Kristin Kreuk

Kristin Kreuk

Kreuk at San Diego Comic Con in 2013
Born Kristin Laura Kreuk
(1982-12-30) December 30, 1982
Vancouver British Columbia, Canada
Occupation Actress, film producer
Years active 2001–present

Kristin Laura Kreuk (/ˈkruːk/;[1] born December 30, 1982) is a Canadian actress, known for her roles as Lana Lang in the Superman-inspired television series Smallville and as Laurel Yeung in the Canadian teen drama Edgemont. She has also starred in movies such as Snow White: The Fairest of Them All (2001), Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (2009), and Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy (2011).

Since 2012, Kreuk has played the role of Catherine Chandler in The CW TV series Beauty & the Beast.

Early life

Kreuk was born in Vancouver, British Columbia[2] to Peter Kreuk and Deanna Che, two landscape architects.[3][4] Her father is of Dutch descent; her mother is of Chinese descent, but was born in Indonesia; and her maternal grandmother was a Chinese Jamaican.[5] She has a younger sister, Justine Kreuk.[6][7]

Kreuk trained in karate (she has a purple belt)[8] and gymnastics at the national level until high school but quit in grade 11 due to scoliosis.[8][9] Kreuk was planning to study forensic science or psychology at Simon Fraser University, but was completely taken aback when a casting director for the CBC television series Edgemont contacted her at her secondary school.[4]

Career

Television

After filming the first season of Edgemont (a teenage soap opera set at a Vancouver-area high school) and getting herself an agent, Kreuk landed the lead role of Snow White in a TV movie titled Snow White: The Fairest of Them All. The film, shot in Vancouver, also starred Miranda Richardson as the Evil Queen Elspeth, Snow White's evil stepmother, and was directed by Caroline Thompson. It aired on ABC, and later released on DVD, in 2002.[10] In mid-2004, Kreuk took the role of Tenar for the Sci Fi Channel two-part miniseries Legend of Earthsea. The miniseries was filmed in Vancouver, directed by Rob Lieberman and broadcast on December 13, 2004.

After Snow White, Kreuk's agent sent an audition tape to screenwriters Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, who at the time were putting together the cast of a show they had created for the WB Network entitled Smallville. The series, which was slated to be shot in Vancouver, revolves around the life of teenager Clark Kent before he becomes Superman. Gough and Millar called Kreuk to WB's studios in Burbank, California to audition for the role of Clark Kent's first love, Lana Lang. She was the first cast for the show.[11] For a while, Kreuk was starring on both Smallville and Edgemont, although her role on Edgemont slightly diminished over time. Edgemont ended its run in 2005. After seven seasons, Kreuk left Smallville in the beginning of 2008, when her character leaves town. She returned as a guest star in the show's season eight for five episodes to conclude her storyline. In the first three seasons of the show she was paid $40,000 per episode, while from season four she earned $270,000 per episode.

In 2009, Kristin Kreuk signed on for a multi-episode arc in season three of Chuck.[12] 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 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: an NBC 2010 sitcom entitled Hitched (which was co-created by Josh Schwartz, who was also the creator of Chuck)[13] and a 2011 CBS drama series called 17th Precinct, which was developed by Ronald D. Moore.[14]

In February 2012, Kreuk was announced as the lead female character in The CW's reboot of Beauty & the Beast,[15] which was picked up on May 11, 2012, and started airing in Fall 2012.[16]

Films

Kreuk in 2011

Kreuk appeared in the comedy film EuroTrip (2004), playing the unfaithful girlfriend of the protagonist.

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. Unfortunately it never aired. [17] Kreuk starred in the film Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (2009), in which she played the title character, Chun-Li.[18]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).[19] In 2010, Kreuk also starred in the music video "I Heard" by musician Hill Zaini.[20][21]

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”.[22][23] Parvati's first production was a short film directed by Rick Rosenthal called Blink, of which Kreuk is listed as an executive producer.[24][25] The second project was a comedy web series entitled "Queenie" which featured Kreuk's friend Olivia Cheng.

Advertising work

Neutrogena made her the spokesmodel for their new 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, making her the company's longest-serving model spokesperson.[26]

Personal life

Kreuk currently resides in Vancouver.[27] She stated on Live! with Kelly and Michael in October 2012 that she is a pescetarian and eats salmon.[28][29][30]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2001 Snow White: The Fairest of Them All Snow White Movie
2001 The Weekenders Gina (voice) Episode: "My Punky Valentine"
2001–05 Edgemont Laurel Yeung Series regular (70 episodes)
2001–09 Smallville
  • Seasons 1–8 (158 episodes)
  • Episode: "Relic"
  • 3 episodes
2004 Earthsea Tenar Miniseries
2010 Ben Hur Tirzah Miniseries
2009–10 Chuck Hannah 4 episodes
2012–16 Beauty & the Beast Catherine Chandler Main role (70 episodes)

