Tanja Jacobs
Tanja Jacobs is a Belgian-born Canadian actress and theatre director. She originated the role of Constance Ledbelly in Anne-Marie MacDonald's Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet).
Tanja Jacobs | |
---|---|
Born | Belgium |
Nationality | Canadian |
Education | York University (MFA) |
Occupation(s) | Actor and director |
Early life
Jacobs was born in Belgium to German parents. Her mother, Katia Jacobs, was a visual artist. At age 5, following the collapse of her parents' marriage, she, her mother, and older brother relocated to Canada. Katia Jacobs would later remarry Bill Kennedy, who Tanja considers to be her father.[1] Jacobs says she knew she wanted to be an actress at age 9.[2] At age 16, Jacobs left high school. She began taking acting classes at age 18.[1]
Career
At age 22, Jacobs landed her first notable role playing Dr. Chebutykin in an all-female production of Chekhov's Three Sisters.[1]
In the 1980s, Jacobs was a member of the Toronto theatre company, Autumn Angel.[3] Other company members were Richard Rose, Thom Sokoloski, Maggie Huculak, Stewart Arnott, Kim Renders, Bruce Vavrina and Mark Christmann.[4]
In 1987, landed the role of Skinner in Howard Baker's The Castle. The production marked a turning point in Jacobs' career; after that performance, she worked almost constantly.[1]
Jacobs originated the role of Constance Ledbelly in Ann-Marie MacDonald's Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) in 1988.[3][5] Jacobs was nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award for her performance.[6]
Personal life
Jacobs has a daughter, Nina, who was born in 1998.[1] Following Nina's birth, Jacobs took a break from her career to be a stay-at-home mother.[2] In 2018, Jacobs completed her MFA in Stage Direction at York University.[7]
Filmography
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | Slings & Arrows | Witch #2 | 3 episodes | |
1999 | Power Play | SM3 Reagan Sexsmith | 6 episodes | [2] |
1997 | The New Ghostwriter Mysteries | Mrs. Shepherd | Episode: "Disappearing Act" | |
1995 | A Taste of Shakespeare | Gertrude / Laertes / Gravedigger | Episode: "Hamlet" | |
1995 | Ready or Not | Madame Futuro | Episode: "Crossing the Line" | |
1995 | Side Effects | Lola | Episode: "Sixth Sense" | |
1990 | War of the Worlds | Miss Gholston | Episode: "The Pied Piper" | |
1988 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Marjorie | Episode: "Animal Lovers" | |
1987 | Seeing Things | Lady Theresa | Episode: "Here's Looking at You" | |
1987 | Street Legal | Jill | 6 episodes | [8] |
1985 | The Suicide Murders | Martha Tracy | TV movie |
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1999 | Below the Belt | Short film |
Theatre credits
As director:
Year | Production | Company | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | Orphans For The Czar | Crow's Theatre | [9] | |
2021 | Paradise Lost | Canadian Stage | [10] | |
2019 | Getting Married | Shaw Festival | [11] | |
2018 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Shakespeare in High Park (Canadian Stage) | [12] | |
2018 | La Bete | Soulpepper | [13] | |
2018 | Love and Information | Canadian Stage | Co-directed with Alistair Newton | [14] |
2017 | Twelfth Night | Shakespeare in High Park (Canadian Stage) | [15] | |
2016 | The Model Apartment | Harold Green Jewish Theatre | [16] | |
2010 | The Eleventh David | Theatre Passe Muraille (Backstage Buzz) | [17] | |
2002 | 1002 Nights | Shed Co. | [18] | |
2000 | Goddess | Theatre of the Repressed and Sansregret Productions | At Toronto Fringe | [19] |
As actor:
Year | Production | Company/Theatre | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | Cyrano de Bergerac | Shaw Festival | Le Bret | [20] | |
2018 | The Assembly: episode 1 | Porte Parole and Crow’s Theatre | Valerie | [21] | |
2015 | The Watershed | Panamania (Pan Am/Parapan Am Games) | [22] | ||
2014 | Bloody Family | Theatre Centre | Clytemnestra | [23] | |
