Chuck

Background:

“I'm more well known in the USA than I am here (Australia).” Yvonne Strahovski

Australian import Yvonne Strahovski is popular among American audiences for playing CIA agent Sarah Walker in the series “Chuck” (NBC, 2007-present). The role was honored with the Best TV Character Award IGN in 2007 and she was listed as one of Maxim Magazine's “Hottest Women of Fall TV's 2008.” She also was named one of Wizard magazine's “24 Sexiest Women of TV” in 2008 and one of Maxim's “Hot 100 Women of the World” in 2009. Talking about how her life has changed since “Chuck,” she said, “Dramatically. I came here with one suitcase and some clothes, so I had to buy a car and get some furniture and find a place to live, make some friends. It's like starting school again. So my life has pretty much done a 180.”

Prior to “Chuck,” Strahovski appeared in Australian TV and film projects, including the drama series “Headland,” the television movie “BlackJack: Dead Memory” (2006) and the movie “Gone” (2007). She will star in the American thriller “The Canyon” (2009), opposite Will Patton and Eion Bailey, and the Australian movies “Love and Mortar” (2009), “I Love You Too” (2009) and “Shadows from the Sky” (2010).

Strahovski dated fellow Aussie actor Matt Doran from 2006 to 2007. She is science fiction fan and loves movies like “Jurassic Park” and “Alien.”

Outdoor Lover

Childhood and Family:

Yvonne Strahovski was born Yvonne Strzechowski on July 30, 1982, in Maroubra, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Her parents are immigrants from Poland. She attended Santa Sabina College and later graduated from the University of Western Sydney's Theatre Nepean with a Bachelor of Arts in Performance. She was a straight A student in school. She recalled, “I loved school. I loved putting on my uniform and doing homework every day. I was one of those good students that the teachers liked. I guess that's got to be a pretty nerdy, geeky part of me.”

Yvonne relocated to Los Angeles, California, in 2007. She enjoys hiking, rock climbing, camping, exploring caves and horseback riding in her spare time.

The Canyon

Career:

Yvonne Strahovski made her television acting debut playing Suzie in “Fear Factory” (2004), an episode of the Australian comedy series “Double the Fist.” It was followed with the recurring role of Freya Lewis in several episodes of the drama series “Headland” (2005-2006) and a small role in the made-for-TV film “BlackJack: Dead Memory” (2006), which starred Colin Friels. In 2007, she made her feature film debut in the contemporary psychological thriller “Gone,” which was released in the U.K. on March 9, 2007 and in Australia on July 19, 2007. In the movie, she played the supporting role of Sondra.

Strahovski's big break came when she won the lead role of Agent Sara Walker in the NBC series “Chuck,” her American debut, opposite Zachary Levi, who was cast as computer expert Chuck Bartowski. The show debuted on September 24, 2007, and began its second season on September 29, 2008. It was nominated for a 2007 Satellite Award for Best Television Series, Comedy or Musical and a 2008 People's Choice Award for Favorite New TV Comedy. Commenting about her role on the show, she said, “Sarah is very strong. She's really intelligent and she's very physically capable. I like to put that into my own life as well.”

Strahovski returned to Australia to make a guest appearance in an episode of “Sea Patrol” called “Cometh the Hour,” which aired on October 4, 2007. She next appeared with Laura Andersen, Steve Bastoni and John Boxer in the comedy film “The Plex” for Aussie filmmaker Tim Boyle, and costarred as Lara in the short film “Persons of Interest” (2009), which was co-written and directed by Tristan Kenyon.

The blue eyed actress has completed filming “The Canyon,” an American thriller directed by Richard Harrah and written by Steve Allrich. It is scheduled to be released in the U.S. on October 23, 2009. In addition, she will star as Veronica in the Australian drama “Love and Mortar” (2009), opposite Jacinda Barrett and Richard Roxburgh, and Alice in the Australian comedy “I Love You Too” (2009), with Peter Dinklage. She will also work with Talia Shire, John Rhys-Davies, Marina Sirtis and Craig Fairbrass in the big screen adaptation of Tristan Loraine's book, “Shadows from the Sky” (2010).

Awards:

• IGN: Best TV Character Award, 2007