Honestly, if you’ve spent any time at all watching the CW, Hallmark, or even high-stakes spy thrillers over the last decade, you have definitely seen Stephanie Bennett. She is one of those actresses who feels like she’s everywhere once you start looking. She isn't just "the girl from that one thing." She is a Canadian powerhouse who has built a massive filmography by being incredibly versatile.
One minute she’s playing a Disney princess, and the next she’s a gritty spy in a dark CBC drama. That kind of range is rare. Most actors get pigeonholed into "the best friend" or "the villain," but Bennett somehow manages to jump between genres without breaking a sweat. If you’re trying to keep track of Stephanie Bennett movies and tv shows, you’re going to need a roadmap because her career is all over the place in the best way possible.
From Horror Roots to Hallmark Royalty
A lot of people don’t realize she actually got her start in the horror world. It’s a bit of a rite of passage for young actors, right? Her first big lead was in Grave Encounters 2 back in 2012. She played Tessa Hamill, and it was a solid performance in a found-footage sequel that actually had some decent scares. Soon after, she popped up in Leprechaun: Origins. While those movies might not be winning Oscars, they proved she could carry a film and handle the physical demands of a high-energy set.
But let’s be real. If you’re a fan today, you probably know her from her Hallmark and Lifetime run. She has become a staple of the "cozy mystery" and "holiday romance" circuit.
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- The Nine Lives of Christmas (and the sequel!): She plays Jaclyn, and these movies are basically comfort food in cinematic form.
- Wedding Season: She took a lead role as Trish here, and it’s one of those classic Hallmark flicks that people just adore.
- Christmas Class Reunion: Another one where she plays Samantha.
- Yellowstone Romance: She played Olivia in this UP tv movie, showing she can do the "rugged romance" thing just as well as the Christmas stuff.
It’s easy to dismiss these roles as "light," but there is a specific skill in making those characters feel grounded and likeable. Bennett has that down to a science.
The Sci-Fi and Fantasy Breakthrough: Shadowhunters and More
The real turning point for her—at least in terms of a global fanbase—was her role as Lydia Branwell in Shadowhunters. If you were on the internet in 2016, you know how intense that fandom was. Lydia was a complicated character. She wasn't exactly a villain, but she was an obstacle for the main couple, which usually means the fans will hate you. Instead, Bennett played her with such a mix of duty and vulnerability that people actually respected the character.
Why Her TV Career Is So Interesting
She doesn't just do one-off guest spots. She tends to land recurring roles that actually matter to the plot. You might remember her from UnREAL, where she played Pepper. That show was a brutal, satirical look at reality TV, and being part of that cast showed she had the acting chops to handle much darker, more cynical material.
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Then there was 21 Thunder. This was a CBC series about a soccer academy in Montreal. She played Christy Cook, one of the leads. It was gritty, fast-paced, and totally different from the Seelie-and-Shadowhunter world. She also had a recurring stint in Travelers (the Netflix/Showcase sci-fi hit) as Jenny. If you haven't seen Travelers, go watch it. It’s brilliant, and her arc in season two is a great example of her ability to play someone who is both a victim of circumstance and a potential threat.
The "Other" Stephanie Bennetts: A Quick Reality Check
Google can be a bit of a mess sometimes. When you search for Stephanie Bennett movies and tv shows, you might run into two other women with the same name.
- The Harpist: There is a legendary harpist named Stephanie Bennett who has played for everyone from Paul McCartney to Beck. She has also "appeared" in shows like Hart of Dixie as a harpist.
- The News Reporter: There is an Emmy-winning reporter for Fox 10 in Phoenix. She’s great at what she does, but she isn't the one fighting leprechauns or dating handsome bachelors in Christmas towns.
Just making sure we're on the same page: we’re talking about the Vancouver-born actress who was also Snow White in Disney’s Descendants. Yeah, she did that too.
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The Big Roles You Might Have Missed
If you want to see her best work, you have to look at The Romeo Section. It was a spy thriller created by Chris Haddock (the guy behind Da Vinci's Inquest). Bennett played Dee Taggart, and critics absolutely loved her in it. John Doyle from The Globe and Mail even pointed out that she went "full throttle" into the role. It’s a very "adult" drama—think shadows, secrets, and high-stakes espionage. It’s probably her most "serious" work to date and shows what she can do when the training wheels are off.
- The Unauthorized Full House Story: She played Lori Loughlin (Aunt Becky). It’s a TV movie, sure, but she nailed the likeness and the vibe.
- Big Eyes: She had a small part in this Tim Burton film. Even a small role in a Burton movie is a big deal for a Canadian actress working her way up.
- Supernatural: Like every actor who ever lived in Vancouver, she had her Supernatural moment. She played Shelly in the episode "Clip Show."
What’s Next?
As of 2025 and 2026, she is still incredibly active. She recently starred in A Change in Heart and is continuing to be a dominant force in the TV movie world with titles like Another Sweet Christmas.
The interesting thing about Stephanie Bennett is that she seems to be the "reliable" pick for casting directors. Need someone who can lead a romance? Call Stephanie. Need someone who can play a tough-as-nails detective or a spy? Call Stephanie.
If you want to dive deeper into her work, your best bet is to start with Shadowhunters for the fantasy fix, then move to The Romeo Section if you want to see her really act. If you just want to turn your brain off and feel good, literally any of her Hallmark movies will do the trick. She’s built a career that isn't based on one massive blockbuster, but on being a consistently great, working actress who makes every project she's in just a little bit better.
Keep an eye on her latest releases on platforms like Hallmark Movies Now or CBC Gem—she usually has three or four projects dropping a year, so there is always something new to catch.