Amanda Tapping (born 28 August 1965) is an English-born Canadian actress. Born in Rochford, Essex in England, she moved with her family to Ontario, Canada when she was 3 years old. After graduating from North Toronto Collegiate (class of 1984), Amanda (a.k.a. Mandy), studied at the University of Windsor School of Dramatic Arts in Windsor, Ontario. After graduation Tapping continued to study theatrical arts while performing in several stage productions. She appeared in several television commercials and played a variety of roles in television and film productions, such as The Outer Limits and The X-Files. She also formed a comedy troupe the "Random Acts" with collaborators Katherine Jackson and Anne Marie Kerr, in Toronto in the early 90s.
Tapping is best known for her portrayal of Samantha Carter (originally Captain, then Major, now Lieutenant Colonel), in the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1, which debuted in 1997.
As of 2004 Amanda lives with her husband Alan Kovacs in Vancouver, British Columbia. She has one daughter, Olivia B., born on 22 March 2005.
