Alberta Watson, a Canadian actress who had roles in the 24 and Nikita dramas over a four-decade movie and TV career, has died. io. "A Conversation with Alberta Watson". Watsons list of credits includes 24, The Newsroom and The Border as well as movies like Away from Her and The Sweet Hereafter. 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. A decade later, she had a recurring role as a different character (with the same first name) on the seriesNikita. Id loved her in so many things, I was star struck. She was 60. [13] Watson wore wigs in the show when she lost her hair. She won a Gemini Award in 2010. 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). Watson's first name inspired the character Alberta Green in the first season of 24. Alberta Watson, pictured in an undated publicity photo. Outside acting, Watson championed more production in Canada and more opportunities for Canadian actors. In her final performance, Watson played Senator Madeline Pierce when La Femme Nikita was rebooted as Nikita in 2010. Youll be missed :'(, Dylan Matthews (@iHeyes) March 23, 2015. Omissions? Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. Best as Madeline in La Femme Nikita/Nikita. Yeeeehaaaa! 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). 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. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. 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. Patrick Mullen is a writer, blogger, film critic, film festival programmer, and social media coordinator. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. Incredible char and actor. She was 60. zh. 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). [5] While at the workshop she acted in Hamlet, which was directed by Ren Bonnire,[6] who later directed her in La Femme Nikita. No details are available on a memorial service for Watson. When I had to talk to Alberta Watson on set of THE BORDER I was always nervous. Watson played Erin Driscoll, head of the fictional intelligence agency that employs operative Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland). Heyn, Christopher. Madeleine is the most badass character ever. [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. After performing the lead role of Madelaine on the Canadian-made La Femme Nikita series between 1997 and 2001, Watson later played the recurring role of Senator Madeline Pierce on the CWs follow-up Nikita series, also shot in Toronto. Deeply saddened to hear the wonderful @Alberta_Watson has died. Watson gambled by playing the seductive mother in David O. Russells incest-tinged first feature, Spanking the Monkey (1994). legislature over commercialization of hard drugs, Milton man accused of murdering armed intruder released on bail. She began performing with a local Toronto theatre group, T.H.O.G. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alberta-Watson, The Canadian Encyclopedia - Biography of Alberta Watson. Her husband Ken was at her side. 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 underwent treatment but continued to act prolifically, often wearing wigs to conceal the effects of chemotherapy. She was 60. Watson died on March 21, 2015 due to complications from cancer at Kensington Hospice in Toronto; she was 60 years old. CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. In 1998 Watson was diagnosed with lymphoma. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Canadian actress Alberta Watson has died after a long battle with cancer. I took it because it was a heck of a challenge. Watson found additional strong TV work playing Detective Denise McGoohan in Chasing Cain (2001) and Chasing Cain: Face (2002). Want to discuss? TV Actresses. Through regional and national programming on multiple platforms, including CBC Television, CBC News Network, CBC Radio, CBCNews.ca, mobile and on-demand, CBC News and its internationally recognized team of award-winning journalists deliver the breaking stories, the issues, the analyses and the personalities that matter to Canadians. 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. 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. She was a deeply disturbed woman with a roller coaster of emotions. Oh! I had the pleasure of working with her. The subject was incest. Her first major credit was in Robert Lantos and Claude Hrouxs In Praise of Older Women (1978). Watson died on March 21, 2015, due to complications from cancer at Kensington Hospice in Toronto fifteen days after her 60th birthday.[14]. Lovely woman. [1], Watson was born in Toronto, Ontario, in 1955. Alberta Watson, a Canadian actress who had roles in the 24 and Nikita dramas over a four-decade movie and TV career, has died. And I'm not a name with an image to protect. [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. heartland actor dies alberta watson. Born in Toronto, Watson began performing in theatre and on television while still in her teens. #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. In 2008, Alberta Watson received a Career Achievement Award from the Boston-based Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. This page was last edited on 15 January 2023, at 21:52. 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. The original version of this entry was published by After a long battle with cancer, Watson died at the age of 60 from complications of the disease. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. She was 60. 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. [4], In Spanking the Monkey, Watson plays her favourite character,[12] a mother who has an incestuous relationship with her son. She was 60. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Watson died on Saturday at age 60 after a long battle with cancer. I think Im still in shock about @Alberta_Watsons death. Alberta Watson, well known to television audiences for her Gemini Courtesy of Everett Collection. