Jennifer Podemski
Producer-actor Jennifer Podemski
Podemski in 2014
Born (1973-05-03) May 3, 1973 (age 50)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Occupations
  • Actress
  • producer
Years active1991–present
RelativesTamara Podemski (sister)
Sarah Podemski (sister)

Jennifer Podemski (born May 3, 1973) is a First Nations film and television actress and producer.[1]

Her acting credits include starring roles in the television series Tin Star, The Rez, Riverdale, Moccasin Flats, Bliss, and Moose TV, and the films Dance Me Outside, The Diviners, and Empire of Dirt, as well as supporting or guest roles in Degrassi, Republic of Doyle, The Eleventh Hour, Blue Murder, Wild Card, This Is Wonderland, Rabbit Fall, The Border, and Maniac Mansion. Her production credits include Rabbit Fall, Moccasin Flats, and Empire of Dirt.

Early life

Podemski was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario. Her father is Jewish and her mother is of Saulteaux/Ojibwe/Anishinaabe, Leni Lenape, and Métis descent.[2][3][4] Her paternal grandparents were from Poland, and moved to Canada after WWII.[5] Her sisters, Tamara Podemski and Sarah Podemski are also actors. All three sisters appear together in the FX series Reservation Dogs.[4][5]

Career

Podemski's acting credits include starring roles in the television series Tin Star, The Rez, Riverdale, Moccasin Flats, Bliss, and Moose TV, and the films Dance Me Outside, The Diviners, and Empire of Dirt, as well as supporting or guest roles in Degrassi, Republic of Doyle, The Eleventh Hour, Blue Murder, Wild Card, This Is Wonderland, Rabbit Fall, The Border, and Maniac Mansion. Her production credits include Rabbit Fall, Moccasin Flats, and Empire of Dirt.

She was a Gemini Award nominee for the Best Actress in a Drama Series at the 1997 Gemini Awards for The Rez and a Canadian Screen Award nominee for Best Supporting Actress at the 2nd Canadian Screen Awards, for Empire of Dirt.[citation needed]

In 2018, Podemski created the documentary series Future History for APTN.[6]

In 2021, together with Derek Diorio, she created the television series Unsettled for APTN. She went on to produce the drama series Little Bird for Crave with Hanna Moscovitch.[7]

In January 2023, she was named as a recipient of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television's Board of Directors Tribute Award at the 11th Canadian Screen Awards.[8]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1993 The Diviners Pique
1994 Dance Me Outside Sadie Maracle
2005 Distant Drumming: North of 60 Mystery Marjory Sebastian
2007 Fugitive Pieces Grace
2011 Take This Waltz Karen
2013 Empire of Dirt Minerva Also producer
Jimmy P: Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian Doll
2015 Fire Song Jackie
2018 Mouthpiece Mrs. Cappo
2020 Akilla's Escape Mrs. Rosenthal

References

  1. ^ Monk, Katherine (November 21, 2013). "Jennifer Podemski and Cara Gee on digging Empire of Dirt". Canada.com. Archived from the original on March 29, 2014.
  2. ^ Podemski, Jennifer (February 27, 2018). "'The power to save lives': Jennifer Podemski's must-read call for Indigenous representation in media". CBC Arts.
  3. ^ Sleightholm, Stacey (February 2, 2013). "Jennifer Podemski: the actress speaks out about Native rights and the release of her powerful new film, Running Wolf". TRNTO.
  4. ^ a b Fishbach, Brian (September 30, 2021). ""Reservation Dogs" Actress Reflects on Indigenous and Jewish Roots, Humor and Healing". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles.
  5. ^ a b Frick, Evelyn (October 12, 2021). "Jewish Indigenous actress Sarah Podemski: 'It's a miracle just to exist'". The Jerusalem Post.
  6. ^ Schneller, Johanna (February 22, 2018). "Jennifer Podemski on the challenges Indigenous actors face in the film industry". The Globe and Mail.
  7. ^ Ahearn, Victoria (June 10, 2021). "'The Amazing Race Canada,' 'Letterkenny' spinoff join upcoming Bell Media lineup". Toronto Star.
  8. ^ Etan Vlessing, "Ryan Reynolds, Simu Liu, Catherine O’Hara to Receive Honorary Canadian Screen Awards". The Hollywood Reporter, January 18, 2023.

External links

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