Amanda Stepto_

Amanda Felicitas Stepto (born 31 July 1970) is a Canadian retired actress who played Christine "Spike" Nelson throughout the majority of the Degrassi teen drama franchise. With no previous acting experience, she rose to prominence playing the character on the CBC's Degrassi Junior High (1987–1989) and its follow-up Degrassi High (1989–1991). Spike's controversial teenage pregnancy storyline, as well as the punk hairstyle worn by both the character and actress, gave Stepto significant media attention in Canada. Degrassi Junior High was largely truncated and later dropped by the BBC in large part due to "It's Late", the episode which heralded the storyline. In 1989, she was made a Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF Ontario along with most of the cast.