distinction Burden of Truth, EuroTrip, Smallville Canadian Screen Awards Best Lead Actress, Drama Series Burden of Truth 2021 2025Leo AwardsBest Lead Performance Dramatic SeriesMurder In A Small Town