Katheryn Winnick’s portrayal of Lagertha, a legendary Norse warrior, won her fans worldwide during her six-season run on the historical drama Vikings. Starting as a young mother and farmer, Lagertha’s journey evolved over the years into a shieldmaiden, queen, and grandmother. “Lagertha’s journey throughout the years has been a huge evolution,” Winnick told Rotten Tomatoes, joking about how her character aged significantly by the end of the series. This breakout role brought her into the spotlight, but Winnick had already been working for years and experienced a transformation in her career before Vikings made her a household name.
#1. A Creative Childhood: Setting the Stage for Success
Winnick’s early creative flair set the stage for her future career. As a child, she would invent dance routines and stage plays for her aunts and uncles, showcasing a natural inclination toward performance. Despite growing up in the small Toronto town of Etobicoke, Winnick always believed she would make it in show business, even though many doubted her. “I always knew I wanted to be a creative storyteller,” she said to Rose & Ivy, adding that she was glad she didn’t listen to those who told her no and kept pushing herself.
#2. Proud of Her Ukrainian Roots: Embracing Heritage
Katheryn Winnick grew up in a Ukrainian immigrant family in Canada, speaking Ukrainian as her first language and attending a Ukrainian school every Saturday. Her parents were traditional and strict, but her Ukrainian heritage remains a significant part of her identity. Winnick has spoken openly about her admiration for Ukrainian figures like former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, as well as her commitment to raising awareness about historical tragedies like the Ukrainian famine orchestrated by Joseph Stalin.
#3. Close Bonds with Her Brothers: Family Ties Beyond Work
Winnick’s relationship with her family is a central part of her life, especially her close ties to her brothers, Adam and Mark Winnick, both of whom have appeared in Vikings. Katheryn directed an episode of the show during Season 6, in which her brother Adam played a character. The siblings share a bond that goes beyond work, often featuring in her social media posts, celebrating holidays, birthdays, or even extreme activities like skydiving.
#4. A Martial Arts Prodigy: Black Belts and On-Set Teaching
Winnick’s background in martial arts significantly influenced her acting career. By age 13, she earned her first black belt, and by 16, she opened her own martial arts school. “I got my first black belt at 13,” Winnick shared with Collider, revealing she is a third-degree black belt in Taekwondo and a second-degree black belt in karate. Her martial arts prowess even led her to teach actors how to fight on set before transitioning to acting full-time.
#5. Her First Big TV Role Was as Ivana Trump: Diving Deep into Character
Winnick’s first lead role came in the 2005 ABC TV movie Trump Unauthorized, where she portrayed Ivana Trump. She dove deep into the role, adopting a Czech accent and borrowing a mink coat from her grandmother to get into character. While the film didn’t receive rave reviews, it gave Winnick valuable experience and was her first significant TV appearance.
#6. Rising Fame After Guest Role on House: Breakthrough Performance
One of Winnick’s breakthrough performances came from her guest role in House in 2007. She portrayed a rape victim in the episode “One Day, One Room,” and her performance was praised by both audiences and critics. The role nearly led to her own show, as FOX took notice and offered her a holding deal, though the writers’ strike delayed that opportunity. Nonetheless, this role helped solidify her presence in Hollywood and led to more high-profile guest roles on shows like CSI and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
#7. Fan Controversy on Bones: Stirring Up Reactions as Hannah Burley
Winnick stirred up quite the fan reaction when she appeared as journalist Hannah Burley on Bones. Playing the girlfriend of FBI Agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz), her character was caught in the middle of a love triangle with Booth and Dr. Brennan. Fans who hoped Booth would end up with Brennan weren’t pleased, but Winnick enjoyed the experience and shared how much she related to her character’s ambition and work ethic.
#8. Lagertha’s Iconic Death on Vikings: A Perfect End to a Beloved Character
Lagertha’s death in Vikings was a long time coming, with showrunner Michael Hirst even delaying her character’s departure due to Winnick’s popularity. When the time finally came for Lagertha’s shocking death at the hands of a hallucinating son of her ex-husband, fans were devastated, but Winnick felt it was the perfect time to close her character’s arc. “I couldn’t feel more blessed than to have a character for so many years,” she said.
#9. Disappointment with The Dark Tower: Working with Esteemed Co-Stars
In 2017, Winnick starred in The Dark Tower, an adaptation of Stephen King‘s beloved series. Despite a strong cast that included Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey, the film was critically panned and failed to live up to its potential. Still, Winnick enjoyed the opportunity to work alongside her esteemed co-stars, calling Elba “so charming” and praising McConaughey for his magnetic presence.
#10. Doing Her Own Stunts on Wu Assassins: Showcasing Martial Arts Skills
When Netflix’s Wu Assassins came along in 2019, Winnick finally got the chance to show off her martial arts skills in a leading role. Playing undercover cop Christine Gavin, she performed all her own stunts, a skill she had honed throughout her career. Winnick also directed an episode of the show, which she described as a “challenge” due to the complexities of shooting kung fu-style action scenes.
#11. A New Chapter with Big Sky: Playing Ex-Cop Jenny Hoyt
After Vikings ended, Winnick found her next big role in ABC’s crime drama Big Sky, where she plays ex-cop Jenny Hoyt. Transitioning from Lagertha to a modern-day character wasn’t easy, but Winnick was drawn to the role because of showrunner David E. Kelley’s writing. “What I love about how he writes women is that they’re also very flawed,” she told Collider. The show, renewed for a second season, marks another chapter in her impressive television career.
