Stana Katic

Stana Katić is a Canadian actress and producer. She is best known for her roles as Kate Beckett on the ABC television series Castle (2009–2016) and FBI Special Agent Emily Byrne in the Amazon Prime Video series Absentia (2017–2020).

Katic was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, to Serb parents Petar and Rada Katic, who emigrated from Croatia. She has four brothers and one sister. Katic began her acting career in theater, appearing in productions at the Trinity College School in Port Hope, Ontario. She later attended the University of Toronto and the DePaul University Goodman School of Drama.

After graduating from DePaul University, Katic began her television career with guest appearances on several series, including 24, The Closer, and CSI: NY. She also had a recurring role on the HBO series Damages. In 2009, she was cast as Kate Beckett on the ABC series Castle. The series was a critical and commercial success, running for eight seasons. Katic's performance as Beckett earned her several awards, including a People's Choice Award for Favorite Dramatic TV Actress and a Shorty Award for Best Actress.