Katherine Barrell


Katherine Barrell is a Canadian actress, writer, producer, and director. She is best known for her role as Sheriff Nicole Haught in the Syfy supernatural weird West television series Wynonna Earp. In 2020, she joined the cast of the fantasy comedy-drama television series Good Witch as Joy Harper.

Early life

Barrell was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to a Slovenian mother. She attended Assumption Catholic Secondary School in Burlington, Ontario, where she had a lead role in two school plays, in addition to collaborating with a friend on a play in which they wrote, directed and acted together. She directed her high school's production of The Wizard of Oz and was a member of Burlington Student Theatre for two years. She started studying musical theatre at Sheridan College then transferred to George Brown College to study filmmaking and acting at the School of Media & Performing Arts, graduating in 2010. She also did some training at The Groundlings comedy school.

Career

Barrell's television work includes made-for-TV movies Poe as Rowena, and Girls Night Out as Sadie. Guest appearances include Lost Girl in the episode "Table for Fae" as Maisie; Murdoch Mysteries in episodes "Murdoch in Toyland" as Marley Rosevear, and "The Murdoch Appreciation Society" as Ruby Rosevear; Saving Hope in the episode "Can't You Hear Me Knocking?" as Dixie Kolesnyk. Along with her role as Sheriff Nicole Haught in Wynonna Earp, Barrell appears in Workin' Moms in the recurring role of Alicia Rutherford.
Film roles include Jaqueline Gill in The Scarehouse, Mary in My Ex-Ex, and Victoria Burns in Definition of Fear.
Her production company, Kit Media, produced several short films and her 2013 comedy short Issues was recognized as one of the top short films of the year by Richard Crouse. Kit Media was rebranded as Blue Eyed Bandit in 2018.
Barrell's ensemble film Dissecting Gwen, based on her own story, won the 2017 Best Screenplay Award by Women in Film & Television – Toronto, and was awarded Best Comedy Short by the 2017 Canadian Diversity Film Festival.

Personal life

Barrell is an advocate for the "Pink Box Program" by GIRL TALK Empowerment, a Canadian organization that "inspires, empowers and mobilizes girls to become world-changers".
She is married to actor Ray Galletti, whom she met on the set of My Ex-Ex. They became engaged in 2016 and married in 2017.
In July 2019, Barrell publicly took part in an article for Diva Magazine where she stated in an interview, "I am attracted to both men and women and the person I fell in love with is a man...I wish it could just be about the human I am in love with, not their gender."
On September 8, 2021, Barrell gave birth to her son, Ronin Barrell Galletti. On May 21, 2024, Barrell gave birth to her daughter Celeste Monique Barrell Galletti.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011Queen of ClubsJokerShort film; also writer
2013Lost and FoundEllenShort film
2013The Ties Between UsAmyShort film
2013IssuesRachel StephensShort film; also producer
2014The ScarehouseJaqueline Gill
2015Canadian StarHerselfDocumentary
2015My Ex-ExMary
2015Definition of FearVictoria Burns

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011PoeRowenaTV film
2012Lost GirlMaisieEpisode: "Table for Fae"
2012Murdoch MysteriesMarley RosevearEpisode: "Murdoch in Toyland"
2012Off2Kali ComedyVariousEpisode: "Indian Guy + White Name = PROBLEM!"
2014ReignPretty Servant GirlEpisode: "Long Live the King"
2014The ListenerAlya KingEpisode: "Dancing with the Enemy"
2014Murdoch MysteriesRuby RosevearEpisode: "The Murdoch Appreciation Society"
2015Saving HopeDixie KolesnykEpisode: "Can't You Hear Me Knocking?"
2016–2021Wynonna EarpNicole HaughtRecurring role, seasons 1–2; main role, season 3–4
2016A Nutcracker ChristmasBeth JamesTV film
2017–2021Workin' MomsAlicia RutherfordRecurring role, seasons 1–2; guest role, seasons 4–5
2017Girls Night OutSadieTV film
2017Star Trek: DiscoveryStella GrimesEpisode: "Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad"
2018Lake Placid: LegacyJadeTV film
2018Private EyesWhitney MaloneEpisode: "Brew the Right Thing"
2020–2021Good WitchJoy HarperMain role
2021A Godwink Christmas: Miracle of LoveJoy FickettTV film
2022Cabin ConnectionHannah MonroeTV film
2022A Tale of Two ChristmasesEmmaTV film
2023Making Scents of LoveShay RobsonStreaming film
2023Everything ChristmasTory FryTV film
2024Shifting GearsJess BarroTV film
2025The Christmas BabyKelly TownsendTV film

Production

YearTitleDirectorWriterProducerNotes
2012RoomiesShort film
2013New DomainCo-producerShort film
2013'First assistantShort film
2014'Co-producerShort film
2015Mature Young AdultsPost-productionShort film
Completed by Katherine Barrell after death of director Kent Nolan.
2015Production coordinatorShort film
2016Dissecting GwenStory byShort film
Winner, Best Screenplay, Women in Film & Television – Toronto
Winner, Best Comedy Short, Canadian Diversity Film Festival
2016CannonballShort film
2017BreakdownStory byShort film
2023Flipping for ChristmasTV film

Music video

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult
2019Canadian Screen AwardsAudience Choice AwardWynonna EarpNomitated
2020Canadian Screen AwardsAudience Choice AwardWynonna EarpWon