Tanja Jacobs
Born
Belgium
NationalityCanadian
EducationYork University (MFA)
Occupation(s)Actor and director

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).

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

  1. ^ The production used simply, Tempest, rather than the more typical title, The Tempest.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Herst, Beth (2003). "Second Skin: The Theatrical Passion of Tanja Jacobs". PAJ: A Journal of Performance & Art. 25 (75): 75–84. doi:10.1162/152028103322491700. S2CID 57569906 – via EBSCO Host.
  2. ^ a b c Crew, Bob (2001-10-11). "Thriving on emotional expression; Tanja Jacobs embraces new role as love letter collector". Toronto Star. pp. G08 – via Proquest.
  3. ^ a b c Kaplan, Jon (2001-10-11). "More than Skin Deep". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  4. ^ Kaplan, Jon (2001-02-15). "Looking for Richard". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ a b Conlogue, Ray (May 15, 1990). "Dora nominations harvested from sparse crop of new plays". The Globe and Mail. p. A19.
  7. ^ a b "Tanja Jacobs awarded Gina's Prize for 2018". Ontario Arts Foundation / Fondation des Arts l'Ontario. 2018-03-10. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  8. ^ Wagner, Vit (1987-04-16). "Witch's role makes her queen of Angel's Castle". Toronto Star. pp. C10.
  9. ^ Sumi, Glenn (2022-04-11). "Review: Orphans For The Czar is a timely political comedy". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ "La Bete". NOW Magazine. 2020-06-22. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ Long, Taylor (2017-07-20). "Review: Shakespeare in High Park Thrills with KING LEAR and TWELFTH NIGHT". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  16. ^ "The Model Apartment". NOW Magazine. 2020-06-22. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  17. ^ "Scenes". NOW Magazine. 2010-12-09. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  18. ^ Sumi, Glenn (2002-11-21). "Tara Firma". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  19. ^ "Best of the fest". NOW Magazine. 2000-07-13. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ "Panamania artists set to make a splash with water-themed creations". CBC. 2015-07-11. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  23. ^ Nestruck, J. Kelly (2014-09-29). "Bloody Family: A metatheatrical meditation that falls flat". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  24. ^ "All Fired up". NOW Magazine. 2012-06-28. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  25. ^ "Daily Tipsheet: Tuesday, February 21". NOW Magazine. 2012-02-21. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  26. ^ Bacalzo, Dan (2011-01-17). "Luminato, Toronto Festival of Arts and Creativity, Announces 2011 Programming". TheaterMania. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  27. ^ Kaplan, Jon (2010-05-17). "Happy Days". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  28. ^ Ouzounian, Richard (2010-05-13). "Let loose, a wild actor is hideously excessive Theatre review". Toronto Star. p. 25.
  29. ^ Meng, Connie (2010-01-19). "Theatre Review: "Mother Courage and Her Children" at the NAC". NCPR. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  30. ^ "As the World turns". NOW Magazine. 2008-07-17. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  31. ^ Kaplan, Jon (2006-03-23). "Passing the Test". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  32. ^ "Stage Scenes". NOW Magazine. 2006-05-18. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  33. ^ Nicholls, Liz (2005-10-30). "Riveting insight into forgiveness". Edmonton Journal. pp. B1.
  34. ^ Kaplan, Jon (2004-08-19). "Swanne song". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  35. ^ Sumi, Glenn (2003-02-27). "Messy Orchids". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  36. ^ Sumi, Glenn (2003-07-24). "Mommy dearest". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  37. ^ "Stage Scenes". NOW Magazine. 2002-10-17. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  38. ^ Kaplan, Jon (2002-10-03). "Bowled Over Laughing". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  39. ^ Sumi, Glenn (2001-10-25). "Skin's Tight". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  40. ^ Kaplan, Jon (2001-12-20). "Softy Scrooge". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  41. ^ Kaplan, Jon (2001-07-26). "Tempest Lost". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  42. ^ "Stage Scenes". NOW Magazine. 2001-04-12. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  43. ^ "Crawford on the air". NOW Magazine. 2000-06-15. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  44. ^ Chapman, Geoff (1993-07-15). "Abundance of western wacko". Toronto Star. pp. D10.
  45. ^ Wagner, Vit (1991-10-25). "Actors put their best Feet forward". Toronto Star. pp. D4.
  46. ^ Crew, Robert (1989-10-11). "Man I Love somewhat lost in translation". Toronto Star. pp. D1.
  47. ^ Wagner, Vit (1989-02-24). "Tanja's six roles have plenty of Possibilities". Toronto Star. pp. D14.
  48. ^ Crew, Robert (1988-04-04). "Goodnight Desdemona puts a twist on The Bard". Toronto Star. pp. C5.
  49. ^ Eng, David (2010-06-03). "Awards News: 2010 Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations". Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  50. ^ Posner, Michael (2003-06-23). "Tarragon holds sway". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-08-30.

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