# Julia Chan
**Julia Chan** (also known professionally as **Julia Taylor Ross**) is a British actress and television presenter, best known for playing Dr. Maggie Lin on the Canadian medical drama *Saving Hope* (2012–2017), co-hosting the first two seasons of *The Great Canadian Baking Show*, and starring as Pepper Smith in [The CW](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-cw)'s *Katy Keene* (2020).[1](https://www.formulatv.com/personas/julia-chan/) She was born Julia Chan in Cheshire, England, to a Canadian mother and a father of Chinese heritage, and spent part of her childhood in Hong Kong.[2](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/julia-ross.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1983, Cheshire, England (one database lists 1983, in London)[2](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/julia-ross.html) • [3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/julia-chan/) |
| Professional name | Julia Taylor Ross; born Julia Chan[4](https://www.archytele.com/person/julia-chan) |
| Education | B.A. in history of art and architecture, Harvard University (2005, cum laude); MFA in acting, The New School for Drama (2010)[5](https://ggagency.ca/chan/) |
| Breakthrough role | Dr. Maggie Lin on *Saving Hope*, 2012–2017[1](https://www.formulatv.com/personas/julia-chan/) |
| Stage | West End debut in *2:22 – A Ghost Story*, Noël Coward Theatre, 2021[6](https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/julia-chan-on-making-her-west-end-debut-in-222-a-ghost-story_54630/) |
| Recent work | *Archive 81* (2022), *Will Trent* and *Accused* (2023), *Before* and *Brilliant Minds* (2024), *Ripple* (2025)[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/julia-chan/) |
## Early life and education
Chan was born in Prestbury, Cheshire, England.[2](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/julia-ross.html) Her childhood was split between England and Hong Kong, where her father worked.[7](https://www.edna.cz/herci/julia-chan/) She began her higher education at [University College London](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-college-london) before transferring to Harvard University, where she received a [Bachelor of Arts](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelor-of-arts) degree in history of art and architecture, graduating cum laude in 2005.[2](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/julia-ross.html) • [5](https://ggagency.ca/chan/) While at Harvard she acted at the American Repertory Theater, appearing in student productions directed by, among others, [Damien Chazelle](https://www.edgepedia.org/damien-chazelle).[2](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/julia-ross.html) • [5](https://ggagency.ca/chan/) She earned a Master of Fine Arts in acting from The New School's School of Drama in New York in 2010.[2](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/julia-ross.html) • [5](https://ggagency.ca/chan/)
## Television career
**Saving Hope.** Chan's breakthrough came as Dr. Maggie Lin on the Canadian medical drama *Saving Hope*, which she played across the series' five seasons from 2012 to 2017.[1](https://www.formulatv.com/personas/julia-chan/) • [5](https://ggagency.ca/chan/) Earlier television work included guest roles on *Rookie Blue*, *Republic of Doyle* (credited as Julia Taylor Ross), and *Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures* in 2010, and *Gotham* in 2014.[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/julia-chan/) • [4](https://www.archytele.com/person/julia-chan)
**Presenting and voice work.** She also voiced the character Pickles Aplenty (and Melinda Golightlier) in the animated series *BoJack Horseman* from 2019 to 2020.[1](https://www.formulatv.com/personas/julia-chan/)
**Katy Keene and later series.** In 2020 she played Pepper Smith, one of the central characters, in *Katy Keene*, The CW's spin-off of *Riverdale*.[1](https://www.formulatv.com/personas/julia-chan/) • [8](https://www.metacritic.com/person/julia-chan/) She followed this as a series regular as Anabelle in Netflix's *[Archive 81](https://www.edgepedia.org/archive-81)* (2022).