Nine years after Orphan Black concluded, Tatiana Maslany's portrayal of multiple clones remains one of the greatest acting achievements in television history. The sci-fi series, which aired from 2013 to 2017, showcased her extraordinary range as she brought to life numerous distinct characters, earning her an Emmy award and three nominations.
A Performance Like No Other
The show's gripping pilot immediately hooks viewers, as protagonist Sarah Manning watches her doppelgänger commit suicide and then assumes her identity. From there, the plot accelerates, revealing Sarah is one of several clones being systematically killed. Each clone, all played by Maslany, has a unique personality—from the fan-favourite Cosima, the 'dreadlock science geek', to the uptight Alison, the stereotypical 'soccer mum', to antagonists Helena and the cold Rachel.
What makes Maslany's performance truly awe-inspiring is her ability to play one clone pretending to be another, convincingly portraying two characters at once. Whether it's Sarah impersonating Beth or Alison failing to fool Sarah's daughter, she executes these layered performances with ease, making viewers forget they are all the same actor.
Continued Success
This year, Maslany has wowed audiences again with her role in the Apple TV+ thriller Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, playing a newly divorced mom who gets entangled in blackmail and murder. The show has earned a 93% Rotten Tomatoes score, with her performance hailed as 'brilliant' and a star that 'propels' the series.
Orphan Black is available to stream on ITVX now.
