Linda Griffiths facts for kids

Linda Pauline Griffiths (born October 7, 1953 – died September 21, 2014) was a talented Canadian actress and playwright. She was well-known for writing and starring in her one-person play called Maggie and Pierre. In this play, she acted as both Pierre Trudeau and his wife, Margaret Trudeau. Linda Griffiths also had a famous starring role in the movie Lianna.

Early Life and Education

Linda Griffiths was born in Montreal, Quebec. After attending St. Thomas High School, she continued her studies. She went to Dawson College and then spent a year at The National Theatre School. Later, she studied at McGill University.

Her most famous early work was the 1980 play Maggie and Pierre. She wrote this play with Paul Thompson. In the play, Linda played three different characters. She portrayed Pierre Trudeau, Margaret Trudeau, and a made-up journalist named Henry. The play was very popular and toured all across Canada. It even played in New York City.

Acting and Writing Career

Linda Griffiths was mostly known as a stage actress. However, she also worked in television and movies. She appeared in many TV shows, including Street Legal and Due South.

In 1983, she had a main role in the film Lianna. She also acted in other movies like Samuel Lount. Linda was recognized for her acting with several awards nominations.

In 1994, she starred in The Darling Family. This movie was based on one of her own plays.

Duchess Productions

In 1997, Linda started her own company called Duchess Productions. This company helped produce and develop many of her plays. These included Alien Creature and Age of Arousal.

Published Works

Linda Griffiths also co-wrote a special book called The Book of Jessica. She wrote it with Maria Campbell, a First Nations author. This book included the play Jessica and shared the story of how it was created. She also wrote short stories.

In 1999, a collection of seven of her plays was published. It was called Sheer Nerve.

Later Life and Passing

Linda Griffiths passed away on September 21, 2014. She died in Toronto, Ontario, at Bridgepoint Health centre. She had breast cancer.

While some records showed her birth year as 1956, her friend Layne Coleman confirmed her actual birthdate was October 7, 1953.

Awards and Recognition

Linda Griffiths won many awards for her work. She received five Dora Mavor Moore Awards. Four times she won for Outstanding New Play. These plays were Maggie and Pierre (1980), O.D. on Paradise (1983), Jessica (1986), and Alien Creature (2000). She also won an award for Outstanding Performance in Maggie and Pierre (1980).

She also won the Floyd S. Chalmers Canadian Play Award twice. These wins were for her plays Jessica and Alien Creature. Linda was also nominated twice for the Governor General's Award for English-language drama.

List of Plays

• Maggie & Pierre (1980; with Paul Thompson)
• O.D. on Paradise (1982)
• Jessica (1986; with Maria Campbell)
• The Darling Family (1991)
• A Game of Inches (1991)
• Brother André's Heart (1992)
• Spiral Women and the Dirty Theatre (1993)
• The Duchess a.k.a. Wallis Simpson (1997)
• Alien Creature: A Visitation from Gwendolyn MacEwen (1999)
• Chronic (2003)
• Baby Finger (2005)
• Age of Arousal (2007)
• The Last Dog of War (2010)
• Heaven Above, Heaven Below (2013)