Canadian viewers might have recognized Alberta Watson in her role as Minister Suzanne Fleischer in "The Border" or Risa in "The Sweet Hereafter."
U.S. viewers might have recognized Alberta Watson as Senator Madeline Pierce on television in "La Femme Nikita" or as Erin Driscoll in the fourth season of "24."
Independent film lovers would recognize Watson as the mother in David O' Russell's "Spanking the Monkey."
Alberta Watson passed away last month at the age of 60 after a long battle with cancer.
You might not know the name but you would know the face. Whenever Hollywood or Toronto needed a mature, tall, thin brunette with a lower-register, almost smoky voice, they turned to Alberta Watson.
Tough but beautiful: you wanted to sleep with her even if you knew you would suffer the consequences.
One of her early roles was in the film "In Praise of Older Women" where she received a Genie nomination. That film crossed over well into the United States.
She had roles on "The Newsroom" (the Canadian show) and in Sarah Polley's "Away From Her."
Her role in "Spanking the Monkey" was rather controversial given the subject matter. Watson gave her character a large amount of depth.
I didn't know much about her at that point, but I think I started to pay attention to her role in "The Sweet Hereafter" as a mother coping with the loss of her child.
I have referred to my love for cool Canadian women. Alberta Watson was never at the top of the list, but the list would never be complete without her name.
Even when she played tough roles, there was always a bit of vulnerability. She made you remember her performance in small roles even if you couldn't remember her name. Her untimely death is a tragedy for what could have been in future roles, and a huge loss in the Canadian acting scene.
We will remember you, Alberta Watson, for what you brought to our television series and films.
photo credit: R/R
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