Went to high school at Leaside High School in Toronto, only a couple of years apart from another former Leaside student, actress Brooke Nevin.
Who is Laura Bertram?
Laura Bertram is a Canadian actress who is perhaps best known for portraying one of the main characters in the television sci-fi series “Andromeda”, in which she starred as Trance Gemini. Apart from this major accomplishment, she is also widely recognized for starring in the TV family drama series “Ready or Not” as well as in the 2011 romantic comedy drama movie “50/50”.
Early Life and Education
Laura Maureen Bertram was born under the zodiac sign of Virgo on the 5th September 1978, in Toronto, Ontario Canada, and apart from being of Canadian nationality, she is also of white ethnicity. She is the eldest of three children of Denise and John David Bertram, who was not only a teacher but a coordinator and an instructor at the Canadian Opera Company, and has two younger sisters who were both actresses – Heather, born in 1981 and famous for starring in the TV series ” PSI Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal” and Jennifer, born in 1984 and known for appearing in the TV series “Are You Afraid of the Dark?”.
When it comes to her schooling background, Laura matriculated from Leaside High School in her home town of Toronto, before enrolling at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. However, after her junior year, she transferred to the University of Guelph from which she graduated in 2004, obtaining her Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Modern Continental European history. During her studies, she supported herself by serving as a waitress in a local show board shop. Concurrently, Bertram also spent nine years training for ballet as well as seven years as a member of the Canadian Children’s Opera Chorus.
Laura Bertram
Career
Laura’s professional acting career began at the age of only 14, when she briefly appeared in the 1993 Golden Globe-nominated TV drama movie “Family Pictures”. This was subsequently followed by a real breakthrough in her early career, when later that year Bertram was cast for the role of the main character Amanda Zimm in the Canadian television teen drama series “Ready or Not”. The story follows two teenagers, Amanda and Elizabeth, portrayed by Lani Billard, and their day-to-day struggles growing up. The show was aired for five seasons, between 1993 and 1997, during which she reprised her role throughout a total of 65 episodes.
For her great performances, Bertram was honored with the Gemini Award for the Best Performance in a Children’s or Youth Program or Series twice, in 1995 and 1998. It is certain that this major role massively helped young Laura to prove herself as a promising actress, and step onto the path to stardom.
During the 1990s, she honed her professional skills through a variety of television engagements, by appearing in TV series such as “Street Legal”, “Are You Afraid of the Dark?”, “Mission Genesis” and “Seasons of Love”, as well as in TV movies including the Primetime Emmy-nominated film “The Boys Next Door”, and “Sins of Silence”, both in 1996.
Andromeda (2000–2005) Laura Bertram as Trance Gemini
Posted by Killer Kitsch on Monday, March 21, 2016
To a greater prominence, Bertram came in 2000 when she was cast for the role of Trance Gemini in the TV series “Andromeda“. The story, which is based on unused Gene Roddenberry’s concept materials, follows the crew of Captain Dylan Hunt (portrayed by Kevin Sorbo) on their mission to save and rebuild the Systems Commonwealth in the galactic star system Tarn-Vedra, the last settlement of humankind, set thousands of years in the future. Laura portrayed one of the main characters from Hunt’s crew, serving as a life support officer, and reprised her role in a total of 109 episodes through the show’s run of five seasons, which aired between October 2000 and May 2005.
Certainly, this engagement dramatically boosted Laura popularity and set both her career and bank account on the rise as well. In 2007, she appeared in a couple of episodes of “Robson Arms” TV series, which was followed by a streak of big screen appearances in not-so-successful movies such as “Control Alt Delete” and “Toxic Skies”, both in 2008. In 2010, she appeared briefly in an episode of the popular TV fantasy drama horror series “Supernatural”, while in 2011 she starred in the Golden Globe-nominated romantic comedy drama movie “50/50”, opposite Anna Kendrick, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen. Later that year she guest starred in the ABC TV series “Once Upon a Time“.
In 2012 Laura Bertram starred as the leading female character in the comedy movie “Random Acts of Romance” which was followed by the recurring role of Mary Dunbar in the TV drama series “When Calls the Heart” which she reprised between 2014 and 2015 through the show’s first and second season. Some of her more recent acing engagements include TV movies “Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Home Again” (2017) and “Winter’s Dream” (2018), as well as the recurring role of Kelly Girard in the 2019 TV historical drama series “Unspeakable”.
Personal Life
Aren’t you curious about Laura’s personal life? Well, despite her popularity, she has somehow managed to keep her private life quite secretive, and far from the media’s attention as there aren’t many relevant yet available details regarding her romantic connections or love affairs. She is unmarried and quite possibly currently single.
She sports a slim and toned physique, and is standing 5ft 5ins (1.65m) tall, weighing around 120lbs (54kgs), and her vital statistics measure 34-26-35. Laura also has dark brown hair and piercing blue eyes, which make her appearance quite alluring as well as camera friendly.
Net Worth
Have you ever wondered how much wealth this renowned 40-year-old Canadian actress has accumulated so far? How rich Laura Bertram is? According to sources, it is estimated that the total of her net worth, speaking as of mid-2019, revolves around an enviable sum of over $1 million. It has all been acquired through her professional acting career that now spans more than 25 years, being active since 1993, and during which she has already added over 40 acting credits to her professional portfolio.
