Jump to content

Megan Follows

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Megan Follows
Follows atComic-Con International,2014
Born
Megan Elizabeth Laura Diana Follows

(1968-03-14)March 14, 1968(age 56)
Toronto,Ontario, Canada
Occupations
  • Actress
  • director
Years active1977–present
Known forAnne of Green Gables
Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel
Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story
Booky Makes Her Mark
Booky and the Secret Santa
Booky's Crush
Spouse
Christopher Porter
​
​
(m.1991⁠–⁠1996)​
PartnerStuart Hughes(1996-2010)
Children2
RelativesSean O'Bryan(brother-in-law)

Megan Elizabeth Laura Diana Follows(/ˈmiːɡən/MEE-gən;born March 14, 1968)[1]is a Canadian-American actress and director. She is known for her role asAnne Shirleyin the 1985 Canadian televisionminiseriesAnne of Green Gablesand its twosequels.From 2013 to 2017, she starred asCatherine de' Medici,Queen of France, in the television drama seriesReign.

Early life

[edit]

Follows was born inToronto,Ontario, the youngest of four children, in an acting family. Her father was Canadian theatre actor and directorTed Follows(1926–2016) and her mother is Canadian actress Dawn Greenhalgh (born 1933). Her parents later divorced.[2]

Her three siblings are all in the entertainment industry. Her elder sister Edwina is a writer, while her brother Laurence and sister Samantha Follows (who is married to American actorSean O'Bryan) are also actors.[3]

Career

[edit]

Beginnings

[edit]

Her first acting job came at the age of nine, when she landed a spot in a commercial forBell Canada.She was directed to make an impudent gesture out of a school bus window – like sticking out her tongue - but ended up making a rather obscene adult gesture instead.[4]She found steady work in Canada, appearing in a few TV series such asMatt and Jenny,The Baxters,andThe Littlest Hobo,in which she guest-starred with her entire family in a three-part episode. She also starred in the short filmsThe Olden Days Coat(1981) andBoys and Girls(1983), the latter of which won an Academy Award for Best Short Subject.[5]

Anne of Green Gables

[edit]

Follows' breakthrough occurred when she was cast asAnne Shirleyin the 1985miniseriesAnne of Green Gables(as well as its two sequels).[6]The part of "Anne" was a coveted role that she won over 3,000 other young girls when director, producer, and writerKevin Sullivanchose her despite early worries during the audition process that she might be too old for the part. The miniseries, wholly produced in Canada, became successful around the world, and remains to this day the highest-rated drama in Canadian television history.[citation needed]

Her performances earned her twoGemini awardsas best actress for the first two miniseries,Anne of Green GablesandAnne of Green Gables: The Sequel,[6]and a Gemini nomination for the third Anne installment,Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story.[7]She did not reprise the role for the fourth film,Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning,andBarbara Hersheytook over the role.[6]

In 2023, Follows directed an audiobook dramatisation. She said, "I loved the idea of going back and deeply immersing myself in the text, in the writing of Lucy Maud Montgomery."[8]

Television

[edit]

Follows has made a number of appearances on both Canadian and U.S. television. In 1989, she starred in an episode ofThe Ray Bradbury Theater,"The Dwarf". In 1991, she starred with actorsDavid SoulandDavid Morsein the made-for-television movieCry in the Wild: The Taking of Peggy Annin the titular role. The plot is based on the true story of the abduction of Peggy Ann Bradnick by an ex-convict and ex-mental patient William Diller Hollenbaugh which took place inShade Gap, Pennsylvaniaon May 11, 1966. It aired on NBC on May 6, 1991. In 1995, as Megan Porter Follows (as she was then known, by her married name) starred inThe Outer Limitsepisode "The Choice" (along withThora Birch) and as the title character in the 1995 "Home Care[9]"episode ofMurder She Wrote,starringAngela Lansbury.In Canada, she appeared in a popular made-for-TV movie,Hockey Night,around the time she appeared inAnne of Green Gables.She played Cathy, a young girl who played hockey on a previously all-male team. Other Canadian television appearances include leading roles in the period dramaUnder the Piano[6]and police dramaMajor Crime.[10]She appeared in several episodes of the CBC comedy-drama television series,Heartlandas Ty Borden's mother, as well as directed episodes of the series.[6][11]

