Martha Burns (born 23 April 1957)"Martha Burns returns to her roots".Toronto Star, March 26, 2010. is a Canadian actress known for her stage work and youth outreach in Ontario and her leading role as Ellen Fanshaw in the TV dramedy series Slings and Arrows.
Early life Burns was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She studied at the University of Alberta and the Vancouver Playhouse's Acting School.
Career Burns has had a long career as a character and supporting actress, her most notable television roles being Shakespearean diva Ellen Fanshaw in Slings and Arrows, for which she won two Gemini Awards, Jasmina Hart on Michael, Tuesdays and Thursdays."Camelot & cover songs: Inside CBC’s new fall lineup" . National Post, June 8, 2011. and Rebecca Baker on Remedy.
Some of her notable film work includes Long Day's Journey into Night and for Love and Savagery, both resulting in Genie Awards for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role."Polytechnique sweeps Genie Awards". Toronto Star, April 12, 2010.
Theatre Burns is a founding member and a former associate director of Toronto's Soulpepper Theatre Company. Burns headed up Soulpepper's extensive youth outreach program. She founded the Toronto Arts for Youth Award, and has worked as an instructor for the theatre program at George Brown College.
She has performed leading roles at Stratford, the Shaw Festival, the National Arts Centre and The Company Theatre. She was nominated five times for a Dora Award and won twice: in 1986 for The Miracle Worker and in 1984 for Trafford Tanzi.
In 2005 she was honoured for her career in the theatre with the Barbara Hamilton Award.
In 2016 Burns was awarded ACTRA’s Leslie Yeo Award, an award honouring actors for their volunteer work. She donated her cash prize to the Qaggiq Performing Arts Teacher Training Workshop, a program that works on developing Inuit-specific performing arts programming for children and youth.
Personal life Burns is married to director and actor Paul Gross. They have two children, Hannah Gross and Jack.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1992Passage of the HeartKate Ward1994Paint CansMelda1995Never Talk to StrangersMaura1999Gwen Maclean2000HindsightTrinaShort film2004SiblingsMiss Bradford2006ScreeningHelen ThompsonShort film2007SilkMme. Joncour2008RewindHeather BeckettShort film2009You Might as Well LiveDr. Elizabeth2009Dinner at Lucy'sLucyShort film2009Love and SavageryMother SuperiorWon Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role2009Sabina2010DebraShort film2011French ImmersionCathy2012FuryGretchen2013Mad ShipJudith2013HardsellSandra HippsShort film2015BoxingJanetShort film2016DebraShort film2021We're All in This TogetherKate Parker2026In the Heart of the SouthMrs. Clark
Television Year Title Role Notes1983BackstretchKellyTV series1987Street LegalMargaret"Take My Jokes, Please"1990SallyTV film1991E.N.G.Joanna Miles"Tyger, Tyger"1995Great PerformancesCathleen"Long Day's Journey Into Night"Won Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role1996Side EffectsAndrea Burrows"Sex, Death and Rock 'N' Roll"1996TradersRita Hutchison"Two Steps Forward"1997Marie Curie: More Than Meets the EyeLisette BoudreauTV film1997Due SouthNadia"Spy vs. Spy"1998Witness to YesterdayAmelia Earhart"Amelia Earhart"1998Thanks of a Grateful NationDr. Rosemary DoveTV film1999What Katy DidAunt IzzieTV film1999Due SouthCaroline Fraser"Call of the Wild: Part 2"1999Emily of New MoonEve Kinch"Under the Wishing Moon: Part 1", "Bridge of Dreams: Part 2"1999Murder Most LikelyAlice MalinsonTV film2003Profoundly NormalDr. MaswellTV film2003-06Slings & ArrowsEllen FanshawMain roleNominated Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role (2004)Nominated Canadian Comedy Award for Best Female TV Performance (2006)Won Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role (2006)Won Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role (2007)2008Mary Miller"Part One"2009Murdoch MysteriesMrs. Burgess"Convalescence"2009Selena Selkirk"The Face of Hope", "The African Prince", "Springing Jett"2011Republic of DoyleJoyce"Something Old, Someone Blue"2011Michael: Tuesdays and ThursdaysJasmina HartMain role2013After All These YearsPhyllis DeitrichsonTV film2013CrackedAlice Kelly"The Valley"2014DarknetMother"Darknet 3"2014-15RemedyRebecca BakerMain roleNominated Canadian Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Series (2016)2017Alias GraceMrs. Parkinson3 episodes 2022Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities AgathaEpisode: "Lot 36"
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