Stana Katic

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

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

After graduating from DePaul University, Katić started her television career with guest appearances on series such as *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 in the ABC series *Castle*, which ran for eight seasons and was both critically and commercially successful. For her performance, Katić received a People's Choice Award for Favorite Dramatic TV Actress and a Shorty Award for Best Actress.

In 2017, Katić starred as FBI Special Agent Emily Byrne in the Amazon Prime Video series *Absentia*, which follows the return of an agent after a six-year disappearance. Her portrayal earned her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

Katić is also a producer. In 2013, she co-founded the production company Katic Productions, which has produced several short films and television pilots.