Julia Chan (also known as Julia Taylor Ross) is an English actress and presenter. She is best known for her roles as Dr. Maggie Lin in the CTV series ''

Saving Hope ''Saving Hope'' is a Canadian supernatural medical drama television series set in Toronto in the fictional hospital Hope Zion. The series stars Erica Durance and Michael Shanks. The show's premise originated with Malcolm MacRury and Morwyn Br ...

'' (2012–2017), as a co-host of the first two seasons of '' The Great Canadian Baking Show'' (2017–2019), and as Pepper Smith in

The CW The CW Network, LLC (commonly referred to as The CW or simply CW) is an American commercial broadcast television network which is controlled by Nexstar Media Group through a 75% ownership interest. The network's name is derived from the firs ...

series ''

Katy Keene Katy Keene is a character created by Bill Woggon that has appeared in several comic book series published by Archie Comics since 1945. She is a model/actress/singer marketed by the publisher as "America's Queen of Pin-Ups and Fashions". In the b ...

'' (2020). In a notable film role, she played Sophia in the 2011 horror film, '' Silent House''.

Early life and education

Chan was born and raised in

Cheshire Cheshire ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Merseyside to the north-west, Greater Manchester to the north-east, Derbyshire to the east, Staffordshire to the south-east, and Shrop ...

. Chan's father, Roy Chan, is a

Hong Kong Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...

–based solicitor of Chinese heritage; her mother, Lorna, is a Canadian ballerina. She studied at

University College London University College London (Trade name, branded as UCL) is a Public university, public research university in London, England. It is a Member institutions of the University of London, member institution of the Federal university, federal Uni ...

and then attended

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

Cambridge, Massachusetts Cambridge ( ) is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is a suburb in the Greater Boston metropolitan area, located directly across the Charles River from Boston. The city's population as of the 2020 United States census, ...

. While there, she frequently acted at the nearby

American Repertory Theater The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) is a professional not-for-profit theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1979 by Robert Brustein, the A.R.T. is known for its commitment to new American plays and music–theater explorations; to ne ...

. She graduated with a BA in History of Art and Architecture. She received her master's degree from New York's New School of Drama in 2010.

Career

While still at graduate school, Chan gained a role in the

Global Television Network The Global Television Network (more commonly called Global, or occasionally Global TV) is a Television in Canada, Canadian English language, English-language terrestrial television, terrestrial television network. It is currently Canada's se ...

's ''

Rookie Blue ''Rookie Blue'' is a Canadian police procedural television series starring Missy Peregrym and Gregory Smith. It was created by Morwyn Brebner, Tassie Cameron, and Ellen Vanstone. The series premiered on June 24, 2010, and aired on Global in ...

'' (2010) (airing in the United States on

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Broadcasting * Aliw Broadcasting Corporation, Philippine broadcast company * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial American ...

). Between 2011 and 2017, Chan played regular series character Dr. Maggie Lin for five seasons on CTV's ''Saving Hope'', which was carried in the U.S. by

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...

. She appeared in the role of Sophia in ''Silent House'', a 2011 American horror film directed by Chris Kentis and Laura Lau, and the following year the romantic comedy film ''Missed Connections''. Chan has appeared in two Canadian television programs, miniseries '' Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures'' and series ''

Republic of Doyle ''Republic of Doyle'' is a Canadian comedy-drama television series set in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, which aired on CBC Television from January 6, 2010, to December 10, 2014. The show stars Allan Hawco as private investigator and f ...

''. In 2015, Chan appeared in the movie, ''

Ava's Possessions ''Ava's Possessions'' is a 2015 American Supernatural horror film, supernatural comedy horror film written and directed by Jordan Galland. Louisa Krause stars as the titular Ava, a young woman that must learn how to put her life together after a d ...

''. Chan has also made guest appearances in episodes of '' Gotham'' (2016) and ''

Schitt's Creek ''Schitt's Creek'' (stylized as ''Schitt$ Creek'') is a Canadian television sitcom created by Dan Levy (Canadian actor), Dan Levy and his father, Eugene Levy, that aired on CBC Television from 2015 to 2020. It consists of 80 episodes spread ove ...

'' (2017). She hosted '' The Great Canadian Baking Show'' with Dan Levy, which premiered on 1 November 2017, on

CBC CBC may refer to: Media * Cadena Baja California or Grupo Cadena, a radio and television broadcaster in Mexico * Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Canada's radio and television public broadcaster ** CBC Television ** CBC Radio One ** CBC Music ** ...

. Chan returned as host for the second season in 2018, but neither she nor Levy returned for the show's third season. On 21 February 2019, it was announced that she had landed the role of Pepper Smith in

's ''

'', a spin-off series of '' Riverdale'' which started airing in 2020. She appears alongside

Lucy Hale Karen Lucille Hale (born June 14, 1989) is an American actress and singer. She has received various accolades, including seven Teen Choice Awards (the most for any actress in a single series), a Gracie Awards, Gracie Award, a People's Choice Aw ...

Ashleigh Murray Ashleigh Murray (born January 18, 1988) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her breakthrough role as Josie McCoy, the lead singer of the fictional band Josie and the Pussycats, on The CW television series '' Riverdale'', whic ...

, and Jonny Beauchamp. In 2021, Chan appeared in the stage play '' 2:22 A Ghost Story''. She appeared in ''

Archive 81 ''Archive 81'' is an American supernatural horror television series developed by Rebecca Sonnenshine, who was also an executive producer for the show, along with Paul Harris Boardman and James Wan. The series was released on Netflix on Janua ...

'' which premiered on

Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...

on 14 January 2022. In 2024, she was cast in the medical drama television series '' Brilliant Minds''.

Personal life

Chan was married to Erik Ratensperger from 2011 to 2019.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Chan, Julia Living people 1983 births Actresses from Stockport Actresses from Cheshire Alumni of University College London 21st-century British actresses Canadian film actresses Canadian television actresses Canadian television hosts Canadian women television hosts English film actresses English people of Canadian descent English people of Chinese descent English people of Hong Kong descent English people of Scottish descent English television actresses English television personalities Harvard University alumni The New School alumni