Michelle Thrush facts for kids

Michelle Thrush was born on February 6, 1967. She is a talented Canadian actress. Michelle is also an activist for Indigenous peoples in Canada and across the Americas. She is well-known for playing Gail Stoney in the TV show Blackstone. For this role, she won a Gemini Award in 2011. She also had important roles as Sylvie LeBret in North of 60 and Deanna Martin in Arctic Air. Michelle Thrush also starred in the film Jimmy P: Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian. This movie was nominated for big awards like the Palme d'Or and the César award.

Her Early Life

Michelle Thrush is Cree. She was born and grew up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. When she was in ninth grade, she moved to a new school. This was Calgary's Plains Indian Cultural Survival School. She felt truly accepted there for the first time. Michelle said that at this school, she learned many wonderful things. She learned about herself, her culture, and her language. She also learned about drumming and singing. These experiences filled a big need in her heart.

Michelle faced some tough times when she was young. She acted in her first film at age 17. But she did not think acting could be a career. She planned to become a social worker. She wanted to help children. Then she met Gordon Tootoosis, a famous First Nations actor. He told her to follow her heart if acting was what she truly wanted. When she was 20, she moved to Vancouver. She found an agent there and began her acting journey.

Her Acting Journey

Michelle Thrush has had a very busy acting career since the 1980s. She started acting in films while still in high school. Her first theatre job came when she moved to Vancouver. She has played many different characters on TV. These include roles in shows like Madison, Northern Exposure, and Highlander. She also appeared in Forever Knight, Nothing Too Good for a Cowboy, and Moccasin Flats.

She has starred in many important movies. Many of these films talk about issues important to Indigenous peoples of the Americas. These movies include Isaac Littlefeathers, Unnatural & Accidental, and Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. Other notable films are Skins, Dead Man, and Dreamkeeper.

Michelle's Theatre Work

In 2011, Michelle Thrush wrote a special one-woman play. It was called Find Your Own Inner Elder. She has performed this show across Canada. It is often called Inner Elder. The play first opened in Calgary in 2018. It has also been performed in Toronto. Inner Elder is a story Michelle tells about her own life. She shares her personal experiences with the audience.

Michelle's daughter, Imajyn Cardinal, is also an actress.

Her Roles in TV and Movies

Television Roles

Movie Roles

Theatre Roles

Awards and Achievements

Michelle Thrush has won several awards for her acting.