# Catherine Disher
**Catherine Disher** (full name Catherine Wilder Disher) is a Canadian actress and voice performer known for playing Dr. Natalie Lambert on the vampire series *Forever Knight*, voicing [Jean Grey](https://www.edgepedia.org/jean-grey) on *X-Men: The Animated Series*, and voicing [Jill Valentine](https://www.edgepedia.org/jill-valentine) in the video game *Resident Evil 3: Nemesis*. She has received seven Gemini Award nominations and won two, for *Snakes & Ladders* in 2004 and *The Border* in 2010.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0228324)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1960; sources disagree on place, giving either Paddington, London, England[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0228324/bio/) or Montréal, Québec[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/catherine-disher/) |
| Signature live-action role | Dr. Natalie Lambert on *Forever Knight* (CBS 1992–96), a German-Canadian production shot in Toronto[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/catherine-disher/) |
| Signature voice role | Jean Grey/Phoenix on *X-Men: The Animated Series* (Fox Kids 1992–97), voicing all five seasons[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/catherine-disher/) |
| Video game role | Jill Valentine, the title character of *Resident Evil 3: Nemesis*[4](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/catherine-disher/bio/3030080952/) |
| Gemini Awards | Seven nominations; won best actress in a continuing leading dramatic role for *Snakes & Ladders* (2004) and best supporting actress for *The Border* (2010)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0228324) |
| Hallmark role | Martha Tinsdale in *The Good Witch* movies and series, beginning with the 2008 TV movie[5](https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/the-good-witchs-gift/cast/catherine-disher) |
| Recent work | Voice of Val Cooper in *X-Men '97* (2024– ), a new character rather than Jean Grey[6](https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a60229150/x-men-97-brad-winderbaum-interview/) |
## Early life and training
Disher was born in 1960. Her IMDb biography places her birth in [Paddington](https://www.edgepedia.org/paddington), London, England, and says she was raised in Montreal[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0228324/bio/), while [TV Guide](https://www.edgepedia.org/tv-guide) and TV Insider list her birthplace as Montreal, Quebec[4](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/catherine-disher/bio/3030080952/) • [3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/catherine-disher/). She attended [Phillips Exeter Academy](https://www.edgepedia.org/phillips-exeter-academy) in New Hampshire, graduating in 1978, then studied English literature at McGill University in Montreal before being accepted to and graduating from the National Theatre School of Canada[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0228324/bio/).
Acting was not her first plan. She considered becoming a zoologist and spent time working for a company that taught dolphins phonetics[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0228324/bio/).
## Television career
Disher began her on-screen career in 1986 in both film and television, working on United States and Canadian productions mostly filmed in Toronto[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/catherine-disher/). By 1988 she had a frequently recurring role as Sophie on the crime drama *T. and T.*, starring [Mr. T](https://www.edgepedia.org/mr-t), and in 1989 she took a major supporting role as Mana on the syndicated science-fiction series *War of the Worlds*[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/catherine-disher/). TV Guide notes that she received hateful letters from viewers after the show's second season changed the framework of the series[4](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/catherine-disher/bio/3030080952/).
**Forever Knight.** In 1992 Disher was cast as Dr. Natalie Lambert, a department pathologist, on the horror-mystery series *Forever Knight*, which ran on CBS from 1992 to 1996[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/catherine-disher/). The role brought her two Gemini nominations for best performance by an actress in a continuing leading dramatic role, in 1994 and 1996[4](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/catherine-disher/bio/3030080952/). As preparation for playing a pathologist she spent a day at a morgue, drawing the line at watching an autopsy[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0228324/bio/).
**The Border and later leads.** She won the Gemini Award for best actress in 2004 for playing the volatile federal cabinet minister Audrey Flankman in the CBC series *Snakes and Ladders*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0228324). In 2008 she began another lead role as Superintendent Maggie Norton on the CBC crime drama *The Border* (2008–2010), and won a second Gemini in 2010 for best supporting actress in the role; she was nominated once for each of the show's three seasons[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0228324) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0228324/bio/).
