Tanis is in an episode of the Emmy and Golden Globe award winning Netflix original series "House of Cards", released February 14th, 2014, starring Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey and Golden Globe winner Robin Wright. Tanis guest stars as "Tammy" the Native American waitress in season 2 episode 7 (Chapter 20) opposite the show's third top-billed star, Michael Kelly.
Tanis was born and raised in Peace River, AB. She is a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta and is of Cree and Sioux descent. As a life-long athlete, Tanis was never a stranger to performance. She was a competitive figure skater for 15 years and was also cast in a local production of The Sound of Music at a young age.
Tanis attained her Bachelor of Physical Education degree with a focus in Physical Activity and Sport Performance at the University of Alberta in 2000. It was during this time Tanis took Drama 101 and fell head over heels in love with acting. She quickly got an agent and began booking roles in commercials and independent film.
In 2003 Tanis moved to Vancouver, BC to further pursue her career. With a principal role on "The Twilight Zone" with Jeremy Sisto and Alicia Witt, playing Corb Lund's girlfriend in "Hank William's First Nation" and a string of roles in independent film under her belt, Tanis's career was continuing to develop. In 2008 Tanis decided to tackle New York City and immerse herself in serious training. She completed her Master of Fine Arts degree in Acting in 2011 and has been working steadily ever since. She has starred in countless Off Broadway shows (many of which have been with Native theatre companies, Native casts, Native directors, and Native playwrights), and worked with the famed Sheila Tousey at the William Inge Center for the Arts in "What Would Crazy Horse Do?".
Tanis's other love is strength training, nutrition and health and has discovered she was born to deadlift. She also plans on becoming certified as a personal trainer in the future. Tanis is proud to say she has graduated with both Wayne Gretzky ('00) and Tony Kushner ('11) who each received honorary degrees the same years she completed hers.
