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. She was 60. zh. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. [7] She then returned to Toronto and focused on finding roles in independent films. The Tony Award-nominated Broadway actor, 41, died in a hospital in Los Angeles after suffering severe medical complications after contracting the coronavirus. She began performing with a local Toronto theatre group, T.H.O.G. Born in Toronto, Watson began performing in theatre and on television while still in her teens. 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). 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Watson gambled by playing the seductive mother in David O. Russells incest-tinged first feature, Spanking the Monkey (1994). Alberta Watson, Canadian actress, dies after battle with cancer | CBC News Loaded. Watson then played the grieving and lonely mother, Risa Walker, in Atom Egoyans critically acclaimed The Sweet Hereafter (1997). Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. 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. Watson died on Saturday at age 60 after a long battle with cancer. Oh! Watson died at Toronto's Kensington Hospice with her husband Ken at her side.. 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). She won a Gemini Award in 2010. "A Conversation with Alberta Watson". Her final film role was in the Vancouver-shot Helen (2009), starring Ashley Judd. She was 60. A decade later, she had a recurring role as a different character (with the same first name) on the seriesNikita. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. She moved to Los Angeles and landed her first Hollywood role in Michael Manns 1983 horror film, The Keep. Updates? [4], In Spanking the Monkey, Watson plays her favourite character,[12] a mother who has an incestuous relationship with her son. RIP #AlbertaWatson. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. The original version of this entry was published by She was 60. 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 earned a Gemini Award in 2011 for her guest role on Heartland. Deeply saddened to hear the wonderful @Alberta_Watson has died. The Canadian Encyclopedia Alberta Watson, pictured in an undated publicity photo. We reserve the right to close comments at any time. #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. Alberta Watson, well known to television audiences for her Gemini The Tony Award-nominated Broadway actor, 41, died in a hospital in Los Angeles after suffering severe medical complications after contracting the coronavirus. She moved south and worked for many years in New York and Los Angeles. . Watson shared the National Board of Review award for Best Ensemble and helped bring the film international recognition. Handout TORONTO Canadian actress Alberta Watson passed away Saturday after a battle with cancer. [10], Watson lived in New Jersey for eight years[11] with her husband until they divorced. Watson re-teamed with La Femme Nikita co-creator Joel Surnow for season four of his hit action-drama 24. 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 her final performance, Watson played Senator Madeline Pierce when La Femme Nikita was rebooted as Nikita in 2010. 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. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. heartland actor dies alberta watson. Watson was diagnosed with lymphoma in 1998. [7], Watson got her first role at age 19 in a CBC movie called Honor Thy Father. I had the pleasure of working with her. Alberta Watson, a Canadian actress who had roles in the 24 and Nikita dramas over a four-decade movie and TV career, has died. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. [2] She grew up in Toronto with her mother Grace, a factory worker, and her brother. After a long battle with cancer, Watson died at the age of 60 from complications of the disease. I seized the character and made her something. Actress Alberta Watson is photographed during the Toronto International Film Festival in 2006, in Toronto. She was a deeply disturbed woman with a roller coaster of emotions. Her first major credit was in Robert Lantos and Claude Hrouxs In Praise of Older Women (1978). io. 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. - YouTube 0:00 / 1:49 Video unavailable This video contains content from Adrev Affiliate, who has blocked it in your country. Her Canadian TV series credits include roles in Heartland, The Newsroom, The Border and Show Me Yours. [13] When her hair started to regrow, she sported the short haircut in her role as Madeline in the show's third season.[13]. Her son visits for the summer and she's laid up with a broken leg and things get out of hand. Outside acting, Watson championed more production in Canada and more opportunities for Canadian actors. 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. It didn't scare me at all. 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. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. During 2007 and 2008, Watson played a supporting role in the Canadian television series The Border as the Minister of Public Safety. 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 . To read more: http://cbc.ca/1.5638577\r\r Subscribe to CBC News to watch more videos: http://bit.ly/1RreYWS\r\rConnect with CBC News Online:\r\rFor breaking news, video, audio and in-depth coverage: http://bit.ly/1Z0m6iX\rFind CBC News on Facebook: http://bit.ly/1WjG36m\rFollow CBC News on Twitter: http://bit.ly/1sA5P9H\rFor breaking news on Twitter: http://bit.ly/1WjDyks\rFollow CBC News on Instagram: http://bit.ly/1Z0iE7O\r\rDownload the CBC News app for iOS: http://apple.co/25mpsUz\rDownload the CBC News app for Android: http://bit.ly/1XxuozZ\r\r\rFor more than 75 years, CBC News has been the source Canadians turn to, to keep them informed about their communities, their country and their world. 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. 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. 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. lp 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. The subject was incest. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alberta-Watson, The Canadian Encyclopedia - Biography of Alberta Watson. Get a roundup of the most important and intriguing national stories delivered to your inbox every weekday. Youll be missed :'(, Dylan Matthews (@iHeyes) March 23, 2015. Faith Susan Alberta Watson (March 6, 1955 March 21, 2015), better known as Alberta Watson, was a Canadian film and television actress. Died (60) Add to list Awards 3 wins & 6 nominations Photos 28 Known for Hedwig and the Angry Inch 7.7 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. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. She was 60. 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. WARNING: Major spoilers for the Season 14 premiere of Heartland are ahead!. Alberta Watson, congrats on your Gemini win 2011, for Heartland! She was 60. 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Best as Madeline in La Femme Nikita/Nikita. :)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 And I'm not a name with an image to protect. [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. 