In 2005, she guest-starred in the Canadian ensemble dramaRobson Armsas one of the tenants of the Robson Arms apartment complex. She also appeared in the hospital dramaOpen Heart[12]as a nurse fighting a physician of malpractice, and inShania: A Life in Eight Albums,as Sharon Twain. Most recently, she starred as Booky's mother in the three movie adaptations ofBernice Thurman Hunter's "Booky" series:Booky Makes Her Mark,Booky and the Secret Santa,andBooky's Crush.[13]

Among her earliest American television appearances were roles inThe Facts of Life(as a cousin ofJo Polniaczekin Episode 23 of Season 3 that was intended as abackdoor pilotfor a proposedspin-off) in 1982, and in the short-lived seriesDomestic LifeasMartin Mull's character's daughter in 1984. She appeared in two TV movies,Sin of InnocenceandShattered... If Your Kid's On Drugs(both 1986). In 1993–94, she was part of the ensemble in the CBS television seriesSecond Chances.Since 2000, she has appeared onLaw & Order,ER,[6]The X-Files,CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,CSI: Miami,Cold Case,andLie to Me,among others.

In 2004, Follows was part of the ensemble cast of the Hallmark moviePlainsong,which includedAidan Quinn,Rachel Griffiths,andAmerica Ferrera.In 2009, she made a guest appearance onBrothers and Sisters.In 2011, she had a guest role onHouse.In 2012, she played Beth inHollywood Heights.Also in 2012 she appeared as Alice Stewart in one episode ofLongmire,and in the Starz seriesWorld Without End,playing Lady Maud. In 2013, she was cast asCatherine de' MedicionReign,[6]a historical drama series onThe CW,based on the early life ofMary, Queen of Scots.The series ran for four seasons.[14]

In 2018, it was announced that Follows would be the lead director onHeld,a psychological web series produced by marblemedia.[15]She has a recurring role as the mother of the titular character onWynonna Earp.In 2020, it was announced that Follows would directShe Came Back,which was released in 2024 starringAmybeth McNulty.[16]

Film

[edit]

Follows has appeared in a number of feature films. She co-starred withCorey HaimandGary Buseyin the 1985 film adaptation ofStephen King's novella,Silver Bullet.[17]In 1990, she was the voice of Clara from the cartoon Christmas filmThe Nutcracker Prince.[6]Her later film credits includeChristmas Child,A Foreign Affair(2003; released on DVD asTwo Brothers and a Bride), and a cameo in Laurie Lynd'sBreakfast with Scot.[6]She also had a brief uncredited cameo as a grocery store clerk in the movieI Am Number Four(2011).[citation needed]

Theatre

[edit]

Even though the career of Follows' parents was anchored in the theatre, she did not appear in many stage productions until the 2000s. Her first stage credit was inThe Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds,in which she starred alongside her mother, Dawn, and her sister, Samantha, in 1988 in Toronto. In 1992, she was offered the role of Juliet in theStratford Festival's production ofRomeo and Juliet,which she reprised the following year in Los Angeles. Other notable stage credits includeA Doll's House(Minneapolis'Guthrie Theater),Othello(Edmonton's Citadel Theatre and Ottawa's National Arts Centre),Uncle Vanya(Atlantic Theatre Festival), andNoël Coward'sHay Fever,in which she appeared with her siblings, and which was directed by her father.[18]

Recent years have seen the return of Follows on stage as a regular of the Toronto-basedSoulpepper Theatre Company.In 2005, she had the leading role of May in their production ofFool for LovebySam Shepard.[4]The following year, she took on the role of Annie inTom Stoppard'sThe Real Thingwhich ran at Ottawa'sNational Arts Centreas a co-production between Soulpepper and NAC English Theatre. Following this run, the play made its way to Toronto as part of Soulpepper's 2006 season at theYoung Centre for the Performing Arts.In 2007, she played the role of Marlene in the critically acclaimed summer production ofCaryl Churchill'sTop Girlswith Soulpepper.[citation needed]

Soulpepper's 2008 season, marking the company's ten year anniversary, signaled the continuation of Megan's prolific theatre career. Just like the past season, she appeared in two productions. The first wasMarsha Norman's'night, Mother,in which she co-starred opposite her real-life mother, Canadian actress Dawn Greenhalgh.[19]The second was Soulpepper's remount ofTop Girls.[20]