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. She moved to Los Angeles and landed her first Hollywood role in Michael Manns 1983 horror film, The Keep. Born in Toronto, Watson started out in acting with a local theater group, and by the 1970s had regular Canadian film and TV roles. During 2007 and 2008, Watson played a supporting role in the Canadian television series The Border as the Minister of Public Safety. I seized the character and made her something. 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. Renowned for her consistency and reliability, Watson was perhaps best known for the TV series La Femme Nikita (1997-2001) and 24 (2004-05), but she also gave memorable performances in David O . [4] She moved to Los Angeles, California, and later to New York City. She amassed some devoted fans and engaged with them frequently on fan sites. Alberta Watson, congrats on your Gemini win 2011, for Heartland! Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). 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. 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 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. 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. [4], Watson took a workshop for the Hair musical. We reserve the right to close comments at any time. Her Canadian TV series credits include roles in Heartland, The Newsroom, The Border and Show Me Yours. 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. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Her son visits for the summer and she's laid up in a cast with a broken leg and things get out of hand. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Please read our Commenting Policy first. [7] She then returned to Toronto and focused on finding roles in independent films. Watson then played the grieving and lonely mother, Risa Walker, in Atom Egoyans critically acclaimed The Sweet Hereafter (1997). [10], Watson lived in New Jersey for eight years[11] with her husband until they divorced. Comments are welcome while open. Faith Susan Alberta Watson (March 6, 1955 March 21, 2015), better known as Alberta Watson, was a Canadian film and television actress. 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. . 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). Watson then appeared in several notable projects, including the early Angelina Jolie vehicle Hackers (1995) and the Golden Globe-nominated, Emmy-winning TV movie Gotti (1996), playing the wife of infamous New York mobster John Gotti. geoff ewart (@geoffewart) March 23, 2015. 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. - YouTube 0:00 / 1:49 Video unavailable This video contains content from Adrev Affiliate, who has blocked it in your country. [7], Watson got her first role at age 19 in a CBC movie called Honor Thy Father. Updates? WARNING: Major spoilers for the Season 14 premiere of Heartland are ahead!. 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). I have such wonderful memories, and I cant believe shes gone. She was nominated for Genie Awards for her work in 1978s In Praise of Older Women and 1996s Shoemaker. Diane Warren Performs Her 14 Oscar-Nominated Songs in Six Minutes (Exclusive Video), Lionsgate Dealmakers Michael Burns, Brian Goldsmith Extend Contracts, Jefferson White, Adeline Rudolph Join Hellboy Movie The Crooked Man, Jonathan Krisel in Talks to Direct Pokmon: Detective Pikachu Sequel, Rachael Ray Daytime Talk Show to End After 17 Seasons, Shows and Podcasts Breaking Down the Murdaugh Family, Murder Investigation and Trial, Jon Stewart Brutally Confronts Republican Lawmaker Over Gun Deaths, Daisy Jones & the Six Showrunner on Song Switches, Fake/Real Concerts and Shutting Down the Sunset Strip, Rain Dogs Review: HBOs British Dramedy Offers Rewards for Those Who Brave the Bleakness, Vanessa Hudgens, Lilly Singh and Ashley Graham to Host Official Oscars Preshow, Star Hairstylist Jen Atkin Reveals Must-Have Hair Tools, Tutorials and Pro Tips In New MasterClass, Rihannas Puma x Fenty Is Coming Back Heres Where You Can Still Buy Those Cult-Fave Creepers, The Best Bridesmaid Dresses for Every Budget, From Under-$100 Gowns to Hollywood-Inspired Classics, BTS Army: Heres When and Where Legos Dynamite-Inspired Set Arrives Online and In Stores, The Big Lebowski Turns 25: People Didnt Get It, Jeff Bridges Recalls, How the Landscape of Native-Led Stories Has Changed Between Avatars: Were Flexing Our Sovereignty, The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News. Get a roundup of the most important and intriguing national stories delivered to your inbox every weekday. 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. [2] She grew up in Toronto with her mother Grace, a factory worker, and her brother. Handout TORONTO Canadian actress Alberta Watson passed away Saturday after a battle with cancer. 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. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. The subject was incest. It didn't scare me at all. RIP Alberta Watson. Corrections? [citation needed] In 2005, Watson joined the cast of 24, playing CTU Director Erin Driscoll for 12 episodes of the show's fourth season. .more .more Comments 405 Add a. Watson's agent Pam Winter says the La Femme Nikitastar died Saturday in Toronto. 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. "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. The Canadian actress, who also had roles in the 'La Femme Nikita' and 'Nikita' TV series, passed away after a long battle with cancer. TORONTO Canadian actress Alberta Watson passed away Saturday after a battle with cancer. Her Gary Goddard Agency . Many of Watsonspeers and fans took to Twitter to remember her. Alternate titles: Faith Susan Alberta Watson. 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. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. :)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 (Theatre House of God),[3] of the Bathurst Street United Church, at age 15. Watson eventually returned to Canada and landed a leading role in La Femme Nikita, which ran from 1997 to 2001. Watson was diagnosed with lymphoma in 1998. Watson died at Toronto's Kensington Hospice with her husband Ken at her side.. Her final film role was in the Vancouver-shot Helen (2009), starring Ashley Judd.