Mia Kirshner facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mia Kirshner
Kirshner at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con
Born	(1975-01-25) January 25, 1975 (age 50) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Occupation	Actress activist writer
Years active	1989–present
Partner(s)	Sam Shepard (2014–2015)

Mia Kirshner is a Canadian actress, writer, and activist. She was born on January 25, 1975. Mia is well-known for her roles in many TV shows. These include playing Mandy in 24 (2001–2005). She also played Jenny Schecter in The L Word (2004–2009). Fans might also know her as Amanda Grayson in Star Trek: Discovery (2017–2019) and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2023). Another notable role was Isobel Flemming in The Vampire Diaries (2010–2011).

Mia Kirshner has also appeared in several movies. Some of her film roles include Love and Human Remains (1993) and Exotica (1994). She was also in The Crow: City of Angels (1996) and Mad City (1997). Other films are Not Another Teen Movie (2001) and The Black Dahlia (2006).

Early Life and Education

Mia Kirshner grew up in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Her mother, Etti, was a teacher. Her father, Sheldon Kirshner, was a journalist. He wrote for The Canadian Jewish News. Mia's grandparents were survivors of the Holocaust. Her father was born in Germany in 1946. Her mother was a Bulgarian Jewish refugee. They met after moving to Israel.

Mia had a regular upbringing. She went to Forest Hill Collegiate Institute. Later, she graduated from Jarvis Collegiate Institute. She also studied at McGill University in Montreal. There, she focused on Russian literature and the movie industry. Her younger sister, Lauren Kirshner, is also a writer.

Mia Kirshner's Acting Career

Mia Kirshner began her acting journey in 1989. Her first TV role was in War of the Worlds. She played two characters in one episode. Her first movie role was in 1993. She was 18 years old when she appeared in Denys Arcand's Love and Human Remains. The next year, she starred in Exotica. In 1996, she was in The Crow: City of Angels. She also played Kitty in the 1997 film Anna Karenina.

TV Roles and Film Appearances

Mia Kirshner in 2009

In 2001, Mia appeared in the TV show 24. She played the character Mandy. She returned to this role in later seasons. Also in 2001, Mia starred in Not Another Teen Movie. She played Catherine Wyler, a character known as "The Cruelest Girl in School." This role was a funny take on characters from other teen movies. She also made a brief appearance in the music video for "Tainted Love" as Catherine Wyler.

From 2004 to 2009, Mia was a main character in The L Word. She played Jenny Schecter, a writer. She was part of the show for all six seasons. In 2006, Mia starred in The Black Dahlia. She played Elizabeth Short, a young actress. Many critics praised her performance in this film. In 2010, she was in the movie 30 Days of Night: Dark Days. She also had a recurring role as Isobel Flemming in The Vampire Diaries.

Voice Acting and Guest Roles

In 2011, Mia lent her voice to the main character in Bear 71. This was a National Film Board of Canada web documentary. It was shown at the Sundance Film Festival. In 2012, it was announced that Mia would join the Syfy series Defiance. She also appeared as a guest star in season four of Lost Girl in 2013.

From 2017 to 2019, Mia played Amanda Grayson in Star Trek: Discovery. Amanda Grayson is the mother of Spock. Mia later played this role again in an episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds in 2023. In 2019, Mia played a character in the Lifetime film The College Admissions Scandal. She played a character inspired by real-life events. In 2020, Mia co-starred in a Hallmark Channel holiday movie. It was called Love, Lights, Hanukkah!. She played Christina, a restaurant owner.

Mia Kirshner's Philanthropy

Mia Kirshner is also known for her work as a social activist. In October 2008, she published a book called I Live Here. She worked on this book for seven years. The book shares the life stories of four groups of women and children. These groups were refugees from places like Chechnya, Juárez, Burma, and Malawi. The book included art from famous comic artists. Amnesty International supported the book. They also received money from its sales. After the book came out, Mia was invited to teach a course about I Live Here at MIT.

Personal Life

Between 2014 and 2015, Mia Kirshner was in a relationship with actor and writer Sam Shepard.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Video Games

• 24: The Game (2006), as Mandy

See also

In Spanish: Mia Kirshner para niños