She returned to the stage in 2010 in Mirvish Productions's revival of Churchill'sCloud 9.In 2011, she returned to the stage to star in the Canadian premiere ofMelissa James Gibson'sThisat theVancouver Playhousedirected by Amiel Gladstone and, in 2012, she starred in the lead role of "Penelope" at theNightwood Theatre's production ofThe Penelopiad.[21]

Personal life

[edit]

In 1991, Follows married Christopher David Porter, a Canadiangafferand photographer she met on the set ofDeep Sleep.They have two children, Lyla Anne Porter (born 1991) and Russell Porter (born 1994).[22]The couple divorced in 1996. Follows was subsequently in a long-term relationship with actorStuart Hughes;they broke up around 2010.[23]

Humanitarian work

[edit]

Follows has served as a spokeswoman for the relief organizationWorld Vision Canada.She travelled to both Rwanda and Tanzania as a spokeswoman and a photographer. She also participated in the 2005 benefit concertCanada for Asiaheld to support the relief efforts for Asia after the2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.[24]

She travelled to Cambodia in 2007 with directorHeather Connellto filmSmall Voices: Stories of Cambodia's Children,a documentary about how the children of Cambodia living on the street and garbage dumps face their living conditions amid poverty and abuse and how they view their own future.[25]

Follows is a member of the Canadian charity Artists Against Racism.[26]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1984 Hockey Night Cathy Yarrow TV movie [27]
1985 Silver Bullet Jane Coslaw [17]
1989 Termini Station Micheline Dushane [28]
1990 The Nutcracker Prince Clara Stahlbaum Voice [6]
2007 Breakfast with Scot Barbara Warren Cameo [6]

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1984 Domestic Life Didi Crane Main cast [29]
1985 Anne of Green Gables Anne Shirley TV movie [30][6]
1987 Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel TV movie [6]
1993-94 Second Chances Kate Benedicts 10 episodes [31]
1995 Under the Piano Rosetta Brasilio TV movie [6]
2000 Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story Anne Shirley Blythe TV movie [6]
2001 ER Christy Larkin Episode:A Walk in the Woods [6]
2004 CSI Beth Darian Episode:Bad To The Bone [32]
2009 Lie To Me Lorraine Burch [33]
2009-21 Heartland Lily Borden 9 episodes [6][11]
2012 World Without End Maud 3 episodes [6]
2013-17 Reign Catherine de'Medici Main, 78 episodes [6]
2017 Murdoch Mysteries Megan Byrne Episode:Home for the Holidays [6]
2023 Hudson & Rex Detective Sidney Scott Episode:Northern Rexposure&Due North [6]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Association Category Work Result Ref.
1986 Gemini Awards Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a Single Dramatic Program or Miniseries Anne of Green Gables Won [6]
1988 Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel Won [6]
1990 Genie Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role Termini Station Nominated
2015 Canadian Screen Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series Reign
2016
2017 Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role

