Matthew Ferguson stars as Birkoff, the computer genius of Section One, in LA FEMME NIKITA, the original action drama which premiered January 1997 on the USA Network. In the tradition of cyberpunk rebel/hackers the world over, he is the most cynical person in Section One.

His most recent film role was in The English Patient, recipient of twelve Academy Award nominations. Prior to that, Ferguson was seen in The Long Kiss Goodnight with Geena Davis, in what should have been the most integral scene - it was, he says, "the long kiss goodnight." Ferguson kissed the young Geena Davis in Ireland in a scene that did not make it into the final cut (he even learned a Northern Irish accent for the role), leaving viewers wondering to what exactly the title refers. He has received three Genie Award nominations, as Best Leading Actor for his roles in Eclipse and Lilies (being released October '97) and Best Supporting Actor in Love and Human Remains.

Born and raised on Toronto Island, a community of 700 people in Canada, Ferguson had his first moment in the limelight when he was five years old. The government had been trying since the '50s to turn Toronto Island into a park and on this particular day, Ferguson joined his neighbors in a human chain that successfully blocked the bulldozers. In 1992 they received a 99 year lease on the land and Ferguson continues to live there to this day.

A recent look at his grade school memory books showed Ferguson declaring as of first grade he wanted to be an actor when he grew up. (Of course, the following year it said fireman and the year after astronaut, but Ferguson believes that deep down, he always wanted to perform!)

A graduate of the Claude Watson School for the Performing Arts, Ferguson continues to perform in professional workshops with Equity Showcase, including the recent production of Measure for Measure, as an extension of his training. His first professional job was in the theater as Morgan Moreen in Geometry in Venice, which garnered him a Dora Mavor Moore Award nomination as Best Featured Actor.

Ferguson will soon be seen in The Wall, a three-part film for Showtime directed by John Sargeant. He also starred in two other movies for Showtime, Harrison Bergeron with Sean Astin and The Deliverance of Elaine with Mare Winningham. Additionally, he has had guest-starring roles in such series as Street Legal and Spencer: For Hire, among others. In his free time, Ferguson can be seen walking around the streets of Toronto on stilts (making him over 9 feet tall) in parades, at political gatherings or just for fun. He also plays hockey whenever he can and enjoys gardening.