Person Biography:
Alberta Watson, a talented Canadian actress, is best known for her Gemini Award-nominated role as Madeline on the television series La Femme Nikita (1997). Born in Toronto, Watson began her career in theater and later transitioned to film and television. Her diverse career has spanned over four decades, with numerous notable roles in both Canadian and international productions.
Watson received her first Genie nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in George Kaczender's In Praise of Older Women (1978). She went on to win the Best Actress award at the Yorkton Film Festival for the short film "Exposure" in 1979. In the 1980s, she studied with Gene Lasko and appeared in several films, including Michael Mann's The Keep (1983) and the TV movie Women of Valor (1986),alongside Susan Sarandon.
In the 1990s, Watson's career gained momentum with roles in independent films such as Spanking the Monkey (1994),Hackers (1995),and Gotti (1996). She received critical acclaim for her performance in Spanking the Monkey, which won the Sundance Film Festival Audience Award and multiple Independent Spirit Awards.
Watson's subsequent roles included the Emmy-nominated film Gotti (1996),the independent film Shoemaker (1996),and Atom Egoyan's The Sweet Hereafter (1997),which earned her a second Genie nomination. She then landed the iconic role of Madeline on La Femme Nikita (1997),which ran for four years and earned her a 1998 Gemini nomination.
In the 2000s, Watson continued to appear in independent films, including Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001),The Wild Dogs (2002),and Away from Her (2006). She also starred in the television series 24 (2001-2004) and The Border (2008).
Watson received numerous awards and nominations throughout her career, including a Career Achievement Award from the Boston-based Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film in 2008. She passed away on March 21, 2015, at the age of 60, due to complications from cancer.
