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. Her first major credit was in Robert Lantos and Claude Hrouxs In Praise of Older Women (1978). - YouTube 0:00 / 1:49 Video unavailable This video contains content from Adrev Affiliate, who has blocked it in your country. I seized the character and made her something. Her film credits include Atom Egoyan's The Sweet Hereafter,Sarah Polley's Away from Her,David O. Russell's Spanking the Monkeyand George Kaczender's In Praise of Older Women. I had the pleasure of working with her. 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). Yeeeehaaaa! . 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. [7], Watson got her first role at age 19 in a CBC movie called Honor Thy Father. When I had to talk to Alberta Watson on set of THE BORDER I was always nervous. And I'm not a name with an image to protect. geoff ewart (@geoffewart) March 23, 2015. The subject was incest. 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 played Erin Driscoll, head of the fictional intelligence agency that employs operative Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland). 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). She played the role of Madeline in La Femme Nikita for four seasons from 1997 to 2001 (with guest appearances in the short fifth season). During the show's second season (in 1998), Watson was diagnosed with lymphoma, for which she had to undergo chemotherapy treatment which caused her to lose her hair. Watson came closer to fame with the role of Madeline, the cunning force on the Canadian syndicated spy series La Femme Nikita, adapted from the 1990 Luc Besson film. [3][8] Early in her career she portrayed the role of Mitzi in George Kaczender's[9] In Praise of Older Women (1978), for which she received a Genie nomination. .more .more Comments 405 Add a. [13] Watson wore wigs in the show when she lost her hair. U.K. agency missed chance to stop attack at Ariana Grandes Manchester concert: report, Travis Scott accused of assaulting nightclub worker, calls incident a misunderstanding. 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. [4], In Spanking the Monkey, Watson plays her favourite character,[12] a mother who has an incestuous relationship with her son. . Watson's first name inspired the character Alberta Green in the first season of 24. In 2008, Alberta Watson received a Career Achievement Award from the Boston-based Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film. #cdntv, Denis McGrath (@DMcWriterboy) March 23, 2015, I had the pleasure of working with @albertawatson on my first film #alobstertale rent the movie on iTunes to see Albertas great performance, Adam Massey (@lee_adam_massey) March 23, 2015. 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). The Tony Award-nominated Broadway actor, 41, died in a hospital in Los Angeles after suffering severe medical complications after contracting the coronavirus. She was 60. She was 60. :)Song: \"We build bridges\" by Liz DurrettWe build bridgesDon't weSometimes need a handDespite our best laid plansDon't weSometimes miss what we hadAnd we struggleDon't weSometimes lose the reasonsBut in the peaceful morningWe can clearly seeWhere we've beenOh, and the tide pulls us out, alrightOh, and the tide pulls us out, alrightOh, when the tide brings us backHow sweet it is Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. [4], Watson took a workshop for the Hair musical. Watson was diagnosed with lymphoma in 1998. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Watson found additional strong TV work playing Detective Denise McGoohan in Chasing Cain (2001) and Chasing Cain: Face (2002). 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. 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. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Born in Toronto, Watson began performing in theatre and on television while still in her teens. Get a roundup of the most important and intriguing national stories delivered to your inbox every weekday. Incredible char and actor. Watson's agent Pam Winter says the La Femme Nikitastar died Saturday in Toronto. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. 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. 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). TV Actresses. I think Im still in shock about @Alberta_Watsons death. The subject was incest. Actress Alberta Watson is photographed during the Toronto International Film Festival in 2006, in Toronto. Watson died at Torontos Kensington Hospice with her husband Ken at her side. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. In 1998 Watson was diagnosed with lymphoma. She was 60. She was a deeply disturbed woman with a roller coaster of emotions. CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. Alberta Watson, a Canadian actress who had roles in the 24 and Nikita dramas over a four-decade movie and TV career, has died. Died (60) Add to list Awards 3 wins & 6 nominations Photos 28 Known for Hedwig and the Angry Inch 7.7 The role was turned down by several actresses such as Susan Sarandon, Jessica Lange and others. The Canadian Encyclopedia Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. It didn't scare me at all. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Her husband Ken was at her side. Alberta Watson, in full Faith Susan Alberta Watson, (born March 6, 1955, Toronto, Canadadied March 21, 2015, Toronto), Canadian film and television actress whose career spanned four decades. Born in Toronto, Watson started out in acting with a local theater group, and by the 1970s had regular Canadian film and TV roles. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. [2] She grew up in Toronto with her mother Grace, a factory worker, and her brother. Watson died on March 21, 2015 due to complications from cancer at Kensington Hospice in Toronto; she was 60 years old. Her Gary Goddard Agency . A year later she received the Best Actress award at the Yorkton Film Festival for "Exposure". Several high-profile actresses declined the role, including Susan Sarandon, Faye Dunaway, Jessica Lange, and Isabella Rossellini, but Watson relished it, later calling it her best performance and her favourite role. Although the film received mostly negative reviews, Watsons performance led to appearances on such American television series as Hill Street Blues, The Equalizer, and Law & Order and a continuing role on the short-lived ABC drama Buck James. lp She amassed some devoted fans and engaged with them frequently on fan sites. io. All Rights Reserved. Watson earned a Gemini Award in 2011 for her guest role on Heartland. The original version of this entry was published by Many of Watsonspeers and fans took to Twitter to remember her. [10], Watson lived in New Jersey for eight years[11] with her husband until they divorced. I have such wonderful memories, and I cant believe shes gone. In her final performance, Watson played Senator Madeline Pierce when La Femme Nikita was rebooted as Nikita in 2010. Her Gary Goddard Agency rep, Pam Winter, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that Watson passed away on Saturday at Torontos Kensington Hospice after a long battle with cancer. [4], Among her well-known film roles are the bed-ridden mother Susan Aibelli in the 1994 American independent film Spanking the Monkey, Lauren Murphy (the mother of Jonny Lee Miller's character Dade, also called "Crash Override"/"Zero Cool") in the 1995 cult film Hackers, and Risa in the 1997 Academy Award-nominated Canadian film The Sweet Hereafter, directed by Atom Egoyan. She was 60. Want to discuss? 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. 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. Heyn, Christopher. "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. [citation needed] In 2005, Watson joined the cast of 24, playing CTU Director Erin Driscoll for 12 episodes of the show's fourth season. Besides her turn as the operative Madeline Pierce on La Femme Nikita,Watson became known to TV audiences through roles on 24,The Newsroom,Heartlandand The Border. 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. "A Conversation with Alberta Watson". Handout TORONTO Canadian actress Alberta Watson passed away Saturday after a battle with cancer. Canadian actress Alberta Watson has died after a long battle with cancer. heartland actor dies alberta watson. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. And I'm not a name with an image to protect. She underwent treatment but continued to act prolifically, often wearing wigs to conceal the effects of chemotherapy. [1], Watson was born in Toronto, Ontario, in 1955. Congrats, Alberta!! RIP Alberta Watson. We reserve the right to close comments at any time. Colorectal cancer cases rising among younger adults in Canada and U.S. Ex-husband of Edmonton soldier who tried to kill their children plans to sue Canadian military, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle evicted from their U.K. home by King Charles, Angry parents speak out on their daughter who froze to death on N.S. During 2007 and 2008, Watson played a supporting role in the Canadian television series The Border as the Minister of Public Safety.