Catherine Wreford

Catherine Wreford
Born
Catherine Anne Wreford

(1980-06-26) June 26, 1980 (age 44)
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Education
Occupation(s)Actor, dancer
Spouse
Joel Ledlow
​
(m. 2010)​
Children2

Catherine Anne Wreford (born June 26, 1980) is a Canadian actress, dancer and singer.

Early life

Wreford was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in June 1980. She graduated from Kelvin High School and later trained at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.[1]

Career

Wreford starred in the Broadway production 42nd Street.[2] In 2019, Wreford returned to performing, including appearing as Lady Capulet in the Royal Winnipeg Ballet's production of Romeo and Juliet in February 2019.[1]

Wreford played the lead role of Alison in the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre's production of Fun Home, a musical inspired by Alison Bechdel's memoir of the same name. Her son, Eliot Ledlow, was also featured in the show as Little Alison's brother.[3]

Wreford teaches musical theatre at the Shelley Shearer School of Dance in Winnipeg, Manitoba.[4]

Personal life

In 2013, Wreford was diagnosed with anaplastic astrocytoma, a malignant brain tumor, and was told that she was expected to live for only another two to six years.[1] In 2014, she moved back to Winnipeg where she could be supported by her family through treatment.[5] In response to the lack of resources she found after her diagnosis, Wreford helped to found the website "livingoutloud.life", which launched in 2018, to help young people living with terminal illness connect with each other and cope with their diagnoses.[6]

Wreford's daughter was born five weeks before her cancer diagnosis in 2013. She also has a son.[7]

In 2022, Wreford competed with fellow Broadway performer Craig Ramsay on The Amazing Race Canada 8.[8] They finished first in the final leg in Vancouver to win Amazing Race Canada, the $250,000 prize, and two Chevrolet Silverado ZR2s.[9]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2006 The Butcher Rachel
2006 El Mascarado Massacre Daisy
2006 Dead Boyz Don't Scream Callie
2006 Sorry Charlie! Jenny Rice
2006 Pittsburgh Self / 'The Music Man' Cast
2007 The Metrosexual Gwen
2007 Lords of the Underworld Baby

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2022 The Amazing Race Canada 8 Herself/Contestant Won with friend Craig Ramsay
2022 SkyMed NICU nurse

Theater

References

  1. ^ a b c McIntosh, Steven (12 February 2019). "Catherine Wreford: The dancer with an 'invisible disease'". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  2. ^ Shirley, Don (June 13, 2003). "Summer along '42nd Street'; The Broadway revival of the singing and dancing extravaganza visits in time to provide seasonal refreshment". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013.
  3. ^ a b King, Randall (8 November 2019). "Role in Warehouse play puts Wreford's cancer out of her mind". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  4. ^ "'I keep busy, is how I cope': young mom with terminal cancer has raised $3K for research". CBC. 21 April 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  5. ^ a b c Goldman, Brian (20 October 2017). ""It may be a very different life, but it's a life worth living."". CBC. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  6. ^ Gibson, Shane (10 December 2018). "'My entire life has flipped': Canadian website helps connect terminally ill young people". CBC. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  7. ^ Samson, Sam (12 May 2018). "Winnipeg woman with terminal cancer slowly preparing children, mother for life without her". CBC. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  8. ^ "It's Go Time, Canada! THE AMAZING RACE CANADA Returns July 5 on CTV, as all 10 Teams Revealed". Bell Media. June 22, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  9. ^ Noel Ransome (21 September 2022). "Winnipegger with terminal brain cancer teams up with longtime friend to win Amazing Race Canada". CBC Manitoba. Canadian Press.
  10. ^ Dacey, Elisha (24 August 2017). "Rainbow Stage performer keeps living while she's dying". CBC. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  11. ^ "'I just feel joy': Woman with terminal cancer returns to her passion on stage". CTVNews. 18 March 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2020.