Yvonne Strahovski

Yvonne Strahovski made Sarah Walker the composed professional at the centre of Chuck's increasingly chaotic spy adventures. The action is only part of the job. Sarah has to take the danger seriously while the comedy carries on around her, and Strahovski gives the relationship with Chuck enough warmth to hold those two sides together.

In Dexter, she plays Hannah McKay during the original show's seventh and eighth seasons. Hannah's calm presence gives Michael C. Hall someone difficult to read, and Strahovski lets their scenes develop without overplaying the uncertainty. As Serena Joy Waterford in The Handmaid's Tale, that restraint becomes much harsher. A carefully chosen word or a still expression can make Serena more intimidating than an outburst would.

Her other television work includes Kate Morgan in 24: Live Another Day, Stateless and Teacup. She also appeared in The Tomorrow War and The Predator. Born and raised in Sydney, she trained at Theatre Nepean before moving into American television. The range from Chuck's romantic comedy to Serena's controlled severity is a better introduction to her work than any single role.