Ever watch a show and think, "Who is that?" Not because they’re the lead, but because they’re just... vibrating on a different frequency than everyone else? That is basically the Ksenia Solo experience. Honestly, if you’ve spent any time in the sci-fi or period drama trenches, you’ve definitely seen her. She’s the girl with the eyes that look like they can see your browser history and a range that goes from "homeless street urchin with a heart of gold" to "18th-century socialite plotting a revolution."
Most people know her as Kenzi. You know, the human sidekick in Lost Girl who somehow made a show about a succubus actually feel grounded. But the list of Ksenia Solo movies and tv shows is surprisingly deep, stretching from gritty indie horror to high-budget historical epics. She’s one of those actors who hasn't quite hit that "household name" status where she's on every cereal box, but within the industry? She’s a heavy hitter. She was literally the youngest actor to ever win two consecutive Gemini Awards. That doesn't happen by accident.
The Lost Girl Era and the Magic of Kenzi
Let’s be real: Lost Girl would have been a lot less fun without Kenzi. While the show focused on Bo (Anna Silk) navigating the world of the Fae, Ksenia Solo played MacKenzie "Kenzi" Malikov, the human heart of the story. She wasn't just a sidekick. She was the one who gave the show its wit. Her fashion was a chaotic mix of Russian street style and goth-chic, and she delivered lines with a dry sarcasm that most actors can’t pull off without sounding annoying.
She played Kenzi for five seasons. It’s rare to see a human character in a supernatural show who doesn’t eventually get "powers" just to stay relevant. Kenzi stayed human. Ksenia made that her strength. She was the vulnerable one, the one who could die at any second, which made her bravery actually mean something.
Moving Into Darker Territory: Black Swan and Pet
If you only know her from TV, her film work might actually scare you a bit. Remember Black Swan? The 2010 Darren Aronofsky movie that made everyone terrified of hangnails? Ksenia was in that. She played Veronica, one of the dancers competing with Natalie Portman’s character. It wasn't a huge role, but being handpicked by Aronofsky for a movie that won Oscars says a lot about where she was headed.
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Then there’s Pet (2016). This movie is a trip. She stars opposite Dominic Monaghan (Merry from Lord of the Rings). He plays a guy who kidnaps her and keeps her in a cage underneath an animal shelter. Sounds like a standard "girl in trouble" horror movie, right? Wrong. Ksenia’s performance in the second half of that film is a masterclass in psychological manipulation. Without spoiling it, let’s just say the cage doesn't keep her character down for long. It’s dark, it’s gross, and she is absolutely chilling in it.
The Period Drama Pivot: TURN and Project Blue Book
Ksenia has a face that just works in the past. In TURN: Washington's Spies, she played Peggy Shippen. If you're a history buff, you know Peggy was the wife of Benedict Arnold and arguably one of the most effective spies in the American Revolution.
Solo played her with this incredible, delicate layers of deception. She was charming the literal pants off British officers while funneling intel. It was a massive departure from the "street-smart" roles she’d done before. It showed she could handle heavy, dramatic dialogue and the physical constraints of 18th-century corsets without losing her edge.
Then she jumped into the 1950s for Project Blue Book. She played Susie Miller, a character who starts off as a "friendly neighbor" to the protagonist's wife but is actually a Soviet spy. Seeing a pattern? She’s really good at playing people who are pretending to be someone else.
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Why She’s the "Disruptor" in Orphan Black
In Season 3 of Orphan Black, she showed up as Shay Davydov. She was a holistic healer who became a love interest for Cosima. Fans were... conflicted. People love "Cophine" (Cosima and Delphine), so anyone coming between them was going to have a hard time.
But Ksenia played Shay with such a relaxed, "hippie-military" vibe that she actually won over a lot of the skeptics. She brought a calmness to a show that was usually high-octane chaos. Even when the plot started hinting that she might be a mole (there’s that "pretending to be someone else" thing again), you kind of wanted her to be innocent just because she was so likable.
A Quick Cheat Sheet of Her Best Work
If you want to do a Ksenia Solo marathon, here is how I’d break it down based on what you’re in the mood for:
- For the "Classic" Experience: Watch Lost Girl. It’s her most iconic role.
- For History Nerds: TURN: Washington’s Spies. She’s a revelation as Peggy Shippen.
- For Horror/Thriller Fans: Pet. Just... maybe don't eat while watching it.
- For Indie Lovers: In Search of Fellini. She plays a girl who travels to Italy to find the legendary director. It’s dreamy and weird.
- For the Cult Following: Orphan Black. Even though she’s only in one season, she makes a mark.
What’s the Deal with Her Recent Work?
People keep asking what happened to her after Project Blue Book was canceled. She’s been picky. She’s also moved into directing and producing, which makes sense for someone who has been on sets since she was ten years old. She’s also a director for Stand for the Silent, an anti-bullying organization.
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Honestly, she doesn't seem like the type of actor who is chasing a Marvel paycheck. She seems to chase characters that have a secret. Whether it’s a spy in the 1700s or a thief in a fantasy world, she specializes in the "woman with a hidden agenda."
Where to Start if You’re New
If you haven’t seen anything with her yet, start with the Lost Girl pilot. It’s a bit 2010s-campy, but the chemistry between her and Anna Silk is instant. You’ll see why people stayed obsessed with that show for years.
After that, jump straight to TURN. It’s a complete 180. Seeing her go from a girl in a beanie eating cereal to a high-society lady in a ballroom is the best way to appreciate what she can actually do. She isn't just a "genre actress." She’s a chameleon who happens to really like sci-fi and history.
Basically, Ksenia Solo is the secret weapon of the TV world. She makes every project better just by being in the frame, and if you haven't explored her filmography yet, you're missing out on some of the best character acting of the last twenty years.
To get the most out of her work today, check out In Search of Fellini on streaming platforms like Prime Video or Tubi. It’s perhaps her most personal performance and shows a side of her range—vulnerability and wide-eyed wonder—that her "tough girl" roles usually hide. After that, a re-watch of Pet will give you the perfect whiplash to understand why she's a powerhouse.