
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Born
June 19, 1973 (age 52)
Place of Birth
Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Also Known As
Chelah Horsdale
Chelah Horsdal
Biography
Chelah Horsdal is a Canadian actress. She is known for her regular roles in the television series Hell on Wheels, When Calls the Heart, and The Man in the High Castle, recurring roles on Stargate SG-1, Level Up, Arrow, and Star Trek: Discovery, and for her roles in the films Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem and Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Horsdal was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. She says she "was born to hippie parents while surrounded by friends and family on the 'farm' Headacres."
She is the daughter of mother Lindsay and folksinger father Valdy. She grew up with her mother in Kitsilano and attended Bayview Elementary followed by Lord Byng Secondary. She began modelling in locally shot TV shows and commercials at 18, and then lived in the Caribbean for a year.
Horsdal began her acting career in 2002. She has since appeared in more than 75 commercials as well as in films and on television. She has played lead and supporting roles on Hell on Wheels, The Man In the High Castle, When Calls the Heart, Candiland, Patterson's Wager, Three Weeks, Three Kids, On Strike For Christmas, Marley & Me: The Puppy Years, and Lifetime's The Client List. She had lead roles in Lying To Be Perfect and Mrs. Miracle.
Additional credits include leads on the feature Burning Mussolini, Nickelodeon's Gym Teacher: The Movie, co-starring Christopher Meloni and Amy Sedaris, Flirting with Forty with Heather Locklear and the FOX TV pilot The Virgin of Akron, Ohio. Supporting leads include Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem for 20th Century Fox and Possession alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar, as well as Elegy with Ben Kingsley and Penélope Cruz and Rise of the Planet of the Apes with John Lithgow and James Franco.
Her performances in the short films Dark Room (2006) and The Hostage (2010) both earned Leo nominations for Best Performance. Recurring roles include Battlestar Galactica, Exes & Ohs, The L Word, Stargate: SG1, Saved, DaVinci's Inquest, Whistler, Blackstone, Clue and Cartoon Network's Level Up.
The Hostage, for which Horsdal was nominated for Best Actress at the 2011 Leos, co-starred and was produced by Tahmoh Penikett and Aleks Paunovic. Horsdal was nominated for four more Leo Awards for her guest starring turn on Arctic Air (2013), for Hell on Wheels and When Calls the Heart, and for Patterson's Wager.
Known For