Film

Kreuk at 2012 Comic Con
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
2011 Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy Heather Thompson
2012 Space Milkshake Tilda Also executive producer

Awards and nominations

In 2014 and 2015, Kreuk won a People's Choice Award for Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actress for her role in The CW's Beauty & the Beast.[31][32] In 2015, she was ranked as Canada's most beautiful person in an online poll organized by ET Canada.[33]

Year Association Category Work Result
2002 Saturn Awards Best Actress in a Television Series Smallville Nominated
2003 Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress – Drama Nominated
2004 Saturn Awards Best Actress in a Television Series Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress - Drama Nominated
2006 Choice TV Actress - Drama Nominated
Saturn Awards Best Actress in a Television Series Nominated
2008 Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress - Action Nominated
2009 Nominated
2013 Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress - Fantasy/Sci-Fi Beauty & the Beast Nominated
2014 Nominated
2014 People's Choice Awards Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actress Won
2015 Won

See also

References

  1. ↑ "NLS/BPH: Other Writings, Say How? A Pronunciation Guide to Names of Public Figures". Loc.gov. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  2. ↑ "Kristen Kreuk". TV Guide.com. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  3. ↑ "Kristin Kreuk biography and filmography". Tribute (magazine). Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Kristen Kreuk - AskMen". AskMen. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  5. ↑ E Talk Daily, 58 seconds into referenced clip (Aired Tuesday January 30, 2007 on CTV). Retrieved February, 2007.
  6. ↑ "Actress Kristin Kreuk is returning to the big screen - Chatelaine". Chatelaine (magazine). December 2, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Kristin Kreuk Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved 2014-04-17.
  8. 1 2 "Six questions with Chun-Li (Kristin Kreuk)". LA Times. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
  9. ↑ "Celebrity Scoliosis". Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  10. ↑ Snow White at Amazon.com; Accessed October 1, 2010
  11. ↑ "Kristin Kreuk" at www.thelifeofluxury.com ;Accessed August 6, 2012.
  12. ↑ Ausiello, Michael (2009-08-27). "Exclusive: 'Smallville' heroine Kristin Kreuk joins 'Chuck' | Ausiello | EW.com". Ausiellofiles.ew.com. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  13. ↑ "Kristin Kreuk gets un-'Hitched'". Zap2it. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
  14. ↑ "Kristin Kreuk Joins '17th Precinct' -- This Pilot Keeps Getting Better!". AOL TV. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
  15. ↑ "The CW Finds Its Beauty: ‘Smallville’s Kristin Kreuk To Star In ‘Beauty & The Beast’ Pilot". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  16. ↑ "CW Picks Up ‘Carrie Diaries’, ‘Arrow’, ‘Cult’, ‘Beauty and the Beast’, ‘First Cut’ To Series". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2012-05-11.
  17. ↑ "A Foundation To Assist Canadian Talent". Bravo!FACT. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  18. ↑ "Kristin Kreuk is Chun-Li in Street Fighter!". ComingSoon.net. 2007-12-21. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
  19. ↑ "A Set Visit With the Vampire". Dreadcentral.com. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  20. ↑ "Hill - I Heard - Official Music Video". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-06-17.
  21. ↑ "Kristin Kreuk - IMDB - Other Works". Imdb. Retrieved 2011-06-20.
  22. ↑ "Kristin Kreuk talks "Smallville" and "Chuck" - February 1, 2010". Fancast. Retrieved 2011-06-25.
  23. ↑ "Smallville's Kristin Kreuk, Allison Mack to emcee Beyond Pink gala dinner". Straight.com. Retrieved 2011-06-25.
  24. ↑ "INFO ON SHORT FILM BLINK". allisonmackweb.com. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
  25. ↑ "Blink - Full Video". Vimeo. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
  26. ↑ Kristin Kreuk bio on "Partition" web site
  27. ↑ "Born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia- June 10, 2015". 92kqrs.com. Retrieved 2015-06-10.
  28. ↑ "Kelly & Michael: Kristin Kreuk New Series "Beauty and the Beast"". recapo.com. Retrieved 2012-10-11.
  29. ↑ "Tagline and Camels- Kristin Kreuk's blog". girlsbydesign.com. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
  30. ↑ "Kristin Kreuk LIVE interview talking Beauty and the Beast". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-10-09.
  31. ↑ http://www.cbc.ca/books/2015/03/kristin-kreuks-life-in-books.html
  32. ↑ http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/09/showbiz/celebrity-news-gossip/peoples-choice-awards-2014-winners-list/
  33. ↑ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/in-canada-beauty-is-in-the-eye-of-the-cable-conglomerate/article25800690/

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