Wilma Pelly: Difference between revisions

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Born Wilma Episkenew, she was a member of the [[Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation|Muscowpetung Saulteaux]] [[First Nations|First Nation]].<ref name="cbc-5858968"/> She met her husband James Edward Pelly in the 1950s, and moved with him to [[Calgary]], [[Alberta]], where she worked in factories until commencing her career as an actor when she answered a casting call for film extras while recovering from a workplace injury.<ref name="cbc-5858968"/> Her breakthrough role in ''North of 60'', beginning in 1992 and extending throughout the series and into several followup television films, made her an iconic figure in Canadian indigenous communities;<ref name="cbc-5858968"/> her character Elsie, although not always talkative, was wise, dignified and funny,<ref name=remington/> and Pelly was widely recognized as a scene-stealing performer.<ref>Wayne Roberts, "Jackson, Keeper make Dream Storm work". ''[[Saskatoon Star-Phoenix]]'', October 1, 2001.</ref> She was recognized by the Alberta Media Production Industries Association's [[Rosie Awards]] as Best Actress in 1998.<ref>Bob Blakey, "North of 60 captures multiple honors". ''[[Calgary Herald]]'', April 26, 1998.</ref>
Born Wilma Episkenew, she was a member of the [[Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation|Muscowpetung Saulteaux]] [[First Nations|First Nation]].<ref name="cbc-5858968"/> She met her husband James Edward Pelly in the 1950s, and moved with him to [[Calgary]], [[Alberta]], where she worked in factories until commencing her career as an actor when she answered a casting call for film extras while recovering from a workplace injury.<ref name="cbc-5858968"/> Her breakthrough role in ''North of 60'', beginning in 1992 and extending throughout the series and into several followup television films, made her an iconic figure in Canadian indigenous communities;<ref name="cbc-5858968"/> her character Elsie, although not always talkative, was wise, dignified and funny,<ref name=remington/> and Pelly was widely recognized as a scene-stealing performer.<ref>Wayne Roberts, "Jackson, Keeper make Dream Storm work". ''[[Saskatoon Star-Phoenix]]'', October 1, 2001.</ref> She was recognized by the Alberta Media Production Industries Association's [[Rosie Awards]] as Best Actress in 1998.<ref>Bob Blakey, "North of 60 captures multiple honors". ''[[Calgary Herald]]'', April 26, 1998.</ref>


Following the conclusion of the regular weekly ''North of 60'' series, Pelly was cast in [[Giovanni Veronesi]]'s film ''[[Gunslinger's Revenge]]'', the production of which marked her first time ever travelling outside of North America in her lifetime.<ref>Daryl-Lynn Carlson, "Native actors off to help David Bowie". ''[[Calgary Herald]]'', June 11, 1998.</ref> She subsequently appeared in other film and television productions, usually playing an indigenous grandmother or community elder.<ref name="cbc-5858968"/>
Following the conclusion of the regular weekly ''North of 60'' series, Pelly was cast in [[Giovanni Veronesi]]'s film ''[[Gunslinger's Revenge]]'', the production of which marked her first time ever travelling outside of North America in her lifetime.<ref>Daryl-Lynn Carlson, "Native actors off to help David Bowie". ''[[Calgary Herald]]'', June 11, 1998.</ref> She subsequently appeared in other film and television productions, usually playing an indigenous grandmother or community elder.<ref name="cbc-5858968"/> She also had selected stage roles, most notably appearing in a 2005 production of ''[[Uncle Vanya]]'' which was staged at the [[Citadel Theatre]] in Edmonton before travelling to [[Ottawa]] for a production at the [[National Arts Centre]].<ref>Bruce Deachman, "Vanya leaves audience crying 'Uncle!'". ''[[Ottawa Citizen]]'', April 23, 2005.</ref>


She died on December 28, 2020 in Calgary.<ref name="cbc-5858968"/> Her final film performance, in Rueben Martell's film ''Don't Say Its Name'', was in post-production and had not yet been released at the time of her death.<ref name="cbc-5858968"/>
She died on December 28, 2020 in Calgary.<ref name="cbc-5858968"/> Her final film performance, in Rueben Martell's film ''Don't Say Its Name'', was in post-production and had not yet been released at the time of her death.<ref name="cbc-5858968"/>
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[[Category:Canadian television actresses]]
[[Category:Canadian television actresses]]
[[Category:Canadian film actresses]]
[[Category:Canadian film actresses]]
[[Category:Canadian stage actresses]]
[[Category:First Nations actresses]]
[[Category:First Nations actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses from Saskatchewan]]
[[Category:Actresses from Saskatchewan]]
[[Category:Actresses from Calgary]]
[[Category:Saulteaux people]]
[[Category:Saulteaux people]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian actresses]]

Revision as of 01:33, 4 March 2021

Wilma Pelly
Born
Wilma Episkenew

(1937-03-05)March 5, 1937
Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan, Canada
DiedDecember 28, 2020(2020-12-28) (aged 83)
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Occupationactress
Known forNorth of 60

Wilma Pelly (March 5, 1937 – December 28, 2020)[1] was a Canadian indigenous film and television actress, best known for her roles as Elsie Tsa'Che in the CBC Television drama North of 60[2] and as Kookum in Mixed Blessings.

Born Wilma Episkenew, she was a member of the Muscowpetung Saulteaux First Nation.[1] She met her husband James Edward Pelly in the 1950s, and moved with him to Calgary, Alberta, where she worked in factories until commencing her career as an actor when she answered a casting call for film extras while recovering from a workplace injury.[1] Her breakthrough role in North of 60, beginning in 1992 and extending throughout the series and into several followup television films, made her an iconic figure in Canadian indigenous communities;[1] her character Elsie, although not always talkative, was wise, dignified and funny,[2] and Pelly was widely recognized as a scene-stealing performer.[3] She was recognized by the Alberta Media Production Industries Association's Rosie Awards as Best Actress in 1998.[4]

Following the conclusion of the regular weekly North of 60 series, Pelly was cast in Giovanni Veronesi's film Gunslinger's Revenge, the production of which marked her first time ever travelling outside of North America in her lifetime.[5] She subsequently appeared in other film and television productions, usually playing an indigenous grandmother or community elder.[1] She also had selected stage roles, most notably appearing in a 2005 production of Uncle Vanya which was staged at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton before travelling to Ottawa for a production at the National Arts Centre.[6]

She died on December 28, 2020 in Calgary.[1] Her final film performance, in Rueben Martell's film Don't Say Its Name, was in post-production and had not yet been released at the time of her death.[1]

Filmography

Television

Film

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Kost, Hannah (December 31, 2020). "Wilma Pelly, actor most beloved for playing Elsie Tsa Che on North of 60, dies at 83". CBC News.
  2. ^ a b Bob Remington, "Subtle humor helps North of 60; Charm of native north helps CBC ease Street Legal disease". Edmonton Journal, December 3, 1992.
  3. ^ Wayne Roberts, "Jackson, Keeper make Dream Storm work". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, October 1, 2001.
  4. ^ Bob Blakey, "North of 60 captures multiple honors". Calgary Herald, April 26, 1998.
  5. ^ Daryl-Lynn Carlson, "Native actors off to help David Bowie". Calgary Herald, June 11, 1998.
  6. ^ Bruce Deachman, "Vanya leaves audience crying 'Uncle!'". Ottawa Citizen, April 23, 2005.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wilma_Pelly&oldid=1010150924"