Legend was born in Rochford, Essex in England on August 28 1965. She spent a short time in South Benfleet, Essex,and was relocated to Ontario, Canada, at the age of 3. She attended North Toronto High School where she was awarded the Dramatic Arts Award and Environmental Science Award. Her first love always was acting. Amanda studied drama at the University of Windsor School of Dramatic Arts in Windsor, Ontario. After graduation she spent four more years studying theater and appearing in several stage productions. She worked in theater for several years and co-founded the improvisational Canadian comedy troupe Random Acts with two other women.

She had guest starred on television series The X-Files, Due South, Forever Knight, Kung-Fu: The Legend Continues, The Newsroom, Millennium and The Outer Limits. In addition, she was a series regular on the Disney series Flash Forward. Her other television credits include Lessons in Love, Remembrance, The Haunting of Lisa, and Degree of Guilt. Her feature film credits include Booty Call, Rent A Kid, Getting a Life and Black Top. She recently starred in The Void with Malcolm McDowell and Adrian Paul. She has also had a cameo in Life or Something Like It, and just starred in the independent feature Stuck. Her real success that seemed to launch her career came in 1997 with the start of the TV series "Stargate SG-1" (1997) where she plays Major Samantha Carter.

Tapping directed the episode "Resurrection" in Stargate SG-1's seventh season. She also participated in her first U.S.O. tour in the Middle East. Tapping is a member of Women in Film & Video and recently hosted their Spotlight Gala Awards. She has won a Leo Award and has been nominated for two Gemini Awards as well as two Saturn Awards for her role on SG-1. She was recently honored as a "Wonder Woman on Air" by Multichannel News and Women in Cable & Telecommunications in New York. Tapping is actively involved in mentoring new actors through Women in Film's "Flash Forward" program. She is also a proud spokesperson for UNICEF.