Polly Shannon

Not to be confused with Molly Shannon.
Polly Shannon
Polly Shannon at TIFF, 2010
Born
Polly Erin Dyson

(1973-09-01) September 1, 1973 (age 51)
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
OccupationActress
Years active1992–present
Spouse
Christopher Dyson
​
(m. 2013)​
[1]
Children2

Polly Shannon (born September 1, 1973) is a Canadian actress.[2] She is best known for her portrayal of Margaret Trudeau in the 2002 miniseries Trudeau, a film about the late Prime Minister of Canada Pierre Trudeau.[3]

Biography

Polly Shannon was born September 1, 1973, in Kingston, Ontario, and raised in Aylmer, Quebec.[4] Her father, Michael Shannon, is a doctor who served in various senior posts at Health Canada, including director general for the Laboratory Centre for Disease Control.[4] Her mother, Mary Mackay-Smith, is a screenwriter for children's films and television.[4] At the age of 13, after acting in theatre as a child, Shannon became a model, with assignments that took her to New York, London, and Tokyo.[4] She attended Philemon Wright High School in Hull, Quebec.

In 1992, Shannon began her television career, landing a part in Catwalk, a YTV series about a struggling rock band. She went on to appear in several television series, including Sirens (1994) as Kelly Van Pelt, Ready or Not (1996) as Angelique, Side Effects (1996) as Lisa Burns, and the Canadian horror series The Hunger (1999) as Jen.

In 2002, Shannon appeared in the popular comedy film Men with Brooms in the role of Joanne. Her most notable role was playing Margaret Trudeau in the 2002 miniseries Trudeau, a film about the late Prime Minister of Canada Pierre Trudeau.[3] "Playing Maggie was a really thrilling experience," Shannon noted at the time. "It was a challenge that was different from anything else I've done."[4]

Shannon starred opposite Tom Selleck as his girlfriend Abby Taylor in two Jesse Stone television films, Stone Cold (2005) and Jesse Stone: Night Passage (2006).

Filmography

Films

  • Love and Human Remains (1993), The Second Victim
  • A Young Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1995), Alisande/Alexandra
  • End of Summer (1995, TV movie), Maid
  • No Contest (1995), Candice 'Candy' Wilson, Miss U.S.A.
  • Fight for Justice: The Nancy Conn Story (1995, TV movie), Carol
  • Snowboard Academy (1996), Tori
  • Devil's Food (1996, TV movie)
  • Frankenstein and Me (1996), Elizabeth
  • The Girl Next Door (1999, TV movie), Fiona Winters
  • My Date with the President's Daughter (1998, TV movie), Cashier (uncredited)
  • Dirty Work (1998), Toni-Ann
  • The Sheldon Kennedy Story (1999, TV movie), Jana
  • Daydream Believers: The Monkees' Story (2000, TV movie), Phyllis Nesmith
  • The Stalking of Laurie Show (2000, TV movie), Christine
  • Harvard Man (2001), Juliet
  • The Triangle (2001, TV movie), Julia Lee
  • Men with Brooms (2002), Joanne
  • Trudeau (2002, TV movie), Margaret Trudeau
  • TrueSexLies (2003, short), Jackie
  • Do or Die (2003, TV movie), Ruth Hennessey
  • Hard to Forget (2003, TV movie), Sandra/Nicky Applewhite
  • Ham & Cheese (2004), Lucy
  • Direct Action (2004), Billie Ross
  • Stone Cold (2005, TV movie), Abby Taylor
  • Lie with Me (2005), Victoria
  • Jesse Stone: Night Passage (2006, TV movie), Abby Taylor
  • Miranda & Gordon (2006, short), Mother
  • Victor (2008, TV movie), Donna Clavel
  • Hide (2008), Jenny
  • Hydra (2009, TV movie), Dr. Valerie Cammon
  • One Love (2009, short), Olivia
  • Concrete Canyons (2010, TV movie), Det. Susan Kinkaid
  • Defining Moments (2021 film) as Marina

Television series

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Production Result
1999 Gemini Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series The Girl Next Door Nominated
2000 Gemini Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series The Sheldon Kennedy Story Nominated
2003 Canadian Comedy Award Film - Pretty Funny Female Performance Men with Brooms Nominated
2008 WorldFest Houston Special Jury Award Miranda & Gordon (shared with cast) Won

References

  1. ^ http://www.theagencyre.com/2013/09/top-producing-realtor-chris-dyson-joins-agency/Christopher%20Dyson%20(2013%20-%20present)[permanent dead link‍]
  2. ^ "Polly Shannon Biography". Film Reference. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
  3. ^ a b Brioux, Bill (August 31, 2001). "P.E.T.S.'s Polly". Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved July 29, 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ a b c d e Johnson, Brian D. (June 24, 2005). "Good Golly Ms. Polly". Maclean's. Archived from the original on May 31, 2012. Retrieved July 29, 2012.