Sara Canning Husband, Partner, Kids, Net Worth, Age, Boyfriend, Wiki

When most people think of supernatural drama television, they recall the compelling characters who drew millions into otherworldly narratives. For fans of The Vampire Diaries, one character’s tragic death remains among the series’ most shocking moments. Sara Canning’s portrayal of Jenna Sommers didn’t just captivate audiences—it fundamentally altered the show’s trajectory and established her as a defining presence in supernatural television.

Who Is Sara Canning and Why Does She Matter?

Sara Canning is a Canadian actress best known for her role as Jenna Sommers in the CW supernatural drama series The Vampire Diaries. Born July 14, 1987, in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, this versatile performer has built an impressive career spanning television, film, and streaming platforms. Her path from competitive figure skater to internationally recognized actress illustrates the determination and adaptability that characterizes her career in North American entertainment.

Beyond her breakout role as Elena Gilbert’s aunt in The Vampire Diaries, Canning has proven her range through leading roles in the sci-fi series Primeval: New World, the medical drama Remedy, and Netflix’s adaptation of A Series of Unfortunate Events. Her consistent presence across multiple genres and platforms has positioned her as a reliable performer in both Canadian film television and American productions.

Key Facts at a Glance

Where Is Sara Canning From?

Sara Canning is from Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, and later relocated to Alberta during her childhood. Gander, located in central Newfoundland, serves as a significant transportation hub due to its international airport. Her early years were spent in Brown’s Arm, a small community in Newfoundland, until age eleven, when her family moved to Sherwood Park, near Edmonton, Alberta.

This geographical transition from Canada’s easternmost province to the prairie region provided Canning with diverse Canadian experiences. The move from Newfoundland’s coastal maritime culture to Alberta’s more urban environment near Edmonton exposed her to different aspects of Canadian life that would later inform her acting choices and cultural perspective.

Her parents, Wayne and Daphne Canning, supported their daughter’s varied interests throughout these formative years, encouraging her to pursue activities that would eventually lead to her entertainment career.

What Was Sara Canning’s Childhood Like?

Before acting, Sara Canning was a competitive figure skater for eleven years and developed an interest in theater during junior high. Her athletic discipline in figure skating required significant commitment, involving early morning training sessions and competition travel across Canada. This rigorous training instilled work ethic and performance skills that would prove valuable in her acting career.

The shift from athletics to performance arts began while attending F.R. Haythorne Junior High School, where Canning first discovered her passion for theater. This interest flourished during her time at Bev Facey Community High School in Sherwood Park, where she participated in numerous stage productions and performed in shows at Festival Place, her hometown’s cultural venue.

At age 18, Canning made her professional stage debut in George Orwell’s “1984” at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton. This early professional experience provided her first taste of serious dramatic work and confirmed her desire to pursue acting as a career path.

How Did Sara Canning Start Her Acting Career?

Sara Canning began her professional acting career in Vancouver, British Columbia, after graduating from Vancouver Film School in 2007. Her transition to professional acting required a significant leap of faith. After initially enrolling at the University of Alberta to study general arts with consideration of journalism as a career, she realized her passion lay in performance.

At age 19, Canning made the decisive choice to leave university and move to Vancouver to pursue screen acting. This move represented a major life change, requiring her to leave familiar surroundings in Alberta and establish herself in a new city known for its film and television production industry. She enrolled in a one-year program at Vancouver Film School, which provided her with technical skills and industry knowledge necessary for television and film work.

Following graduation in 2007, Canning faced the typical challenges of an emerging actor in a competitive market. She worked in a restaurant to support herself while auditioning for roles, often taking time off work to film when opportunities arose. Her practical approach to building her career—balancing survival jobs with artistic pursuits—reflects the determination required to succeed in Vancouver’s entertainment industry and the reality many actors face when starting their careers.

What Were Sara Canning’s Early Acting Roles?

Her early career featured guest appearances on popular shows like Smallville and Kyle XY, leading up to her starring role in the TV movie Taken in Broad Daylight. Canning’s first professional role came in 2008 when she portrayed Nicky Hilton in the television movie “Paparazzi Princess: The Paris Hilton Story.” This challenging role required her to research and embody a real public figure, focusing particularly on Hilton’s business acumen rather than her celebrity persona.

Her early television work included guest appearances on established Canadian productions. She appeared in two episodes of “Smallville” as Tess Mercer’s assistant, and had a role in the science fiction series “Kyle XY.” These guest appearances allowed her to gain experience working on professional sets while building her resume and industry connections.