[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/julia-chan/) Her subsequent television credits include recurring and guest roles as Ava Green in *Will Trent* (ABC, 2023), Sarah in *Accused* (Fox, 2023), the Therapist in *Before* (Apple TV, 2024), Alison Zhang-Whitaker in *Brilliant Minds* (NBC, 2024), and a series lead as Kris in *[Ripple](https://www.edgepedia.org/ripple-tv-series)* (Lionsgate, 2025).[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/julia-chan/) • [5](https://ggagency.ca/chan/)
## Film
Chan made her feature film debut in the 2011 horror film *Silent House*, playing Sophia alongside [Elizabeth Olsen](https://www.edgepedia.org/elizabeth-olsen).[2](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/julia-ross.html) Her other film credits include *A Kid Like Jake* (2018) and the short *Extinct* (2021), in which she voiced Mrs. Sun.[4](https://www.archytele.com/person/julia-chan) • [3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/julia-chan/)
## Theatre
**West End debut.** In 2021 Chan made her West End debut in Danny Robins's supernatural thriller *2:22 – A Ghost Story* at the [Noël Coward Theatre](https://www.edgepedia.org/noel-coward-theatre), appearing alongside [Lily Allen](https://www.edgepedia.org/lily-allen), Hadley Fraser, and [Jake Wood](https://www.edgepedia.org/jake-wood); she flew over from Pittsburgh for the role, finishing quarantine the day before rehearsals began.[6](https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/julia-chan-on-making-her-west-end-debut-in-222-a-ghost-story_54630/)
Her New York stage credits include Yelena in an [Off-Broadway](https://www.edgepedia.org/off-broadway) production of *Uncle Vanya* (2023) and the Off-Broadway premiere of *Pre-Existing Condition* (2024), directed by [Maria Dizzia](https://www.edgepedia.org/maria-dizzia).[9](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Julia-Chan/) • [5](https://ggagency.ca/chan/) She also played Taya in Matthew Dunster's *Hedda*, starring Lily Allen, at the Theatre Royal Bath in 2025.[5](https://ggagency.ca/chan/)
## Personal life
Chan married Erik Ratensperger in 2011.[2](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/julia-ross.html) She has been based in Los Angeles and New York.[7](https://www.edna.cz/herci/julia-chan/)
## Other people named Julia Chan
The name refers to several unrelated public figures. Julia Chan of juliachan.ca is a Canadian writer, artist, and academic, an Assistant Professor in Critical Media Practice at the [University of Calgary](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-calgary), whose short film *In Shadow* screened at the [Sundance Film Festival](https://www.edgepedia.org/sundance-film-festival).[10](https://www.juliachan.ca/about) A Julia Chan who is a professor of English at Lingnan University in Hong Kong has been quoted as an expert on the writer [Eileen Chang](https://www.edgepedia.org/eileen-chang).[11](https://www.chinadailyhk.com/upload/main/pdf/2024/04/12/aace156b90cc09786bfe5898b9ed178c.pdf)
## References
1. [Julia Chan: noticias, fotos y vídeos de Julia Taylor Ross, FormulaTV](https://www.formulatv.com/personas/julia-chan/)
2. [Julia Taylor Ross – Age, Bio, Family, Famous Birthdays](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/julia-ross.html)
3. [Julia Chan – Actress, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/julia-chan/)
4. [Julia Chan: Movies, TV Shows & Biography, Archytele](https://www.archytele.com/person/julia-chan)
5. [Julia Chan, GG Agency](https://ggagency.ca/chan/)
6. [Julia Chan on making her West End debut in 2:22 – A Ghost Story, What's On Stage](https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/julia-chan-on-making-her-west-end-debut-in-222-a-ghost-story_54630/)
7. [Julia Chan, Edna.cz](https://www.edna.cz/herci/julia-chan/)
8. [Julia Chan, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/person/julia-chan/)
9. [Julia Chan (Actor) – Broadway & Theatre Credits, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Julia-Chan/)
10. [About, juliachan.ca](https://www.juliachan.ca/about)
11. [China Daily HK, April 12, 2024](https://www.chinadailyhk.com/upload/main/pdf/2024/04/12/aace156b90cc09786bfe5898b9ed178c.pdf)
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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 › English actors: 2000s onward › Surnames C*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 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