Imagine landing your first acting gig, the kind you’ve dreamt of for years—only to be told you’re not cut out for it. Now, you don’t need to imagine it, because that’s exactly what happened to Katheryn Winnick. The woman who would later portray Lagertha, the fierce shieldmaiden of Vikings, had a rather bumpy start to her career.
The Ontario-born actress, now 47, whose name has been etched in pop culture with unforgettable roles in shows like Wu Assassins and Big Sky, was once given the boot from her very first job. And while she’s now a household name, this early rejection left her in tears—a sobering reality for someone who would go on to carve a legacy in Hollywood.
Katheryn Winnick’s humbling beginning: Fired from her first acting job at 16?
Well, it’s the kind of story you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. You’d think with Katheryn Winnick’s sharp acting chops and stunning presence on screen, she would have had it easy from the get-go. But no—this was back when she was just a 16-year-old hopeful with big dreams and zero experience.
She was cast as a background actor for a scene in a movie being filmed in Toronto, and let’s just say, it didn’t exactly go as planned.
Winnick had one shot to show her worth, but instead, she got herself booted off the set before she even had a chance to blink. In an interview on The View in November 2020, she opened up about the embarrassing moment. She was eager to stand out in the crowd, so she dressed up in what she thought was the perfect outfit—a mini skirt, high heels, and a push-up bra. What could possibly go wrong?
I was so excited. I was 16-years-old and I thought, ‘Maybe this will be my chance to get discovered.’
Unfortunately, things went downhill from there. The scene, which involved a car crash with lead actors emerging from the wreckage, was meant to be chaotic but controlled. Instead, Winnick took it a bit too literally. When the director called “Action,” she jumped in with full force, shouting, “Call 911, do this, do that.”
The problem was, that wasn’t part of the plan. Her overzealous reaction wasn’t what the director had in mind, and in the blink of an eye, she found herself out of a job.
“I had no idea that you’re not supposed to do that. I ended up getting fired on my very first job,” Winnick admitted, laughing at how absurd the situation was in hindsight.
Katheryn Winnick’s embarrassing moment that had her mom picking her up in tears
But let’s be clear—this wasn’t just a small setback. Katheryn Winnick was mortified. She wasn’t some seasoned actor with thick skin—she was a teenager with hopes of breaking into the industry, and instead, she got a harsh dose of reality.
In the same interview, she admitted that she was “so embarrassed,” and that her mom had to come to her rescue. Winnick remembered being “in tears” over the whole ordeal.
But you know what they say—every setback is a setup for a comeback. Winnick didn’t let that humiliating moment define her. She kept pushing, and the rest is history. From appearing in shows like Bones, CSI: Miami, and Law & Order, to landing major roles in Wu Assassins and Big Sky, the Canadian actress built a career that’s anything but forgettable.
So, if you’re sitting there thinking you’ll never make it after a few embarrassing failures, take a leaf from Winnick’s book. And while the tears may have flowed back then, she’s the one causing the tears of joy today.
It goes to show that sometimes, the road to greatness isn’t smooth—sometimes, it’s a bumpy ride that knocks you down, makes you question everything, and then, like Katheryn Winnick, you stand tall, stronger than ever before.
Vikings is currently streaming on Netflix.
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