For many reasons which include a lack of interest and change in goals, or an inability to accurately transition from child to adult roles; many child actors were unable to pursue careers as adults. That was not the case for Jewel Staite, however, who, like other famous Canadian actors such as Ryan Gosling and Sarah Polley, was able to make the transition. The talented actress is famous for her appearances in television series such as Firefly and Stargate Atlantis, among others. Read on to find out more about Staite, how she started her career and other interesting facts below.
Jewel Staite Biography
Jewel Staite was born Jewel Belair Staite in White Rock, British Columbia, Canada on June 2, 1982. Her parents’ names are unknown, but she is the youngest of their seven children. Through her parents, she is of British, Irish, French Canadian, and Iroquois ancestry. When she was growing up, Staite was spotted by a modeling agent in a Vancouver store with her mother.
After a series of meetings, the girl got a modeling contract, a move that helped shape her career path. While modeling, Staite added acting to her resume around the age of 5. In 1991, she made her first notable appearance in the television movie. Posing: Inspired by Three True Stories. In the following years, she appeared in episodes of The Odyssey (1992, 1994), Liar Liar (1993), Are You Afraid of the Dark? (1994, 1995), and The X-Files (1995), before making his film debut in Gold Diggers: The Secret of Bear Mountain (1995).
In 1996, Jewel Staite managed to land her first starring role, which also co-starred, in the first season of the Nickelodeon science fiction television series, Space Case. The same year, she landed a leading role alongside actor Ben Foster in the Disney Original series, Flash Forward (1996-1997). A few other notable appearances during the ’90s include Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show (1997 – 1999), Da Vinci’s Mystery (1998 – 2001), and Sabrina: The Animated Series (1999).
Not relying on what her natural talent was able to support herself, Staite enrolled in the Vancouver Film School as she also worked at the Vancouver Youth Theatre. After her studies, she continued her acting career appearing in television series like Firefly (2002 – 2003), Merveilles (2004), and Stargate Atlantis (2007 – 2009) and films like Serenity (2005) and After the Twilight They Come (2009).
Jewel Staite is known for her work in the series The LA Complex (2012), and The Killing (2013 – 2014). She also featured in the 2015 films, She Who Must Burn and How to Plan a Small Town Orgy
Staite Jewel Net Worth
Jewel Staite undoubtedly enjoys a very successful acting career which has made her very wealthy. The actress who started her career very young is said to have a net worth of several million dollars; However, the exact value of his financial situation is currently unknown.
In addition to her on-screen work, Staite also works behind the scenes as an executive producer. Some of his works include the 2015 comedy, How to Plan a Small Town Orgy. With all her earnings, she has been able to donate some of her money to charities, especially those related to AIDS awareness and research. She is particularly keen on this cause because her uncle died of the disease.
Family: husband and children
Jewel Staite is happily married to her husband, Charlie Ritchie. The couple got engaged in May 2015, the same month in which Staite announced she was pregnant with her first child. On December 9, 2015, the duo welcomed a son, Wilder Cathcart Ritchie. A few months later, the couple exchanged vows and their wedding took place on July 23, 2016.
Meanwhile, Staite’s will hope to enjoy a second, more successful attempt at marriage to Ritchie after her first with actor Matt Anderson ended in divorce. The actress married her colleague in a ceremony in 2003, where actress Morena Baccarin was her bridesmaid. The couple’s union lasted until 2011, when they decided to officially separate.
Height and body measurements
Jewel Staite is 5 feet 5 inches (165cm) tall. The Canadian, who has brown hair and hazel eyes, weighs around 125 lbs (57 kg). She additionally has body measurements of 34-26-35 inches (87-68-91 cm) and wears a shoe size of 10 (US).