Amanda Stepto
Amanda Stepto | |
|---|---|
 Stepto at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival. | |
| Born | Amanda Felicitas Stepto July 31, 1970 |
| Education | Etobicoke School of the Arts |
| Alma mater | University of Toronto |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, DJ |
| Years active | 1986-2010 |
| Known for | Playing Christine "Spike" Nelson in the Degrassi franchise |
| Television | Degrassi Junior High, Degrassi High, Degrassi: The Next Generation |
Amanda Felicitas Stepto (born July 31, 1970) is a Canadian actress and DJ. She is best known for her role as Christine "Spike" Nelson in the Degrassi franchise, for which she received two nominations.
Biography
Amanda Stepto was born on July 31, 1970 in Montreal, Quebec. She was adopted at three months old. [1]
Stepto was a student at the Etobicoke School of the Arts when she auditioned for the role of Christine "Spike" Nelson in Degrassi Junior High. According to her, she was the only person in the class to act on the audition. [1] The spiked hair associated with her character was her real life hairstyle, as she was an avid fan of punk rock, a genre which she had discovered after attending a concert by The Police in 1981.[2]
When her character became pregnant, fans believed that Stepto herself was pregnant and she was often sent clothing and other items for the baby.[3] She was also often asked for advice on sex and pregnancy, as if she was a counselor.[4] Despite the show's visibility and success, Stepto was occasionally harassed in public for her unconventional hairstyle, including an incident in which she was kicked out of the Toronto Eaton Centre for "lolling around", despite having purchased an expensive dress for an upcoming award ceremony.[2]
After the end of Degrassi in 1992, she participated in the Degrassi Talks mini-series in early 1991, travelling with five other actors (as well as four more who sporadically appeared) from the show across Canada to interview teenagers about various issues. Stepto, owing to the issues her character dealt with, was the host of an episode which discussed teenage pregnancy, safe sex, and abortion. The episode saw her interview a woman who gave her baby up for adoption, which struck a chord with the adopted Stepto.[3]
She has not taken up any major acting roles outside of Degrassi. She claimed she would sabotage her own auditions to avoid getting roles in series she disliked.[4][5] Stepto has also performed as a DJ in Toronto under the name "DJ Demanda" with former co-star Stacie Mistysyn.[6]
Personal life
Shortly after the end of Degrassi, Stepto began advocating for sex education and became a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood in Alberta, and spoke at various schools as well as appearing in television advertisements from 1992 to 1993 with the slogan "Let's Talk About It".[7][8][9] In the late 1990s, Stepto earned a bachelor's degree in history and political science at the University of Toronto and traveled to Japan to teach English for one year. [4]
She is also a supporter of animal rights. [10]
References
- ^ a b "Degrassi Talks- On Sex". web.archive.org. 2006-06-03. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
- ^ a b "Episode 74 - Amanda Stepto (from TV's Degrassi!!!!)". Audioboom. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
- ^ a b Sex. Toronto: Boardwalk Books. 1992. ISBN 1-895681-01-4. OCLC 25370148.
- ^ a b c "Amanda Stepto (Christine "Spike" Nelson) Interview by Natalie Earl". web.archive.org. 2007-02-03. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
- ^ Spike, Im In Love With A. Girl Named. "Im In Love With A Girl Named Spike - Episode 011 "It's Late" W/ Amanda Stepto Interview". Google Podcasts. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
- ^ "Amanda Stepto". De Grassi Tour. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
- ^ Spike speaks, but not everyone is clapping (sex education tour organized by planned parenthood) [online]. National ed. Edmonton: United Western Communications, 1993. 38-39 s. Copyright - Copyright United Western Communications May 24, 1993; Document feature - Illustrations; People - Stepto, Amanda; Last updated - 2010-06-08; CODEN - WESRE9.
- ^ RICK MCCONNELL JOURNAL, Staff Writer. Time to spike apathy; Degrassi star urges teens to bone up on the issues; Part 10 Series: POLITICAL BEAT; STUDENT VOTE: [Final Edition]. Edmonton Journal [online]. Jun 09, . 1993, s. C9. ProQuest Central.
- ^ LISA WRIGHT, TORONTO STAR. Talk about sex to your teens, agency urges: [AM Edition]. Toronto Star [online]. Sep 22, . 1992, s. A4. ProQuest Central. ISSN 03190781.
- ^ 1955-, Ellis, Kathryn, (2005). The official 411 Degrassi generations. Fenn Pub. Co. ISBN 1-55168-278-8. OCLC 59136593.
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