Alberta Watson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alberta Watson
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Alberta Watson on 24
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| Born |
Faith Susan Alberta Watson
March 6, 1955 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Died | March 21, 2015 (aged 60) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1975–2012 |
| Spouse(s) | Ken Sedgwick |
Faith Susan Alberta Watson (March 6, 1955 – March 21, 2015), known professionally as Alberta Watson, was a Canadian actress. She became famous for her roles in popular TV shows like La Femme Nikita and 24. She also appeared in many films throughout her career.
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Growing Up and Starting Out
Alberta Watson was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in 1955. She grew up in Toronto with her mother and brother. When she was 15, she started acting with a local theater group called T.H.O.G. (Theatre House of God).
She also took part in a workshop for the musical Hair. During this time, she acted in a play called Hamlet. The director of Hamlet, René Bonnière, later directed her again in the TV series La Femme Nikita.
Her Acting Journey
Alberta Watson got her first acting job at age 19 in a CBC movie called Honor Thy Father. Early in her career, she played Mitzi in the 1978 film In Praise of Older Women. For this role, she was nominated for a Genie Award, which is a big award in Canadian film.
A year later, she won the Best Actress award at the Yorkton Short Film and Video Festival for a short film called "Exposure". She then moved to the United States, living in Los Angeles and later New York City. She lived in New Jersey for eight years before returning to Toronto. Back in Canada, she focused on acting in independent films.
Famous Roles in Film
Alberta Watson was known for several movie roles. She played Lauren Murphy in the 1995 cult film Hackers. In this movie, she was the mother of the character Dade, played by Jonny Lee Miller. She also played Risa in the 1997 Canadian film The Sweet Hereafter, which was nominated for an Academy Award.
TV Show Success
One of her most famous roles was Madeline in the TV series La Femme Nikita. She played this character for four seasons, from 1997 to 2001. During the show's second season, in 1998, Alberta was diagnosed with lymphoma, a type of cancer. She had to undergo chemotherapy treatment, which caused her to lose her hair.
The show's producers were very supportive. They worked around her treatment schedule and limited her appearances when needed. Alberta wore wigs on the show when she lost her hair. When her hair started to grow back, she showed off her short haircut as Madeline in the third season.
Later, in 2005, Alberta Watson joined the cast of another popular TV show, 24. She played Erin Driscoll, the director of the CTU (Counter Terrorist Unit), for 12 episodes in the show's fourth season. Interestingly, a character named Alberta Green in the first season of 24 was named after her!
From 2007 to 2008, she had a supporting role in the Canadian TV series The Border. She played the Minister of Public Safety in this show. In 2010, she guest-starred in Heartland, another CBC Television series. For her role as Sarah Craven in Heartland, she won a Gemini Award in 2011.
In a fun connection to her past, Alberta also played a character named Madeline Pierce in Nikita. This show, which aired from 2010 to 2013, was a new version of the La Femme Nikita story.
Later Years and Passing
Alberta Watson passed away on March 21, 2015. She was 60 years old, and her death was due to complications from cancer. She died in Toronto, Canada, just fifteen days after her birthday.
