Chelah Horsdal (born June 19, 1973) is a Canadian actress. She is known for her regular roles in the television series Hell on Wheels, When Calls the Heart, and The Man in the High Castle, recurring roles on Stargate SG-1, Level Up, Arrow, and Star Trek: Discovery, and for her roles in the films Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, Elegy, Passengers, Possession, Marley & Me: The Puppy Years, and Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

Early life Horsdal was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. She says she "was born to hippie parents while surrounded by friends and family on the 'farm' Headacres."

She is the daughter of mother Lindsay Whalen and folksinger father Valdy. She grew up with her mother in Kitsilano and attended Bayview Elementary followed by Lord Byng Secondary. She began modelling in locally shot TV shows and commercials at 18, and then lived in the Caribbean for a year.

Career Horsdal began her acting career in 2002. She has since appeared in more than 75 commercials as well as in films and on television. She has played lead and supporting roles on Hell on Wheels, The Man In the High Castle, When Calls the Heart, Candiland, Patterson's Wager, Three Weeks, Three Kids, On Strike For Christmas, Marley & Me: The Puppy Years, and Lifetime's The Client List. She had lead roles in Lying To Be Perfect and Mrs. Miracle.

Additional credits include leads on the feature Burning Mussolini, Nickelodeon's Gym Teacher: The Movie, co-starring Christopher Meloni and Amy Sedaris, Flirting with Forty with Heather Locklear and the FOX TV pilot The Virgin of Akron, Ohio. Supporting leads include Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem for 20th Century Fox and Possession alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar, as well as Elegy with Ben Kingsley and Penélope Cruz and Rise of the Planet of the Apes with John Lithgow and James Franco.

Her performances in the short films Dark Room (2006) and The Hostage (2010) both earned Leo nominations for Best Performance. Recurring roles include Battlestar Galactica, Exes & Ohs, The L Word, Stargate: SG1, Saved, DaVinci's Inquest, Whistler, Blackstone, Clue and Cartoon Network's Level Up.

The Hostage, for which Horsdal was nominated for Best Actress at the 2011 Leos, co-starred and was produced by Tahmoh Penikett and Aleks Paunovic. Horsdal was nominated for four more Leo Awards for her guest starring turn on Arctic Air (2013), for Hell on Wheels and When Calls the Heart, and for Patterson's Wager.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes2004Jan2004PursuedSharon2005Dark RoomAliceShortNominated Leo Award for Best Performance by a Female in a Short Drama 2006 The Pink Panther Security Guard 2006 X-Men: The Last Stand Minivan Mother 2006 Hollow Man 2 Blind Secretary2007Ashes FallJoannaShort2007Aliens vs. Predator: RequiemDarcy Benson2008ElegySusan Reese2008PassengersJanice 2009 Alien Trespass Betsy's Mother2009PossessionMiranda2009Burning MussoliniCheryll Witherspoon2009HelenKara2010AltitudeMrs. Taylor2010The LoverShortNominated Leo Award for Best Performance by a Female in a Short Drama2010Birth DayPatriciaShort2011 The Cabin in the WoodsDemo Girl2011Marley & Me: The Puppy YearsCarol GroganVideo2011Rise of the Planet of the ApesIrena2011Something Old, Something NewBridesmaidShort2011Everything and EveryoneAmanda 2013 Kill for Me Maria Klein Video2013Midnight StallionRita Shepard2013Hunting SeasonNancy2013No ClueAlice2014Livi Vasquez2014If I StayLiddy2015Patterson's WagerAudreyNominated Leo Award for Best Lead Performance by a Female in a Motion Picture2015Even Lambs Have TeethAbby2015EmmaShort2015Gord's BrotherAmandaShort2016CandilandTess / The QueenWon Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Award for Best Actress2018Boundaries Therapist 2019Noelle Dr. Shelley Sussman 2019Ash Gail 2019Last Stand to Nowhere Wylona Earp Short 2020Spontaneous Denise Hovemeyer 2026 Backrooms TBA Completed