Quotes
#
Quote
1
I have certainly realized that people know a lot more about me than I had expected. Once I checked out a site where someone had posted my high school graduation caption… which freaked me out – who would post that? One has to learn to respond to questions about one’s career, and that by working in the film industry, one actually has to expect to have questions asked of them. As for my personal life, I generally do not delve into it in interviews… except for my education. That is a topic I do not feel is too personal to discuss, especially since it has been such a formative and enjoyable part of my life so far. I suppose that I have a feeling of responsibility when I give interviews, and that my answers should be genuine, because people want to know what you think.
2
I wish I were still a dancer… that is a skill I can no longer claim to have. I began ballet classes just before my fourth birthday with a local dance teacher and some other neighborhood girls. I was a student for twelve years and now wish that I had kept it up – dancers are just so amazing to watch. I would hardly consider myself a “triple threat” – but that’s kinda cool that someone would consider me as such. To add to that, my voice is also nothing to write home about.
3
I am not sure why I was drawn to the performing arts. It may have something to do with the fact that I was a bit of a loser (guess I still am!), and somehow I felt that performing on stage gave me a confidence that I didn’t have in real life. Through that, I met many wonderful and inspiring people and grew to love the Arts, and I will always, until the end of my life, support the Performing Arts. They have shaped so much of my life.
4
I love Canada! I hope that I can always work here. Obviously I would not turn away an offer in the States if it was something that I thought would be a great opportunity, but I really would love to just stay here. The reason I would love to stay in Canada is because it is my home and I love it here!
Facts
#
Fact
1
Resides in Toronto and is rumored to have a teaching job there. [2005]
2
Spent approximately 1,750 hours in the make-up chair for “Trance Gemini” over the five-year run of Gene Roddenberry’s Andromeda (2000).
3
She also speaks French.
4
Went to high school at Leaside High School in Toronto, only a couple of years apart from another former Leaside student, actress Brooke Nevin.
5
Worked as a waitress and in a snowboard shop while at university.
6
Laura’s younger sisters – Heather Bertram and Jennifer Bertram – are also actresses.
7
Auditioned for the part of “Rogue” in X-Men (2000).
8
Spent nine years training to be a ballerina.
9
Attended Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario for one year before transferring to The University of Guelph closer to her home in Toronto.
10
She sings, and Laura was brought into the world of acting due to her performance in various operas. Her singing in the CCOC (Canadian Childrens’ Opera Chorus) started her into operas.
Pictures
Movies
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
A Wish for Christmas
2016
TV Movie
Nicole
Arctic Air
2014
TV Series
Megan
When Calls the Heart
2014
TV Series
Mary Dunbar
Random Acts of Romance
2012
Holly
Once Upon a Time
2011
TV Series
Donna
50/50
2011
Claire
Traveling at the Speed of Life
2011
Josee
Punkin
2010
Short
Laura Lippy
The Cult
2010
TV Movie
Dina
The Good Witch’s Gift
2010
TV Movie
Betty
Supernatural
2010
TV Series
Corey’s Roommate
Gunless
2010
Miss Alice
Toxic Skies
2008
Anna
Control Alt Delete
2008
Sarah
Bridal Fever
2008
TV Movie
Tina
Robson Arms
2007
TV Series
Chris Colton
Veiled Truth
2006
TV Movie
Kimberly
Murder on Pleasant Drive
2006
TV Movie
Janice II
A Nice Cup of Tea
2005
Short
Andromeda
2000-2005
TV Series
Trance Gemini
1974
2004
Short
Girl
Soul Food
2001
TV Series
Melissa Greene
Dear America: So Far from Home
1999
TV Short
Mary Driscoll
Seasons of Love
1999
TV Series
Judith Brewster
Elimination Dance
1998
Short
Mission Genesis
1997
TV Series
Aurora
Platinum
1997
TV Movie
Jessica Webb
Fast Track
1997
TV Series
Laurie
Wind at My Back
1997
TV Series
Suzanne Nelson
Ready or Not
1993-1997
TV Series
Amanda Zimm
Sins of Silence
1996
TV Movie
Carrie (uncredited)
Night of the Twisters
1996
TV Movie
Stacey Jones
The Boys Next Door
1996
TV Movie
Cashier
Are You Afraid of the Dark?
1992-1995
TV Series
Laurel
Amanda Cameron
Avonlea
1994
TV Series
Adeline Hodgson
Street Legal
1993
TV Series
Karen Brandis
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
1993
TV Series
Young Valerie
Family Pictures
1993
TV Movie
Nina (12-15)
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Finding Mr. Right
2013
acting coach: Vancouver / tutor: Vancouver
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Andromeda
2001
TV Series performer – 1 episode
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
FedCon XVI: Drone Heart
2007
Documentary
Herself
Awards
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1998
Gemini
Gemini Awards
Best Performance in a Children’s or Youth Program or Series
Ready or Not (1993)
1995
Gemini
Gemini Awards
Best Performance in a Children’s or Youth Program or Series
Ready or Not (1993)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2003
Leo
Leo Awards
Dramatic Series: Best Supporting Performance – Female
Andromeda (2000)
1998
Gemini
Gemini Awards
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series
Platinum (1997)
1996
Gemini
Gemini Awards
Best Performance in a Children’s or Youth Program or Series
