Maggie Castle (born August 7, 1983) is a Canadian actress[1][2] best known for her role as Jenny Kolinsky in cult horror comedy series Todd and the Book of Pure Evil.[3] She was also the little girl, Amy Kramer, that battles the evil ventriloquist's dummy Slappy in the Goosebumps television series and voiced Molly MacDonald in the animated series Arthur.[4] She's appeared in various other series such as Vampire High, The Grid and Beach Girls. Film roles include Weirdsville, Hank and Mike, The Time Traveler's Wife and Tumbledown.
Maggie Castle | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 7, 1983 Montreal, Quebec |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Family | Aimée Castle (sister) |
Early life
editMaggie Castle was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.[5] She studied radio and television production at Ryerson University.[6] Castle's older sister is actress Aimée Castle, both appeared in Big Wolf on Campus.
Career
editFilm
editCastle made her film debut as a child actor in a small role in Vincent and Me (1990) (original title Vincent et moi).
Castle had a role in The 1997 thriller The Jackal, as the terrified child Maggie held at gun point by the film's titular assassin (Bruce Willis) in his climatic subway showdown with Declan Mulqueen (Richard Gere).[7]
Released in 2006 was comedy drama The House with Castle playing Cindy, a member of a group of outcasts & misfits squatting in an old house. Directed by David Krae, shot in Toronto and Hamilton.[8][9]
Weirdsville (2007) has Castle playing Treena, a member of a satanic cult that menaces the stoner protagonists of the dark comedy drama.[10] Her and Greg Bryk's devil worshiping characters were noted as a standouts among the supporting cast in reviews.[11][12] Supernatural slasher Dead Mary (2007), Castle plays Lily the younger girlfriend of one of a group of former college friends that reunite to spend a weekend at a lakeside cabin. When some of the party unintentionally summon the spirit of a witch by reciting her name three times in front of a mirror, possession and terror ensue.[13] In the comedy horror film The Mad (2007) Castle plays Amy Hunt who's traveling with her father on a road trip when they encounter locals poisoned by tainted beef that causes an outbreak of zombie like symptoms in those infected.[14]
2008's surreal comedy Hank and Mike followed the struggles of two Easter Bunnies after they are fired from their jobs, one of whom (Mike played by Paolo Mancini) has a crush on their co-worker Lena played by Castle. Though Mike is socially awkward and his fumbling attempts at a relationship with Lena are initially disastrous.[15]
2009's romantic science fiction drama The Time Traveler's Wife Castle played Alicia Abshire the sister of Clare Abshire (played by Rachel McAdams).
After a successful Indiegogo campaign[16] an animated feature film Todd and the Book of Pure Evil: The End of the End (2017) was created with Castle and her fellow cast-mates all returning to provide the voices.[17] The animated feature provides a sort of third season the series never got and an ending to the cliffhanger it had gone out on.[18]
Television
editIn the Goosebumps season one episode "Night of the Living Dummy II" (1996) she plays Amy Kramer, a young girl gifted a ventriloquist's dummy by her father.[19] The doll, called Slappy, turns out to have a life of its own with evil intent and initial pranks escalate into it terrorising Amy and her family.[20]
From 1997 to 2018 Castle provided the voice for tough, cut-off jean jacket wearing fourth grader Molly MacDonald on children's animated series Arthur.