**The Good Witch.** In 2008 Disher took the supporting role of Martha Tinsdale in the Hallmark TV movie *The Good Witch*, starring Catherine Bell. The movie was [Hallmark Channel](https://www.edgepedia.org/hallmark-channel)'s highest-rated film of 2007 by the network's account, spawned six sequel movies, and became a series in 2015 in which Disher continued as Martha, the doyenne of Middleton society[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/catherine-disher/) • [5](https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/the-good-witchs-gift/cast/catherine-disher). In her own description, Martha began as "a real bad guy" in the first movie and softened over time, though Disher still plays her with an impulsive edge[7](https://mydevotionalthoughts.net/interview-with-actress-catherine-disher-good-witch/).
Her television movies include the period heist *Grand Larceny*, in which she played showgirl Dulcie Dobbs and earned her first Gemini nomination; *The Terry Fox Story* (2005), as Betty Fox; and the Lifetime movie *An Officer and a Murderer* (2012), as Chief Catherine Novak[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0228324/bio/). Guest roles include *Rookie Blue*, *[Saving Hope](https://www.edgepedia.org/saving-hope)*, *Flashpoint*, *Murdoch Mysteries*, and *Remedy*[8](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/37642/catherine-disher).
## Voice work
Disher has worked extensively in animation, radio drama, and video games. In 1992, the same year she joined *Forever Knight*, she began voicing Jean Grey and Phoenix on *X-Men: The Animated Series* ([Fox Kids](https://www.edgepedia.org/fox-kids) 1992–97), providing voiceover for all five seasons and continuing in *X-Men* video games into 2001[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/catherine-disher/). Her other animated credits include *Sailor Moon*, *Care Bears*, *Atomic Betty*, *Franklin*, *Babar*, and the role of Mom in the Emmy-winning *[Rolie Polie Olie](https://www.edgepedia.org/rolie-polie-olie)*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0228324).
In video games she is the voice of Jill Valentine, the title character of *Resident Evil 3: Nemesis*[4](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/catherine-disher/bio/3030080952/).
**X-Men '97.** When the sequel series *X-Men '97* premiered on Disney+ in 2024, most of the original cast returned, but [Jennifer Hale](https://www.edgepedia.org/jennifer-hale) took over the role of Jean Grey. Disher returned to the franchise voicing a new character, the government official Dr. Valerie Cooper[6](https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a60229150/x-men-97-brad-winderbaum-interview/). Hale said in a 2024 Television Academy interview that honoring Disher's original performance "was the requirement" for her own portrayal[9](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/online-originals/x-men-97-marvel-animation-voice-cast-interview).
## Personal life
Disher married her *X-Men* co-star Cedric Smith, a producer and actor; the marriage ended in divorce, and they have a son, Darcy Montgomery Smith[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0228324/bio/) • [4](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/catherine-disher/bio/3030080952/).
## References
1. [Catherine Disher, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0228324)
2. [Catherine Disher – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0228324/bio/)
3. [Catherine Disher – Actress, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/catherine-disher/)
4. [Catherine Disher Biography, Celebrity Facts and Awards, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/catherine-disher/bio/3030080952/)
5. [Catherine Disher as Martha on The Good Witch's Gift, Hallmark Channel](https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/the-good-witchs-gift/cast/catherine-disher)
6. [X-Men '97 Interview With Brad Winderbaum, Men's Health](https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a60229150/x-men-97-brad-winderbaum-interview/)
7. [Interview With Actress Catherine Disher, "Good Witch", Media From the Heart by Ruth Hill](https://mydevotionalthoughts.net/interview-with-actress-catherine-disher-good-witch/)
8. [Catherine Disher, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/37642/catherine-disher)
9. [How X-Men '97 Brought Marvel's Mutants Back to TV, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/online-originals/x-men-97-marvel-animation-voice-cast-interview)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › Canadian actors › Surnames Cr to F*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license