Katheryn Winnick
Though her latest role in the T.V hit show Vikings is what put her on the Hollywood map, Katheryn Winnick (42) embarked on her acting career in her early twenties. Perhaps what makes her so perfect for the role of Lagertha in Vikings are her impressive martial arts skills. Winnick has practiced martial arts since she was seven years old, and by the time she reached her teens, she had already obtained her first black belt. In her early twenties, Winnick owned three Taekwondo schools in Toronto.
This background might explain the athletic skills she demonstrates on the screen. In case she didn’t make it in the entertainment industry, Winnick had a backup plan as a martial arts trainer. From the time she was 21, she was a martial arts trainer, and to this day, she still offers martial arts classes as well as self-defense classes to actors. While some actors work in McDonald’s and the likes as they make their way to Hollywood, Katheryn Winnick developed quite an impressive resume as an athlete.