2012 | Grannie Didn’t Go To Florida | SNAP Productions and Theatre Hetaerae (Cooking Fire Theatre Festival) | Grannie | [24] | |
2012 | Seeds | Crow’s Theatre and Porte Parole | [25] | ||
2011 | Tout Comme Elle | Necessary Angel (Luminato Festival) | [26] | ||
2010 | Happy Days | Theatre Columbus | Winnie | [27][28] | |
2010 | Mother Courage and Her Children | National Arts Centre | Mother Courage | [29] | |
2008 | The Way of the World | Soulpepper and National Arts Centre | Lady Wishfort | [30] | |
2006 | The Innocent Eye Test | Mirvish Productions | [31] | ||
2006 | Great Peace | Actors Repertory Company | Staged reading | [32] | |
2005 | Frozen | Citadel Theatre | [33] | ||
2004 | The Swanne: Queen Victoria (The Seduction of Nemesis) | Stratford Festival | [34] | ||
2003 | Orchidelirium | Pea Green Theatre and Theatre Voce | [35] | ||
2003 | Phaedre | Soulpepper | [36] | ||
2002 | Far Horizons Hotel | Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal and Factory Theatre | Staged reading | [37] | |
2002 | Girl in the Goldfish Bowl | Tarragon Theatre | [38] | ||
2001 | Elisa's Skin | Tarragon Theatre | Elisa | [39] | |
2001 | A Christmas Carol | Soulpepper Theatre at the Premiere Dance Theatre | [40] | ||
2001 | Tempest[note 1] | Ariel | [41] | ||
2001 | A Trickster Tale | Theatre Direct | Touring school production | [42] | |
2000 | The Wild Stage: An Evening Of German Cabaret | Alt.COMedy Lounge | [43] | ||
1993 | Abundance | Harbourfront Centre | Macon | [44] | |
1991 | Writing With Our Feet | Sophie, Alphonsinette, Zenaide, Lucy, Father Rocky, and Raymond Loewy | [45] | ||
1989 | The Man I Love | Tarragon Theatre | Max | [46] | |
1989 | The Possibilities | Necessary Angel | Multiple roles | [47] | |
1988 | Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) | Nightwood Theatre | Constance Ledbelly | [48] | |
1987 | The Castle | Necessary Angel | Skinner | [1] | |
1984 | Under the Skin | ||||
Three Sisters | Dr. Chebutykin | [1] |
Awards
Year | Award | Category | Work | Role | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Gina Wilkinson Prize for an Emerging Female Director | N/A | N/A | N/A | Won | [7] |
2010 | Dora Mavor Moore Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Principal Role | Happy Days | Nominated | [49] | |
2003 | Performance in a Feature Role in a Play or Musical | Girl in the Goldfish Bowl | Won | [50] | ||
2002 | Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Featured Role | Elisa's Skin | Elisa | Nominated | ||
1994 | Abundance | Nominated | ||||
1990 | Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) | Constance Ledbelly | Nominated | [6] | ||
1984 | Under the Skin | Won | [3] |
Notes
- The production used simply, Tempest, rather than the more typical title, The Tempest.
References
- Herst, Beth (2003). "Second Skin: The Theatrical Passion of Tanja Jacobs". PAJ: A Journal of Performance & Art. 25 (75): 75–84 – via EBSCO Host.
- Crew, Bob (2001-10-11). "Thriving on emotional expression; Tanja Jacobs embraces new role as love letter collector". Toronto Star. pp. G08 – via Proquest.
- Kaplan, Jon (2001-10-11). "More than Skin Deep". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- Kaplan, Jon (2001-02-15). "Looking for Richard". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- Rubess, Baņuta (1998) [1990]. Introduction. Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet). By MacDonald, Ann-Marie (First Grove Press ed.). New York: Grove Press. pp. xi–xvii. ISBN 9780802135773. LCCN 98-8447. OCLC 39235556.
- Conlogue, Ray (May 15, 1990). "Dora nominations harvested from sparse crop of new plays". The Globe and Mail. p. A19.
- "Tanja Jacobs awarded Gina's Prize for 2018". Ontario Arts Foundation / Fondation des Arts l'Ontario. 2018-03-10. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- Wagner, Vit (1987-04-16). "Witch's role makes her queen of Angel's Castle". Toronto Star. pp. C10.