TV
Supernatural
Cute Librarian
2005

TV
Supernatural
Bobby's Mother
2005

TV
Smallville
Dr. McCann
2001

TV
Criminal Minds
Heather Woodland
2005

TV
Stargate SG-1
Lt. Catherine Womack
1997

TV
Stargate SG-1
Lt. Womack
1997

TV
Eureka
Mary-Beth Curtis
2006

TV
Arrow
Kate Spencer
2012

TV
The Good Doctor
Tessa
2017

TV
Psych
Beth
2006

TV
The 100
Simone Lightbourne
2014

TV
Star Trek: Discovery
UFP President Laira Rillak
2017

TV
Stargate Atlantis
Erran
2004

TV
Battlestar Galactica
Didi Cassidy
2004

TV
Andromeda
Misabo Ahm
2000

TV
The Man in the High Castle
Helen Smith
2015

TV
The Dead Zone
Janet Miller
2002

TV
When Calls the Heart
Cat Montgomery
2014

TV
R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour
Chris' Mom
2010

TV
Motive
Deana Mitchell
2013
Filmography
2025TVSheriff Countryas Judge Merry MacRae2023FilmProm Pactas Mrs. Lansing2021TVFirefly Laneas Margie2020FilmSpontaneousas Denise2019FilmNoelleas Shelley Sussman2019FilmAshas Gail Hurst2019FilmLast Stand to Nowhereas Wylona Earp2018FilmBoundariesas Therapist2017TVThe Good Doctoras Tessa2017TVStar Trek: Discoveryas UFP President Laira Rillak2017FilmThe Showas Elliot's Mom2016FilmPretty Little Addictas Donna Phillips2016FilmCandilandas Tess/The Queen2015FilmEven Lambs Have Teethas Abby2015TVUnREALas Louise2015TVThe Returnedas Kris2015FilmPatterson's Wageras Audrey2015FilmGord's Brotheras Amanda2015TVThe Man in the High Castleas Helen Smith2014FilmWhen Calls the Heart: The Danceas Cat Montgomery2014FilmWhen Calls the Heart: A Telling Silenceas Cat Montgomery2014FilmIf I Stayas Liddy2014FilmClue: A Movie Mystery Adventureas Headmistress Kroger2014TVThe 100as Simone Lightbourne2014FilmThe Grim Sleeperas Livi Vazquez2014TVWhen Calls the Heartas Cat Montgomery2014FilmSole Custodyas Ann2013FilmHunting Seasonas Nancy2013FilmMidnight Stallionas Rita Shephard2013FilmKill for Meas Maria Klein2013TVMotiveas Deana Mitchell2012FilmIt's Christmas, Carol!as Tanya2012TVEmily Owens, M.D.as Marian Kramden2012TVArrowas Kate Spencer2012FilmThe Cabin in the Woodsas Demo Girl2012TVLevel Upas Barbara2011TVHell on Wheelsas Margaret Palmer2011FilmRise of the Planet of the Apesas Irena - Charles' Nurse2011FilmMarley & Me: The Puppy Yearsas Carol Grogan2011FilmThree Weeks, Three Kidsas Mandy Norton2011TVFairly Legalas Brooke Keller2010TVR. L. Stine's The Haunting Houras Chris' Mom2010FilmAltitudeas Mrs. Taylor2010FilmThe Client Listas Doreen2010FilmThe Torturedas Liane Strader2010FilmLying to Be Perfectas Nancy2010FilmBetwixtas Vanessa2010TVLife Unexpectedas Prosecutor2009FilmMrs. Miracleas Kate Preston2009FilmHelenas Kara2009FilmPossessionas Miranda2009FilmCome Dance at My Weddingas Nancy Reed2009FilmAlien Trespassas Betsy's Mother2009FilmBurning Mussolinias Cheryll Witherspoon2008FilmFlirting with Fortyas Anne2008FilmPassengersas Janice2008FilmGym Teacher: The Movieas Winnie2008FilmElegyas Susan Reese2008FilmViceas Woman in Elevator2008FilmPast Liesas Danielle2008TVThe Guard2007FilmAliens vs Predator: Requiemas Darcy2007TVExes & Ohsas Lauren Brooks2007TVBionic Womanas Suicidal Woman2007FilmPerfect Childas Jen2007FilmCrossroads - A Story of Forgivenessas Cindy2007FilmAshes Fallas Joanna2007FilmA Decent Proposalas Cynthia Lewis2006TVMen in Treesas Pretty Redhead2006FilmFallenas Lori Corbett2006TVEurekaas Mary-Beth Curtis2006TVPsychas Beth2006TVWhistler2006FilmX-Men: The Last Standas Minivan Mother2006FilmHollow Man IIas Blind Secretary2006TVThe Evidence2006FilmThe Pink Pantheras Security Guard2005FilmDreams in the Witch Houseas Frances Elwood2005TVMasters of Horroras Frances Elwood2005TVCriminal Mindsas Heather Woodland2005TVSupernaturalas Cute Librarian2005FilmThe Exorcism of Emily Roseas Asst. DA #32005TVReunion2005TVRobson Arms2004FilmPursuedas Sharon2004TVBattlestar Galacticaas Didi Cassidy2004TVStargate Atlantisas Erran2004TVThe 4400as Jeanine2003FilmPaycheckas Young Mother2003TVTru Callingas Admissions Officer2002TVThe Dead Zoneas Janet Miller2001TVSmallvilleas Dr. McCann2000TVAndromedaas Misabo Ahm1997TVStargate SG-1as Lt. Catherine Womack1992TVThe Hat Squadas Young Woman1951TVHallmark Hall of Fameas Cindy—FilmThe Ambassadoras Mrs. Spencer