2010 would see Castle in the role she is best known for, that of tough high schooler Jenny Kolinsky who, together with her three friends, fights supernatural evil in the cult horror comedy series Todd and the Book of Pure Evil.[21] Castle was initially hesitant to audition for the role of Jenny Kolinsky when the series was casting because she was reluctant to play a high schooler while being in her twenties at the time, her initial indifference at the audition actually helped as it fit Jenny's character.[22] Castle would return the next year when the show was renewed for a second season.[23][24] In Disney Channel's romantic comedy Starstruck (2010) Castle plays Sara Olson, an obsessed fan of a teen pop idol Christopher Wilde (Sterling Knight), who drags her uninterested little sister Jessica Olson (Danielle Campbell) along to gatecrash a performance by him. This leads the younger sister and pop idol to cross paths and spend time with each other, eventually falling in love.[25][26]
In the 2013 made for TV disaster movie Blast Vegas (AKA Destruction: Las Vegas[27]) Castle played Olive who, together with Nelson (Frankie Muniz), find themselves fighting an ancient curse that's threatening to engulf Las Vegas in a destructive sandstorm.[28]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Vincent and Me | Crystal Tetley Jo's Sister | |
| 1993 | Because Why[29] | Jackie | |
| 1995 | Kids of the Round Table | Jenny | |
| 1996 | How the Toys Saved Christmas | Polly (English version, voice) | Animated film |
| 1997 | The Jackal | Maggie | |
| 1998 | Nico the Unicorn | Susie | |
| 1999 | Babel | Amanda | |
| 2002 | Edgar and Jane | Jane[30] | Short film |
| 2002 | Arthur: It's Only Rock 'n' Roll | Molly MacDonald (voice) | Animated film |
| 2003 | Fast Food High | Maya | |
| 2005 | The Perfect Man | Wichita Girl | |
| 2006 | The Woods | Tracy | |
| 2006 | The House | Cindy | |
| 2007 | Weirdsville | Treena | |
| 2007 | Dead Mary | Lily | |
| 2007 | The Mad | Amy Hunt | |
| 2007 | I'm Not There | Another Girl | |
| 2008 | Hank and Mike | Lena | |
| 2009 | The Time Traveler's Wife | Alicia Abshire | |
| 2010 | Flying Lessons | Shelly | |
| 2015 | Tumbledown | Shannon | [31] |
| 2017 | Todd and the Book of Pure Evil: The End of the End | Jenny Kolinsky (voice) | Animated film |
| 2017 | Stronger | Mom at Fenway | |
| 2017 | Professor Marston and the Wonder Women | Dorothy Roubicek | |
| 2018 | Super Troopers 2 | Cassandra Anne Gacek | |
| 2018 | American Woman | Brett's Wife | [32] |
| 2023 | Sole Suspect | Abby O'Neill | Short film, also Director and co-writer[33] |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Heritage Minutes | Girl[34] | Season 2, episode 7: "Saguenay Fire" |
| 1994 | Tales of the Wild (Original title Aventures dans le Grand Nord) | Episode: "L'honneur des grandes neiges" | |
| 1994 | Million Dollar Babies | Therese Dionne, 10 yrs. | TV mini series, 2 episodes |
| 1996 | Goosebumps | Amy Kramer | Season 1, episode 10: "Night of the Living Dummy II" |
| 1997–2018 | Arthur | Molly MacDonald | Animated TV series, 27 episodes |
| 1998 | The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo | Josie | Season 4, episode 4: "The Itchy Shorts Mystery" |
| 2000 | Are You Afraid of the Dark? | Sandra | Season 7, episode 4: "The Tale of the Stone Maiden" |
| 2000 | Big Wolf on Campus | Tori | Season 2, episode 7: "Fear and Loathing in Pleasantville" |
| 2000 | Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis | Caroline Kennedy, ages 15 & 16 | TV movie |
| 2001 | Vampire High | Samantha | Season 1, episode 2: "There's a New Vampire in Town" |
| 2003 | Starhunter | Taryn Orford | Season 2, episode 3: "Bio Crime" |
| 2004 | The Grid | Cathy | TV mini series, 5 episodes |
| 2005 | Beach Girls | Young Stevie | TV mini series, 6 episodes |
| 2006 | Flirting with Danger | Jane Heaton | TV movie |
| 2006 | Between Truth and Lies | Emily Parker | TV movie |
| 2010 | StarStruck | Sara Olson | TV movie |
| 2010–2012 | Todd and the Book of Pure Evil | Jenny Kolinsky | |
| 2013 | Blast Vegas AKA Destruction: Las Vegas | Olive | TV movie |