Television Year Title Role Notes2003AndromedaMisabo Ahm"Pieces of Eight"2004Still LifeTammi"Not Fade Away" 2004 Five Days to Midnight Stefani TV miniseries; 5 episodes2004Janet Miller"Collision"2004Cold SquadDr. Walker"Voices Over Water"2004–06Stargate SG-1Lt. WomackRecurring role; 5 episodes2005Renegadepress.comMrs. Annie Tropek"The Power of Love"2005Jeanine"Wake-Up Call"2005Criminal MindsHeather Woodland"Extreme Aggressor"2005ReunionJane Kelsey"1988"2005Masters of HorrorFrances Elwood"Dreams in the Witch-House"2005SmallvilleDr. McCann"Lexmas"2005SupernaturalLibrarian"Hook Man"2006Ivy Beckman"Five Little Indians"2006FallenLori CorbettTV movie2006WhistlerJanet"The Burden of Truth", "Will the Real Beck...?", "Meltdown"2006SavedGail Esterbrook"A Shock to the System", "Tango"2006–08SallyRecurring role; 5 episodes2007Juliet"Pilot"2007PsychBeth"Game, Set... Muuurder?"2007Cynthia LewisTV film2007Battlestar GalacticaDidi Cassidy"Crossroads: Parts 1 & 2"2007Crossroads: A Story of ForgivenessCindyTV film2007Perfect ChildJenTV film 2007 Bionic Woman Suicidal Woman Episode: "Paradise Lost"2007–11Exes and OhsLauren BrooksRecurring role; 3 episodes2008Robson ArmsShania"Cherchez la Femme"2008Every Second CountsMrs. AlcottTV film2008Gym Teacher: The MovieWinnie BleekerTV film2008Stargate: AtlantisErran"Tracker"2008Flirting with FortyAnneTV film2008Past LiesDanielleTV film2008InseparableSaraTV film2009Come Dance at My WeddingNancy ReedTV film2009Kathy"Out of the Woods"2009EurekaMary-Beth Curtis"Insane in the P-Brane"2009Defying GravityDr. Tina Winkler"Bacon"2009Stargate UniverseInman"Variety"2009Mrs. MiracleKate PrestonTV film2010Lying to Be PerfectNancyTV film2010DoreenTV film2010On Strike for ChristmasSharonTV film 2010 Life Unexpected Prosecutor Episode: "Stand Taken"2010BetwixtVanessaTV film2011IdentityLisa CurtisTV film2011Fairly LegalBrooke Keller"Priceless"2011Iron GolemDeputy JennyTV film2011EndgameOlivia Davis"Fearful Symmetry"2011Three Weeks, Three KidsMandy NortonTV film2011ClueHeadmistress KrogerEnter the Order of Black, School for Conspiracy2011Wishing WellKara TurnerTV filmNominated UBCP/ACTRA Award for Best Actress2011–13BlackstoneAngie GoldRecurring role; 4 episodes2012Kellie Hopkins"Openings"2012Emily Owens, M.D.Marian Kramden"Pilot"2012It's Christmas, Carol!TanyaTV film2012Magda SingerUnsold TV pilot2012–13Level UpBarbaraRecurring role; 11 episodes2012–14ArrowKate SpencerRecurring role; 5 episodes2013RitaAliciaTV film2013I Am VictorSamanthaTV film2013Arctic AirTara"Dangerous Cargo"Nominated Leo Award for Best Guest Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series (2013)2013MotiveDeana Mitchell"Against All Odds"2013Package DealMegan"Kangaroo Court"2013–16Hell on WheelsMaggie PalmerMain role; (14 episodes)Nominated Leo Award for Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series (2015)Nominated Leo Award for Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series (2016)2014Sole CustodyAnnTV film2014When Calls the HeartCat MontgomeryMain role; (10 episodes)Nominated Leo Award for Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series (2015)2014Cedar CoveDr. Carmen"Letting Go: Parts 1 & 2"2015KrisRecurring role; 5 episodes2015ProofColleen Seavers"Pilot"2015UnrealLouise"Fly", "Savior"2015Falling SkiesAlicia"Respite"2015–2019Helen SmithMain role; (35 episodes)Won Leo Award for Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series (2017)2016Girlfriends' Guide to DivorceMarianne Gallagher"Let Her Eat Cake"2016Pretty Little AddictDonna PhillipsTV film2016-2017You Me HerLori MatherfieldRecurring role; 15 episodes2017RogueKathryn Farese"Pool Boy"2017When We RiseEmily"1.3"2018 The Good DoctorTessa"Seven Reasons"2019 The 100Simone Lightbourne"Red Sun Rising"20212023Firefly LaneMargie MularkeyRecurring role; 17 episodes20212024Star Trek: DiscoveryPresident Laira RillakRecurring role, 12 episodes2023Prom PactMrs. LansingTV Movie2026Sheriff CountryJudge Merry MacRae"The Aftermath"2026Off CampusCarrieRecurring role, 3 episodes

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