Sara Canning was born on July 14, 1987 in Gander, Newfoundland, Canada. She lived in Gander until age eleven, and was thereafter raised in Sherwood Park, near Edmonton, Alberta. Canning starred in several stage productions while at school. Her professional acting debut was in George Orwell's 1984 at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton at the age of 18. She is best known for her work on The Vampire Diaries, Eadweard and Hannah's Law.