WIFT-T (Women In Film and Television - Toronto) Press Release:
WIFT-T is pleased to announce actress Jill Hennessy as this year’s recipient of the International Achievement Award. The award is presented to a Canadian woman working in screen-based media for her significant and well recognized body of work in Canada and abroad. Jill will receive her award at the Crystal Awards Gala Luncheon on December 6, 2010 in Toronto.
“WIFT-T is excited to be able to present Jill with a Crystal Award,” says Sadia Zaman, WIFT-T Executive Director. “She has a history of playing strong women with a lot of determination and character. We look forward to welcoming Jill back to Toronto.”
Best known for her roles on Law & Order and Crossing Jordan, Jill will soon appear in the new HBO series Luck, starring Dustin Hoffman and produced and directed by Michael Mann.
“I’m honoured and extremely grateful to not only receive this award, but I’m also thrilled to celebrate incredible Canadian women,” says Jill from Los Angeles.
From 1993-1996, television audiences came to know Jill as Claire Kincaid on Law & Order. She then played Jacqueline Kennedy in the miniseries Jackie, Ethel, Joan: Women of Camelot. In her first season of Crossing Jordan, Jill was nominated for a People’s Choice Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series. She took home a Golden Satellite Award for her performance in the TNT cable movie Nuremberg and was honoured recently with a Gracie Award and a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame.
An Edmonton native, Jill’s acting career began in Toronto with an appearance in Dead Ringers. She studied with Second City before landing a role in the Broadway production of The Buddy Holly Story. In New York, Jill also starred in Ron Howard’s feature film The Paper. Her film credits include I Shot Andy Warhol, Chutney Popcorn, Autumn in New York, Exit Wounds, Love in the Time of Money, Wild Hogs and Lymelife, which won the International Film Critics’ Award at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Jill also completed Small Town Murder Songs, a film directed by Toronto’s Ed Gass-Donnelly that premiered this year at TIFF.
In addition to her screen-based work, Jill is a singer-songwriter who recently released her debut album, Ghost In My Head. Her latest film Roadie features Jill playing music from the album.
Jill and husband Paolo Mastropietro divide their time between homes in Manhattan and Los Angeles with their two sons, Marco and Gianni.
Presented in partnership with Shaw Media and Deluxe Postproduction, the 2010 Crystal Awards take place Monday, December 6 at the Fairmont Royal York hotel in Toronto. To purchase tickets, visit www.wift.com.
For a complete list of the 2010 Crystal Award winners, visit http://wift.com/
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Update December 6, 2010 – Here’s an updated article about Jill, written after the awards luncheon: Pursue what you love, says Jill Hennessy to T.O. crowd
For the latest information, check out my blog home page, These Are Their Stories.
Also, see my companion Law & Order site, All Things Law & Order.
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