References

[edit]
  1. ^Hubbard, Linda S.; Steen, Sara; O'Donnell, Owen (1989).Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television.Gale. p. 131.ISBN978-0-8103-2070-3.RetrievedMarch 17,2020.
  2. ^"Megan Follows Biography".Filmreference.RetrievedSeptember 10,2016.
  3. ^"Megan Follows profile".hollywood.RetrievedJuly 6,2016.
  4. ^abScott, Alec (July 12, 2005)."Anne Who?".CBC.ca.Archived fromthe originalon April 23, 2007.RetrievedMarch 6,2007.
  5. ^"Boys and Girls(1983) profile ".Movies & TV Dept.The New York Times.2011. Archived fromthe originalon May 20, 2011.RetrievedJuly 6,2016.
  6. ^abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvw"Anne Shirley".anneofgreengables.Anne of Green Gables.RetrievedDecember 7,2023.
  7. ^"Interesting facts about Anne of Green Gables"[dead link],Ctv.ca; accessed April 10, 2014.
  8. ^Kevin Yarr (December 3, 2023)."Anne of Green Gables audiobook 'a whole new world,' says Megan Follows".cbc.ca.CBC News.RetrievedDecember 22,2023.director Megan Follows describes it as an entirely different kind of approach to the novel. This is a return to the story for Follows, who played red-haired orphan Anne Shirley in a 1985 CBC-TV miniseries adaptation that is almost as beloved as the book itself.
  9. ^Shaw, Anthony Pullen (October 19, 1995),Home Care,Murder, She Wrote, Angela Lansbury, Frances Bay, William Converse-Roberts,retrievedJune 12,2024
  10. ^"Reign Cast: Megan Follows".fox8.tv.Archived fromthe originalon July 8, 2015.RetrievedJuly 8,2015.
  11. ^ab"Megan Follows wins DGC award for her work on Heartland".cbc.ca.CBC Television. October 29, 2020.RetrievedDecember 26,2023.
  12. ^CBC TVOpen Heart:interview with Megan Follows,cbc.ca. Accessed April 10, 2014.
  13. ^"Booky's World Full Cast".bookysworld.Archived fromthe originalon July 15, 2015.RetrievedJuly 8,2015.
  14. ^Kondolojy, Amanda (February 13, 2014)."'Reign', 'Arrow', 'Supernatural', 'The Originals' & 'The Vampire Diaries' Renewed by The CW ".TV by the Numbers.Archived fromthe originalon February 22, 2014.RetrievedJuly 6,2016.
  15. ^"Marblemedia teams up with Megan Follows for new web series".
  16. ^Victoria Ahearn,"2 Anne Shirleys come together for psychedelic thriller",CBC News,February 5, 2020.
  17. ^abVincent Canby (October 11, 1985)."Screen: 'Silver Bullet'".The New York Times.p. 18.RetrievedDecember 21,2023.First he must convince his plucky older sister, Jane (Megan Follows)
  18. ^Whitlock, Nathan (January 23, 2012)."The Conversation: Arsinée Khan gian and Megan Follows on collaborating with loved ones".Toronto Life.Archived fromthe originalon July 9, 2015.RetrievedJuly 8,2015.
  19. ^Ouzounian, Richard (May 11, 2008)."Mother and child reunion".Toronto Star.RetrievedJuly 6,2016.
  20. ^Coulbourn, John (July 5, 2007)."'Top Girls' is top-notch ".Showbiz Theatre Reviews.Archived fromthe originalon March 5, 2016.RetrievedJuly 6,2016.
  21. ^Taylor, Kate (January 15, 2013)."Megan Follows on playing Atwood's Penelope, being manipulative, and motherhood".The Globe and Mail.RetrievedJuly 8,2015.
  22. ^"Cast: Then and Now".anne.sullivanmovies.Archived fromthe originalon October 16, 2015.RetrievedJuly 8,2015.
  23. ^"From Anne to Penelope: Green Gables star is inspired choice for Atwood's Penelopiad".Toronto Star,January 12, 2013.
  24. ^"Talent, Hosts, Radio and Television Stations Still Signing up to be Part of Benefit Event Canada for Asia"ArchivedFebruary 8, 2010, at theWayback Machine,Channelcanada; accessed April 10, 2014.
  25. ^"Small Voices Crew".Smallvoicesmovie.RetrievedJuly 8,2015.
  26. ^"Artists - Artists Against Racism".
  27. ^Barry Hertz (December 16, 2016)."Hockey Night: An '80s TV movie that's enthusiastically Canadian".theglobeandmail.The Globe and Mail.RetrievedJuly 10,2024.but at least a young Megan Follows makes the most of her starring role.
  28. ^Kevin Thomas (December 13, 1991)."MOVIE REVIEW".latimes.Los Angeles Times.RetrievedAugust 28,2024.Micheline (Megan Follows)
  29. ^Tom Shales (January 3, 1984)."The New Sitcoms: Three's a Crowd".washingtonpost.The Washington Post.RetrievedJuly 10,2024.He tells his adolescent daughter (Megan Fellows)
  30. ^Emma Brockes (February 16, 2017)."Can Anne of Green Gables overcome 30 years of nostalgia?".The Guardian.RetrievedDecember 7,2023.The performances of the leads – Megan Follows as Anne
  31. ^"Second Chances: Season 1".rottentomatoes.Rotten Tomatoes.
  32. ^"Megan Follows Movie and Shows".tv.apple.Apple TV.
  33. ^"Do No Harm - Lie to Me (Series 1, Episode 6)".tv.apple.Apple TV. June 18, 2009.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Megan_Follows&oldid=1242721100"