She amassed some devoted fans and engaged with them frequently on fan sites. She was nominated for Genie Awards for her work in 1978s In Praise of Older Women and 1996s Shoemaker. Deeply saddened to hear the wonderful @Alberta_Watson has died. She won a Gemini Award in 2010. Her son visits for the summer and she's laid up in a cast with a broken leg and things get out of hand. Her son visits for the summer and she's laid up with a broken leg and things get out of hand. Watson re-teamed with La Femme Nikita co-creator Joel Surnow for season four of his hit action-drama 24. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. [4] She moved to Los Angeles, California, and later to New York City. [About her portrayal of the mother in, Choice: The Henry Morgentaler Story (2005). She was a deeply disturbed woman with a roller coaster of emotions. The Tony Award-nominated Broadway actor, 41, died in a hospital in Los Angeles after suffering severe medical complications after contracting the coronavirus. Madeleine is the most badass character ever. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. Her Canadian TV series credits include roles in Heartland, The Newsroom, The Border and Show Me Yours. I took it because it was a heck of a challenge. [1], Watson was born in Toronto, Ontario, in 1955. [7] She then returned to Toronto and focused on finding roles in independent films. Please read our Commenting Policy first. Incredible char and actor. She was 60. .more .more Comments 405 Add a. No details are available on a memorial service for Watson. Watson later expressed disappointment with her early television work, but these roles inevitably shaped her career, pushing her to pursue strong, complex characters in projects that challenged her. Watson died on March 21, 2015, due to complications from cancer at Kensington Hospice in Toronto fifteen days after her 60th birthday.[14]. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Id loved her in so many things, I was star struck. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. ALBERTA WATSON won a Gemini (pretty much, a Canadian Emmy) to Best Performance by an Actress, Guest Role in a Dramatic Series, for her portrayal of Sarah Craven ('Where the Truth Lies', S4 E05, CBC's series Heartland). Watson was diagnosed with lymphoma in 1998. She briefly lived on a communal farm outside the city with other actors before returning to Toronto to act professionally, landing her first role in the CBC TV movie Honour Thy Father (1974). RIP #AlbertaWatson. Heyn, Christopher. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alberta-Watson, The Canadian Encyclopedia - Biography of Alberta Watson. It didn't scare me at all. Watson began acting at age 15 with the Theater House of God at the Bathurst Street United Church in Toronto. When I had to talk to Alberta Watson on set of THE BORDER I was always nervous. Alberta Watson, well known to television audiences for her Gemini Alternate titles: Faith Susan Alberta Watson. She worked with director Colleen Murphy on the film Shoemaker (1996), for which she received a second Genie nomination for Best Actress. In 1998 Watson was diagnosed with lymphoma. avalanche lost father, brother-in-law, family friend in slide, Trudeau says probes into foreign election interference ongoing, Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murder of wife, son, Heated debate in B.C. Watson died on Saturday at age 60 after a long battle with cancer. A decade later, she had a recurring role as a different character (with the same first name) on the seriesNikita. A year later she received the Best Actress award at the Yorkton Film Festival for "Exposure". [4], In Spanking the Monkey, Watson plays her favourite character,[12] a mother who has an incestuous relationship with her son. "A Conversation with Alberta Watson". . [2] She grew up in Toronto with her mother Grace, a factory worker, and her brother. Alberta Watson, Canadian actress, dies after battle with cancer | CBC News Loaded. She played Dr. Rebecca Myer in the 1980s Buck James TV series, and Erin Driscoll, the head of a counter-terrorist unit, in 24. In 2010, Watson guest-starred in Heartland, a series on CBC Television, and she won a 2011 Gemini Award for her portrayal of Sarah Craven. [10], Watson lived in New Jersey for eight years[11] with her husband until they divorced. To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). Canadian actress Alberta Watson has died after a long battle with cancer. She followed this with The Prince and Me (2004) and recurring roles in such TV series as Show Me Yours (2004) and Ken Finklemans The Newsroom (2004). I think Im still in shock about @Alberta_Watsons death. [13] Watson wore wigs in the show when she lost her hair. Watson starred in four seasons of La Femme Nikita, along with a return appearance in its fifth season, and earned a Gemini nomination for season two. It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. lp Corrections? In 2008, Alberta Watson received a Career Achievement Award from the Boston-based Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film. She moved to Los Angeles and landed her first Hollywood role in Michael Manns 1983 horror film, The Keep. Youll be missed :'(, Dylan Matthews (@iHeyes) March 23, 2015. The role was turned down by several actresses such as Susan Sarandon, Jessica Lange and others. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. In a nod to her La Femme Nikita role, Alberta played a recurring character Madeline Pierce in Nikita, the CW's 2010-2013 reboot of the film and TV series. Watson shared the National Board of Review award for Best Ensemble and helped bring the film international recognition. The subject was incest. Watson continued acting with the hit CBC TV series The King of Kensington and such tax shelter films as Stone Cold Dead (1979), Dirty Tricks (1981), and The Soldier (1982). Comments are welcome while open. [12][13] Producers at La Femme Nikita worked around her treatment and limited her appearances. Many of Watsonspeers and fans took to Twitter to remember her. Watsons list of credits includes 24, The Newsroom and The Border as well as movies like Away from Her and The Sweet Hereafter. The subject was incest. