Stana Katic is a Canadian actress and producer. She is best known for her roles as Kate Beckett on the ABC television series Castle (2009–2016) and FBI Special Agent Emily Byrne in the Amazon Prime Video series Absentia (2017–2020). Katic was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, to Serb parents Petar and Rada Katic, who emigrated from Croatia. She has four brothers and one sister. Katic began her acting career in theater, appearing in productions at the Trinity College School in Port Hope, Ontario. She later attended the University of Toronto and the DePaul University Goodman School of Drama. After graduating from DePaul University, Katic began her television career with guest appearances on several series, including 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 on the ABC series Castle. The series was a critical and commercial success, running for eight seasons. Katic's performance as Beckett earned her several awards, including a People's Choice Award for Favorite Dramatic TV Actress and a Shorty Award for Best Actress. In 2017, Katic starred in the Amazon Prime Video series Absentia. The series follows FBI Special Agent Emily Byrne, who returns to work after disappearing for six years. Katic's performance as Byrne earned her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Katic is also a producer. She co-founded the production company Katic Productions in 2013. The company has produced several short films and television pilots.