Sonja Smits

Sonja Smits (born September 8, 1958) is a Canadian actress. She was nominated for two Genie Awards: for Videodrome and That's My Baby! (1984). On television, she starred in Street Legal and Traders.

Early life and education

Smits was born in the Ottawa Valley, Ontario, Canada. She went to Bell High School in Bells Corners, she also attended Woodroffe High School and South Carleton High School in Richmond, a village outside Ottawa. She studied acting at Ryerson Polytechnic Institute until she was invited to join the Centre Stage theatre company in London, Ontario.

Career

Television

Besides her starring roles in Street Legal (1987–1992) and Traders (1996-2000), Smits plays a main role as Megan Redner on The Eleventh Hour (2002–2005), and a recurring role as Cynthia Hodge on Odyssey 5 (2002–2003).

Smits' guest roles in television series, including Falcon Crest (1984), Airwolf (1987), Counterstrike (1993), The Outer Limits (1995), and the miniseries The Best Laid Plans (2014).

Film

On the big-screen, Smits played Bianca O'Blivion in David Cronenberg's science fiction body horror film Videodrome (1983), and was lead actress in the 2021 drama Drifting Snow. She portrayed Mona Louise Parsons in the Heritage Minutes short documentary film by Historica Canada. In 2025, Smits portrayed the Terran Proctor in Star Trek: Section 31.

Personal life

Smits is married to Atlantis Films co-founder Seaton McLean with whom she has two children. They live in the Rosedale neighbourhood of Toronto and are the owners of the Closson Chase winery in Prince Edward County. They also own a farm close to the winery.

In 2009, Smits was elected president of the board of directors of the Harbourfront Centre.

Filmography Film

+ Year Title Role Notes 1978 Tyler Sharon 1981 Mrs. Lynde 1983 Videodrome Bianca O'Blivion Nominated — Genie Award for Best Supporting Actress 1984 That's My Baby! Suzanne Nominated — Genie Award for Best Actress 2003 Owning Mahowny Dana Selkirk 2003 How to Deal Carol Warsher 2004 Fay Tolland 2006 One Way Linda Birk 2021 Drifting Snow Joanne 2022 Better Days Kate Nominated — ACTRA Award for Outstanding Performance – Gender Non-conforming or Female 2025 Star Trek: Section 31 Terran Proctor 2026 I Come Home Maggie

Television

+ Year Title Role Notes 1980 War Brides Lisa TV movieNominated — ACTRA Award 1984 Falcon Crest Lydia Boulanger Episode: "Suitable for Framing" 1984–1985 Nina Russell / Susan Carter Episodes: "Face to Face", "Murderous Feelings" 1985 Jessica Beaumont Episode: "Her Bodyguard" 1985 Command 5 Chris Winslow TV movie 1986 Loose Ends Carla TV movie 1986 Danger Bay 1 episode 1987 Airwolf Alexandria Rostov Episode: "Stavograd: Parts 1 & 2" 1987–1992 Street Legal Carrington 'Carrie' Barr Main role, 83 episodesGemini Award for Best Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role (1988)Nominated — Gemini Award for Best Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role (1993) 1988 Mary Episode: "The Fruit at the Bottom of the Bowl" 1993 Morag TV movieNominated — Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series 1993 Counterstrike Julia Devane Episode: "Betrayed" 1994 Spenser: Pale Kings and Princes Carolyn Rogers TV movie 1994 TekWar Kate Cardigan TV movie 1994 TekLords Kate Cardigan TV movie 1995 Dr. Anne Crain Episode: "White Light Fever" 1995 Nothing Sacred TV movie 1996–2000 Traders Sally Ross Main role, 83 episodesNominated — Gemini Award for Best Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role (1999-2000) 1998 Dead Husbands Sheila Feinstein TV movie 2001 Made in Canada Angela Widstrom Episode: "Teamwork" 2001 Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows Kay Thompson TV miniseries 2002 Mom's on Strike First Lady TV movie 2002–2003 Odyssey 5 Cynthia Hodge Recurring role 2002–2005 Megan Redner Main role 2003 Mrs. Anderson Episode: "The Man from Mars" 2004 Siblings Mom TV movie 2005 Heritage Minutes Mona Louise Parsons Episode: "Mona Parsons" 2007–2008 Rent-a-Goalie Texas Episodes: "Texas", "Upstairs" 2012 Cybergeddon Amanda Jocelyn Episodes: "Chapter 3", "Chapter 6" 2012 Cybergeddon Zips Amanda Jocelyn Episode: "Amanda" 2014 Diane Gagnon TV miniseries 2016 Flower Shop Mystery: Dearly Depotted Glory Osbourne TV movie 2017 Ransom Gwyneth Davenport Episode: "The Artist" 2017 American Gods Laura's Mother Episodes: "The Bone Orchard", "Git Gone", "A Murder of Gods" 2017 Murdoch Mysteries Belinda Carlyle Episode: "Brackenreid Boudoir" 2017 Save Me Gloriana Episode: "Code 5" 2018 Mary Kills People Estelle Episode: "The Connection" 2021 A Mother's Lie Joyce TV movie. AKA Hidden Family Secrets 2022 Pretty Hard Cases Judy Wazowski 9 episodesNominated — ACTRA Award for Best Series Ensemble 2024 Hudson and Rex Minister Fulford Episode: "Wag the Dog"