- Sumi, Glenn (2022-04-11). "Review: Orphans For The Czar is a timely political comedy". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- Nestruck, J. Kelly (2020-01-28). "Canadian Stage announces 2020-2021 season as its home, the St. Lawrence Centre, faces uncertain future". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- Nestruck, J. Kelly (2019-05-24). "Review: Shaw Festival 2019: Bernard Shaw's Getting Married is a breezy and entertaining look at marriage". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- "Review | A Midsummer Night's Dream in High Park is too light to linger after waking". thestar.com. 2018-07-19. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- "La Bete". NOW Magazine. 2020-06-22. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- Nestruck, J. Kelly (2018-04-17). "Review: Love and Information is a jam-packed play you'll struggle to remember". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- Long, Taylor (2017-07-20). "Review: Shakespeare in High Park Thrills with KING LEAR and TWELFTH NIGHT". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- "The Model Apartment". NOW Magazine. 2020-06-22. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- "Scenes". NOW Magazine. 2010-12-09. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- Sumi, Glenn (2002-11-21). "Tara Firma". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- "Best of the fest". NOW Magazine. 2000-07-13. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- Citron, Paula (2019-08-29). "SCRUTINY | Shaw Festival's Cyrano de Bergerac Does Not Let Up For A Moment". Ludwig van Toronto. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- Nestruck, J. Kelly (2018-10-31). "Review: The Assembly aims to illuminate, but only simulates today's divisive politics". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- "Panamania artists set to make a splash with water-themed creations". CBC. 2015-07-11. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- Nestruck, J. Kelly (2014-09-29). "Bloody Family: A metatheatrical meditation that falls flat". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- "All Fired up". NOW Magazine. 2012-06-28. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- "Daily Tipsheet: Tuesday, February 21". NOW Magazine. 2012-02-21. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- Bacalzo, Dan (2011-01-17). "Luminato, Toronto Festival of Arts and Creativity, Announces 2011 Programming". TheaterMania. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- Kaplan, Jon (2010-05-17). "Happy Days". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- Ouzounian, Richard (2010-05-13). "Let loose, a wild actor is hideously excessive Theatre review". Toronto Star. p. 25.
- Meng, Connie (2010-01-19). "Theatre Review: "Mother Courage and Her Children" at the NAC". NCPR. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- "As the World turns". NOW Magazine. 2008-07-17. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- Kaplan, Jon (2006-03-23). "Passing the Test". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- "Stage Scenes". NOW Magazine. 2006-05-18. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- Nicholls, Liz (2005-10-30). "Riveting insight into forgiveness". Edmonton Journal. pp. B1.
- Kaplan, Jon (2004-08-19). "Swanne song". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- Sumi, Glenn (2003-02-27). "Messy Orchids". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- Sumi, Glenn (2003-07-24). "Mommy dearest". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- "Stage Scenes". NOW Magazine. 2002-10-17. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- Kaplan, Jon (2002-10-03). "Bowled Over Laughing". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- Sumi, Glenn (2001-10-25). "Skin's Tight". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- Kaplan, Jon (2001-12-20). "Softy Scrooge". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- Kaplan, Jon (2001-07-26). "Tempest Lost". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- "Stage Scenes". NOW Magazine. 2001-04-12. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- "Crawford on the air". NOW Magazine. 2000-06-15. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- Chapman, Geoff (1993-07-15). "Abundance of western wacko". Toronto Star. pp. D10.
- Wagner, Vit (1991-10-25). "Actors put their best Feet forward". Toronto Star. pp. D4.
- Crew, Robert (1989-10-11). "Man I Love somewhat lost in translation". Toronto Star. pp. D1.
- Wagner, Vit (1989-02-24). "Tanja's six roles have plenty of Possibilities". Toronto Star. pp. D14.
- Crew, Robert (1988-04-04). "Goodnight Desdemona puts a twist on The Bard". Toronto Star. pp. C5.
- Eng, David (2010-06-03). "Awards News: 2010 Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations". Retrieved 2022-08-30.
- Posner, Michael (2003-06-23). "Tarragon holds sway". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
External links
- Tanja Jacobs at IMDb