| 2015 | Saving Hope | Ruth | Season 3, episode 14: "Trading Places" |
| 2015 | Broad Squad | Angela | TV movie |
Awards and nominations
editCastle together with her fellow lead cast members of Todd and the Book of Pure Evil were nominated[35] for Best Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Program or Series for the highly rated[36] musical episode "The Phantom of Crowley High" at the 2011 Gemini Awards, which they went on to win.[37][38]
References
edit- ^ Maggie Castle's bio at www.northernstars.ca, Archived via web.archive.org
- ^ Maggie Castle at www.rottentomatoes.com
- ^ "Dealing with the devil" by Randall King at www.winnipegfreepress.com
- ^ Maggie Castle voice acting credits at www.behindthevoiceactors.com
- ^ "Prom Queens" by Brenlee Coates, Sandbox magazine Summer 2010 issue, page 18
- ^ "Canada's newest scream queen has braved zombies opposite Billy Zane and demonic possession alongside Dominique Swain" The city: [toronto edition]. (2007, Feb 27). National Post, Retrieved from ProQuest 330713699
- ^ "Montreal metro action doesn’t save The Jackal" by Alex Rose at cultmtl.com
- ^ The House synopsis & credits at www.avclub.com
- ^ "Features - This old house" at playbackonline.ca
- ^ "Slamdance unveils lineup" by Dave McNary at variety.com
- ^ Weirdsville review by Joe Leydon at variety.com
- ^ Weirdsville review by Stephen Farber at www.hollywoodreporter.com
- ^ Dead Mary DVD Review by Eric Strauss at horrordna.com
- ^ Mad, The (DVD) review by Johnny Butane at www.dreadcentral.com
- ^ Hank and Mike review by Robert Koehler at variety.com
- ^ "Todd & The Book of Pure Evil raises Indiegogo funds for animated movie" by Debra Yeo at www.thestar.com
- ^ "Todd And The Book Of Pure Evil: The End Of The End Review – A Heavy Metal Massacre In Cartoon" by Matt Donato at www.dreadcentral.com
- ^ "Why You Should Watch ‘Todd and the Book of Pure Evil’!" by Luiz H. C. at bloody-disgusting.com
- ^ Goosebumps: episode 10: Night of the Living Dummy II synopsis & credits at www.radiotimes.com
- ^ "Viewer Beware, You’re in for a Scare: Looking Back at the Goosebumps Television Series (1995-1998)" by Cody Noble at diaboliquemagazine.com
- ^ "Todd & The Book of Pure Evil in production for Space" by Diane Wild at www.tv-eh.com
- ^ "Retrospective Part Two: TODD & THE BOOK OF PURE EVIL" by Derek Anderson at dailydead.com (Originally appeared in the January 2015 issue of DEADLY Magazine)
- ^ "Todd & The Book of Pure Evil season 2 in production" by Diane Wild at www.tv-eh.com
- ^ "FEARnet Confirms a Second Season of Todd & the Book of Pure Evil" by Steve Barton at www.dreadcentral.com
- ^ Starstruck review by Andrew Pragasam at thespinningimage.co.uk
- ^ "On set with...the girls of StarStruck" by Patricia McNamara at www.girlslife.com
- ^ "Destruction: Las Vegas Renamed Blast Vegas; Will Air on Syfy in July" by Steve Barton at www.dreadcentral.com
- ^ "Look for Malcolm in the Middle of Destruction: Las Vegas" by Steve Barton at www.dreadcentral.com
- ^ "Because why? answer is obvious; young montrealer Arto Paragamian redefines family in first feature" by John Griffin at The Gazette (Jan 29, 1994) Retrieved from ProQuest 432554671
- ^ Edgar and Jane synopsis & credits at www.radiotimes.com
- ^ Tumbledown review by Sheila O'Malley at www.rogerebert.com
- ^ "Fierce Miller center stage in 'Woman'" by Chuck Koplinski, News Gazette (1 Aug, 2019) Retrieved from ProQuest 2268792741
- ^ "LA’s Micheaux Film Festival Locks 2024 Edition With Projects Featuring Viola Davis, Michael Ealy, Morris Chestnut & Michael Gandolfini" by Zac Ntim at deadline.com
- ^ Heritage Minutes "Saguenay Fire" at www.historicacanada.ca
- ^ "Gemini nominations announced: Flashpoint leads, once again, and controversial Kennedys miniseries gets some nods" by Mishki Vaccaro at torontolife.com
- ^ "10 Best “Todd and the Book of Pure Evil” Episodes!" by Matt Donato at bloody-disgusting.com
- ^ "Todd and the Book of Pure Evil proves a screaming hit" by Bill Brioux at www.thestar.com
- ^ "Awards database" www.academy.ca via web.archive.org