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. Updates? She was 60. He has used his social media skills to transform his past interest in blogging about Canadian film Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Alberta Watson, well known to television audiences for her Gemini award-nominated role as Madeline on La Femme Nikita (1997), enjoys a long and diverse career in television and film. She began performing with a local Toronto theatre group, T.H.O.G. Patrick Mullen is a writer, blogger, film critic, film festival programmer, and social media coordinator. "Young Actress Is Behind Bars -- For A Movie", "Three Hours On A Plane Is All She Can Stand: Great Escapes - Alberta Watson", "Alberta Watson: The Toughest Woman on Television", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alberta_Watson&oldid=1133861902, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2009, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. Handout TORONTO Canadian actress Alberta Watson passed away Saturday after a battle with cancer. Watson died at Torontos Kensington Hospice with her husband Ken at her side. . In 2010, Watson guest-starred in Heartland, a series on CBC Television, and she won a 2011 Gemini Award for her portrayal of Sarah Craven. Watson played Erin Driscoll, head of the fictional intelligence agency that employs operative Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland). She followed La Femme Nikita with a string of notable independent films, including The Art of Woo (2001), John Cameron Mitchells Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001), Thom Fitzgeralds The Wild Dogs, (2002) and Jeremy Podeswas TV movie, After the Harvest (2001), which brought her another Gemini nomination. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. All Rights Reserved. - YouTube 0:00 / 1:49 Video unavailable This video contains content from Adrev Affiliate, who has blocked it in your country. Alberta Watson, a Canadian actress who had roles in the 24 and Nikita dramas over a four-decade movie and TV career, has died. Watson died on March 21, 2015 due to complications from cancer at Kensington Hospice in Toronto; she was 60 years old. Watsons final credits included such Canadian and independent films as Some Things That Stay (2004), Citizen Duane (2006), A Lobster Tale (2006), and Sarah Polleys Genie-winning Away from Her (2006) opposite Gordon Pinsent, with whom she performed in Chris Landreths Genie-nominated animated short The Spine (2009). Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Her Gary Goddard Agency . The offbeat black comedy proved to be a defining moment in her career; the film won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival and drew largely positive reviews. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Congrats, Alberta!! Her husband Ken was at her side. The Canadian actress, who also had roles in the 'La Femme Nikita' and 'Nikita' TV series, passed away after a long battle with cancer. Her final film role was in the Vancouver-shot Helen (2009), starring Ashley Judd. [2] Watson said:[7].mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 40px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0}. [citation needed] In 2005, Watson joined the cast of 24, playing CTU Director Erin Driscoll for 12 episodes of the show's fourth season. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. The original version of this entry was published by Outside acting, Watson championed more production in Canada and more opportunities for Canadian actors. Faith Susan Alberta Watson (March 6, 1955 March 21, 2015), better known as Alberta Watson, was a Canadian film and television actress. She underwent treatment but continued to act prolifically, often wearing wigs to conceal the effects of chemotherapy. [4], Watson took a workshop for the Hair musical. Oh! Watson eventually returned to Canada and landed a leading role in La Femme Nikita, which ran from 1997 to 2001. I seized the character and made her something. street, Chinese Canadian parliamentarians among greater targets for interference: Trudeau, Markham caregiver plans to travel, possibly buy new home after $60M lottery win, RCMP believe Slave Lake toddler Jeffrey Dupres, missing for 43 years, is still alive, Survivor of B.C. Watson died at Toronto's Kensington Hospice with her husband Ken at her side.. Canadian actress Alberta Watson dies at 60, Ex-husband of Edmonton soldier who tried to kill their children plans to sue Canadian military on Facebook, Ex-husband of Edmonton soldier who tried to kill their children plans to sue Canadian military on Twitter. (Theatre House of God),[3] of the Bathurst Street United Church, at age 15. She was 60. The provocative film was controversial when it premiered at the Toronto Festival of Festivals (now the Toronto International Film Festival), but it earned 10 Canadian Film Award nominations, including one for Watson for Best Supporting Actress. After living in the New YorkNew Jersey area for eight years, she returned to Canada and starred in Shoemaker (1996), an early production for the Canadian Film Centres Feature Film Project, which earned her a Genie Award nomination. Actress Alberta Watson is photographed during the Toronto International Film Festival in 2006, in Toronto. She was 60. zh. She moved south and worked for many years in New York and Los Angeles. Winter says Watson "died in the arms of her beloved Ken after a long and incredibly courageous battle.". io. In a nod to her La Femme Nikita role, Alberta played a recurring character Madeline Pierce in Nikita, the CW's 20102013 reboot of the film and TV series.