In 2009, Canning starred in “Taken in Broad Daylight,” a television movie based on true events. She played Anne Sluti, a 17-year-old girl who was abducted, working opposite James Van Der Beek. This dramatic role highlighted her ability to handle serious subject matter and emotional intensity.

In 2009, Canning starred in “Taken in Broad Daylight,” a television movie based on true events. She played Anne Sluti, a 17-year-old girl who was abducted, working opposite James Van Der Beek. This dramatic role highlighted her ability to handle serious subject matter and emotional intensity.

Who Did Sara Canning Play in The Vampire Diaries?

Sara Canning played Jenna Sommers, the caring aunt and legal guardian of main character Elena Gilbert in The Vampire Diaries. As Elena Gilbert’s aunt, Jenna Sommers served as a crucial maternal figure in the show’s early seasons, providing stability and normalcy in Elena and Jeremy Gilbert’s supernatural world. The character represented the human element anchoring the show’s more fantastical elements within the CW supernatural drama.

Interestingly, Canning faced unique challenges in this role. She was actually younger than or the same age as several cast members who portrayed high school students, including Nina Dobrev (Elena Gilbert). To convincingly portray the older, responsible adult figure, makeup artists and the wardrobe team worked extensively to make her appear more mature than her actual age.

Canning modified her natural speaking voice for the role, downplaying her Canadian accent to fit the Virginia setting. Her character’s romantic relationship with Alaric Saltzman, played by Matthew Davis, provided some of the show’s most touching human moments amid the supernatural drama surrounding Vampire Diaries cast members.

How Did Jenna Sommers’ Death Impact The Vampire Diaries?

Jenna’s character death in the episode “The Sun Also Rises” was a major plot point that fundamentally changed the show’s narrative direction. The character’s death during the show’s second season marked a turning point in The Vampire Diaries. This dramatic moment elevated the stakes for the main characters and proved that even beloved figures weren’t safe from the supernatural threats surrounding them.

The impact of Jenna’s death resonated throughout the series, affecting Elena Gilbert’s character development and the show’s emotional landscape. Canning’s performance in her final episodes, particularly as Jenna became a vampire and struggled with her new reality, provided some of the series’ most emotionally powerful moments and established her as a memorable part of supernatural drama series history.

Following her character’s death, Canning made guest appearances in later seasons, including flashback sequences and supernatural encounters that allowed fans to revisit the beloved character. Her work on the series established her as a recognizable face in the supernatural television genre.

What Other Movies and TV Shows Has Sara Canning Been In?

Sara Canning has appeared in numerous projects, including starring as Dylan Weir in Primeval: New World and Jacquelyn Scieszka in Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. Her post-Vampire Diaries career has revealed remarkable diversity across genres and platforms, establishing her as a versatile performer in Canadian actress Vancouver productions and American television.

In 2012-2013, she starred in “Primeval: New World,” a Canadian spin-off of the British sci-fi series and a co-production between Canada and the UK. As Dylan Weir, a predator control expert and member of a dinosaur hunting team, Canning handled action-oriented roles while filming in Vancouver. The international co-production nature of the series allowed her to explore science fiction storytelling within both Canadian and British production contexts.

Canning’s role as Dr. Melissa Conner in the medical drama “Remedy” proved particularly significant for her career recognition. Co-starring alongside Sarah Allen, Dillon Casey, and Enrico Colantoni, she portrayed a general surgeon in this Global Television production. Her performance earned her both the 2014 UBCP/ACTRA Best Actor Award and the 2015 Leo Award for Best Lead Performance, establishing her credibility in dramatic television.

Her film work includes notable appearances in “War for the Planet of the Apes” (2017), where she played Lake in this major motion picture. She also starred in the independent romantic comedy “The Right Kind of Wrong” alongside Ryan Kwanten and Catherine O’Hara, and appeared in the dystopian thriller “Level 16” as Ms. Brixil.

Her work with Netflix includes portraying Jacquelyn Scieszka in “A Series of Unfortunate Events,” based on Daniel Handler’s popular book series. This role introduced her to a new generation of viewers and proved her ability to work within ensemble casts on streaming platforms. She has also appeared in several Hallmark Family Channel movies, including “Hannah’s Law” and “The Christmas Yule Blog.”

Is Sara Canning Married? Who Is Her Husband or Boyfriend?

Sara Canning’s relationship status is private, and she is not publicly known to be married or have a current partner. The actress maintains deliberate privacy regarding her personal relationships, focusing public attention on her professional work rather than her romantic life. This approach to privacy is common among actors working in both Vancouver and Los Angeles to maintain a healthy work-life balance. This choice allows her to maintain boundaries between her public career and personal life.