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. "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. She also appeared in The Lookout (2007) with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, as well as in the TV series Angelas Eyes (2006), The Border (2008), and Heartland (2010), for which she won a Gemini Award. [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}. The subject was incest. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. [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 underwent treatment but continued to act prolifically, often wearing wigs to conceal the effects of chemotherapy. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. 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). legislature over commercialization of hard drugs, Milton man accused of murdering armed intruder released on bail. Id loved her in so many things, I was star struck. The role was turned down by several actresses such as Susan Sarandon, Jessica Lange and others. 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. 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. She was nominated for Genie Awards for her work in 1978s In Praise of Older Women and 1996s Shoemaker. (Surnow was such a fan that he not only hired her again but also named a character in the series, Alberta Green, after her.) 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. 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. Watson's agent Pam Winter says the La Femme Nikitastar died Saturday in Toronto. Heyn, Christopher. [4] She moved to Los Angeles, California, and later to New York City. Alternate titles: Faith Susan Alberta Watson. .more .more Comments 405 Add a. Her son visits for the summer and she's laid up in a cast with a broken leg and things get out of hand. Patrick Mullen is a writer, blogger, film critic, film festival programmer, and social media coordinator. 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). She balanced her work in La Femme Nikita with roles in Canadian films including The Life Before This (1999), Desire (2000), and Deeply (2000). [About her portrayal of the mother in, Choice: The Henry Morgentaler Story (2005). And I'm not a name with an image to protect. [12][13] Producers at La Femme Nikita worked around her treatment and limited her appearances. She was a deeply disturbed woman with a roller coaster of emotions. Incredible char and actor. I think Im still in shock about @Alberta_Watsons death. Watson began acting at age 15 with the Theater House of God at the Bathurst Street United Church in Toronto. 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. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. . Watson died on March 21, 2015, due to complications from cancer at Kensington Hospice in Toronto fifteen days after her 60th birthday.[14]. 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. Omissions? 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. She worked with director Colleen Murphy on the film Shoemaker (1996), for which she received a second Genie nomination for Best Actress. Corrections? 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. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). geoff ewart (@geoffewart) March 23, 2015. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. In 2008, Alberta Watson received a Career Achievement Award from the Boston-based Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film. (Theatre House of God),[3] of the Bathurst Street United Church, at age 15. Watson played Erin Driscoll, head of the fictional intelligence agency that employs operative Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland). Many of Watsonspeers and fans took to Twitter to remember her. 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. In 1998 Watson was diagnosed with lymphoma. Born in Toronto, Watson started out in acting with a local theater group, and by the 1970s had regular Canadian film and TV roles. 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. Canadian actress Alberta Watson has died after a long battle with cancer. 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. Winter says Watson "died in the arms of her beloved Ken after a long and incredibly courageous battle.". Madeleine is the most badass character ever. 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. Watson eventually returned to Canada and landed a leading role in La Femme Nikita, which ran from 1997 to 2001. 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. Alberta Watson, a Canadian actress who had roles in the 24 and Nikita dramas over a four-decade movie and TV career, has died. TORONTO Canadian actress Alberta Watson passed away Saturday after a battle with cancer. Please read our Commenting Policy first. 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. [1], Watson was born in Toronto, Ontario, in 1955. 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). 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). No details are available on a memorial service for Watson. Watsons list of credits includes 24, The Newsroom and The Border as well as movies like Away from Her and The Sweet Hereafter. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. Watson's first name inspired the character Alberta Green in the first season of 24. Lovely woman. award-nominated role as Madeline on, Her name was the basis for the character Alberta Green, played by, I took it because it was a heck of a challenge. Congrats, Alberta!! 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. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. This page was last edited on 15 January 2023, at 21:52. (Carlo. CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. Canadian actor, director, writer, and producer. [citation needed] In 2005, Watson joined the cast of 24, playing CTU Director Erin Driscoll for 12 episodes of the show's fourth season. A year later she received the Best Actress award at the Yorkton Film Festival for "Exposure". Comments are welcome while open. Death [ edit] 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. I took it because it was a heck of a challenge. Yeeeehaaaa! Watson died at Torontos Kensington Hospice with her husband Ken at her side. [5] While at the workshop she acted in Hamlet, which was directed by Ren Bonnire,[6] who later directed her in La Femme Nikita. When I had to talk to Alberta Watson on set of THE BORDER I was always nervous. Courtesy of Everett Collection. RIP Alberta Watson. Watson found additional strong TV work playing Detective Denise McGoohan in Chasing Cain (2001) and Chasing Cain: Face (2002). 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. Watson died on March 21, 2015 due to complications from cancer at Kensington Hospice in Toronto; she was 60 years old. [13] Watson wore wigs in the show when she lost her hair. All Rights Reserved. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Her Gary Goddard Agency . She was 60. TV Actresses. [4], Watson took a workshop for the Hair musical. Renowned for her consistency and reliability, Watson was perhaps best known for the TV series La Femme Nikita (19972001) and 24 (200405), but she also gave memorable performances in David O. Russells Spanking the Monkey (1994), Atom Egoyans The Sweet Hereafter (1997), and John Cameron Mitchells Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001). She amassed some devoted fans and engaged with them frequently on fan sites. It didn't scare me at all. Want to discuss?