Tamara Bernier Evans (born Tamara Michele Bernier; June 6, 1974) is a Canadian actress, musician, producer and director.

Tamara Bernier Evans
Born
Tamara Michele Bernier

(1974-06-06) June 6, 1974 (age 50)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • musician
  • producer
  • director
SpouseRichard Evans (m. 2003)
Children2

Early life

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She was raised in North Bay, Ontario,[1] by teachers Joanne Scott and Raymond Bernier. Her sister, Trista Bernier Grant, was a professional athlete who won a bronze medal for pole-vaulting at The Commonwealth Games in 1998. She obtained a BFA in acting at York University in Toronto, Ontario.[1]

Career

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Evans began her career by earning a coveted spot in The Stratford Shakespeare Festival's Young Company[1] where she spent four years playing such roles as Celia and Audrey in As You Like It,[2] Sylvia in The Two Gentlemen of Verona,[3] and Dunyasha in The Cherry Orchard.[4]

In Toronto, she worked with the Necessary Angel,[5] Canadian Stage Company, Tarragon Theatre and Nightwood Theatre[6] companies developing and premiering new plays including Seven Lears by Howard Barker,[7] It's All True by Jason Sherman,[8] Outrageous! by Brad Fraser[9] and Anything That Moves by Ann-Marie MacDonald.[10] In Ottawa, she performed at The National Arts Centre in the world premiere of Allen Cole's jazz opera The Wrong Son.[11]

In 2000 she won the role of Tanya[12] in the Toronto stage production of Mamma Mia!.[13] After performing the role for two years at The Royal Alexandra Theatre, she was asked to join the Broadway company[14] at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City.[15] She also performed the same role at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

She played the role of Rose Narracott in Mirvish's 2012 Toronto Production of War Horse.[16]

Television and film

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Her television credits include Republic of Doyle (CBC),[1] Flashpoint (CTV),[1] The Border (CBC),[1] Kung Fu The Legend Continues (Warner Bros)[17] as well as many recurring voice roles on animated series including Mystique on Wolverine and the X-Men,[1] Helen Spitz on Braceface[1] and Lady Illusion on Ace Lightning.[1]

She has worked on the feature films The Break-Up,[1] The Invasion,[1] Catch and Release[1] and St. Roz,[18] among others.

Tamara is a co-founder and co-owner of Awen Entertainment, a TV and film production company she started with Gregory Sheppard, set up to nurture Canadian television writers and their projects in order to attract international co-production.

Writing and directing

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As a playwright, her musical Beholden was produced at Theatre Calgary's Fuse series in 2009.[19]

Evans became the Assistant Artistic Director at Tarragon Theatre in Toronto in August 2015.[20]

She directed 'Midsummer, a play with songs', at Tarragon in April, 2017.

Music

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Evans produced her first album of original music entitled Brand New Remedy in 2000.[21]

Personal life

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Tamara married composer and pianist Richard Evans in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They have two children, Meredith and Owen.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Spotlight on Alumni: Tamara Bernier Evans : Theatre". theatre.ampd.yorku.ca. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
  2. ^ "We Like It". Stage Door Review. Stage Door. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  3. ^ "Study Guide" (PDF). The Two Gentlemen of Verona Study Guide. Stratford Shakespeare Festival. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 9, 2012.
  4. ^ Friedlander, Mira (September 13, 1998). "Cherry Orchard Review". Variety Magazine.
  5. ^ "Home". necessaryangel.com.
  6. ^ "Home". nightwoodtheatre.net.
  7. ^ "Necessary Angel Website". Necessary Angel Websire. Necessary Angel Theatre Company. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  8. ^ "It's All True". Necessary Angel website. Necessary Angel Theatre Company. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014.
  9. ^ "Outrageous". Xtra! Magazine. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011.
  10. ^ "Anything That Moves review". Canoe Online. Toronto Sun/Canoe Online. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. ^ "Study Guide" (PDF). The Wrong Son. National Arts Centre. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  12. ^ "Mamma Mia!". The Unofficial Toronto Fan Site. Angelfire.
  13. ^ "More Mamma". NOW Magazine. October 5, 2000. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  14. ^ "Mamma Mia!". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  15. ^ "Mamma Mia! Divas Wave Goodbye". Broadway.com.
  16. ^ Ouzounian, Richard (August 9, 2011). "All-Canadian team saddles up for War Horse". The Toronto Star. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  17. ^ "Kung Fu The Legend Continues". Internet Movie Database. IMDB. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  18. ^ "St. Roz". Internet Movie Database. IMDB.
  19. ^ "FUSE poster" (PDF). Theatre Calgary website. Theatre Calgary.[permanent dead link]
  20. ^ "Tamara Bernier Evans | Tarragon Theatre". www.tarragontheatre.com. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
  21. ^ "Pop work". Mark Shannon Website. Mark Shannon.
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