While some unverified sources have made claims about past relationships, including unsubstantiated reports about a marriage, Canning has not publicly confirmed details about her dating history or current relationship status. This choice to keep her personal life private is common among actors who prefer to protect their intimate relationships from media scrutiny.

Her social media presence, including her Instagram account with over 340,000 followers, focuses primarily on her professional projects and advocacy work. She shares content about her acting roles, travel experiences, and causes she supports rather than romantic relationships.

What Are Sara Canning’s Other Interests and Hobbies?

Beyond acting, Sara Canning is a writer and producer who also enjoys hot yoga, hiking, snowboarding, painting, and reading. Her creative interests extend beyond performance into content creation. She has worked on writing projects, including co-writing a love story set in the Western time period and developing a short film noir titled “Corvus.”

Canning’s commitment to physical fitness includes a particular passion for hot yoga, which she practices regularly in 90-minute sessions. She has described this practice as both physically challenging and mentally centering, helping her maintain focus and body awareness. Additional physical activities include running, hiking, and snowboarding, reflecting her Canadian upbringing and love of outdoor activities.

Her artistic pursuits include painting and sketching, which allow her to explore visual creativity alongside her performance work. She has been involved in mentorship programs, including Project Limelight Society and Fulfilling Young Artists, where she guides emerging performers in developing their craft.

As an animal lover, Canning has volunteered at animal shelters and frequently features her pet Husky, Molly, in social media posts. Her commitment to animal welfare extends beyond personal pet ownership to active community involvement.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sara Canning

Q: How old is Sara Canning? A: As of 2025, Sara Canning is 37 years old, born on July 14, 1987.

Q: What is Sara Canning’s height and birthday? A: Sara Canning is 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 meters) tall and was born on July 14, 1987.

Q: What is Sara Canning’s net worth? A: Sara Canning’s estimated net worth is $1.5 million as of 2024.

Q: Is Sara Canning in any Hallmark movies? A: Yes, Sara Canning has starred in several Hallmark Channel films, including “Hannah’s Law” and “The Christmas Yule Blog.”

Q: Where does Sara Canning live now? A: While she works extensively in Vancouver and across North America, her current primary residence is not publicly specified.

Q: What awards has Sara Canning won? A: Sara Canning won the 2014 UBCP/ACTRA Best Actor Award and the 2015 Leo Award for Best Lead Performance for her role in “Remedy.”

Sara Canning’s Lasting Impact in Film and Television

Sara Canning’s career represents consistent versatility across dramatic and genre-specific roles, particularly within Canadian film television and international productions. Her ability to transition between supernatural drama, medical drama, science fiction, and streaming content reflects an adaptability that has sustained her career across multiple platforms and changing industry landscapes.

Her impact extends beyond individual performances to represent the success of Canadian actresses in international productions. From her breakout role in The Vampire Diaries, which aired globally and introduced her to international audiences, to her continued work in both Canadian and American productions, Canning exemplifies the cross-border nature of modern television and film production.

The depth she brought to Jenna Sommers created a template for how supporting characters can significantly impact narrative development in supernatural television. Her performance proved that even characters without supernatural abilities could provide emotional anchoring and dramatic weight in fantasy-focused shows, influencing how writers approach human characters in genre television.

Her collaboration with renowned directors and her recognition through industry awards, including her work with Vancouver Film School alumni network, highlights her contribution to Canadian entertainment exports and the global reach of Canadian talent.

From her early days in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador to her established career spanning Canadian and American productions, Sara Canning’s story represents determination and artistic flexibility. Her transformation from competitive figure skater to internationally recognized actress illustrates how diverse childhood experiences can inform and enrich professional creative work. Through consistent performances across multiple genres and platforms, she has built a career that bridges Canadian and American entertainment while maintaining the authenticity and work ethic rooted in her Atlantic Canadian upbringing.

As the entertainment industry continues to evolve with streaming platforms and international co-productions, Canning’s career serves as a model for how Canadian actors can maintain strong domestic roots while achieving global recognition. Her ongoing projects and mentorship activities suggest her influence will continue shaping the next generation of Canadian performers.

References / Sources

This comprehensive biography has been fact-checked against multiple authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and reliability:

• Sara Canning – Wikipedia • Sara Canning – IMDb • Sara Canning Instagram • Vancouver Film School • Project Limelight Society • Various verified entertainment industry publications and databases • Official television network and streaming platform records

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