Vanessa King

Vanessa King
Born (1980-09-19) September 19, 1980 (age 44)
OccupationActress
Years active1993–2005

Vanessa King (born September 19, 1980) is a Canadian actress from Coquitlam, British Columbia,[1] known for her role as Anika in the television series Edgemont,[2] a role for which she was nominated in the category Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series for the Gemini Awards in 2001,[3] a Leo Awards 'Best Performance' nomination in 2002 and a Leo Awards win in 2003.

Recognition

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As an eleven-year-old actress, previously having acted only in two commercials,[4] she received acclaim for her starring role in the 1993 TV movie Liar, Liar, including a Gemini Award nomination in the category Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-series.[5] She plays a troubled girl who accuses her father of sexually abusing her. Tom Barrett of The Vancouver Sun wrote that King's performance "is remarkable, showing a poise and subtlety beyond the range of most child actors."[4] Critic Ray Loynd of the Los Angeles Times wrote that the role was "very well played ... in a believably spiteful, hateful way".[6] John Haslett Cuff of The Globe and Mail wrote that she "so effectively captures the confusion and rebelliousness of the young girl that viewers' doubts about her story are genuine from the beginning."[7] The Austin American-Statesman stated, "The acting is low-key and honest, with young King turning in a powerful performance as the enigmatic child."[8] Critic Victor Dwyer, writing in Maclean's, said that King "does a convincing job as Kelley, portraying the young girl as equal parts crafty and oddly naive, her measured performance giving nothing away."[9] The Toronto Star's TV critic, Greg Quill, called King's performance "a stunning debut".[10]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1997 When Danger Follows You Home Julie Werden
1999 My Father's Angel Laura

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1993 The Odyssey Frances X Episode: "The Brad Exchange"
1993 Liar, Liar Kelly Farrow TV film
1994 Are You Afraid of the Dark? Cleo Dugan, Roxy Preston Episodes: "The Tale of the Guardian's Curse", "The Tale of the Fire Ghost"
1995 Madeline Chloe (voice) Regular role (seasons 1–2)
1996 Murder at My Door Jana McNair TV film
1997 Ronnie & Julie Clare TV film
1997–1999 Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show Danielle Recurring role (seasons 1–2)
1998 Night Man Michelle Episode: "The Ultraweb"
1999 So Weird Claire Avner Episode: "Escape"
1999 Hayley Wagner, Star Stephanie Altree TV film
2000 Scorn Sylvia TV film
2001, 2004 Cold Squad Jessica, Lydia Frost Episodes: "My So Called Death", "Teen Angel"
2001–2005 Edgemont Anika Nedeau Main role
2002 Jinnah: On Crime - Pizza 911 Crystal Wagner TV film
2003 Jinnah: On Crime - White Knight, Black Widow Crystal Wagner TV film

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Title of work Result Refs
1994 Gemini Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series Liar, Liar: Between Father and Daughter Nominated [11]
2001 Gemini Award Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series Edgemont (for episode #1.12: "This Song's for You") Nominated [3]
2002 Leo Award Youth or Children's Program or Series: Best Performance or Host Edgemont (for episode #2.13: "Freefall") Nominated [12]
2003 Leo Award Youth or Children's Program or Series: Best Performance Edgemont (for episode #3.8: "Goodbye Cruel World") Won [13]

References

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  1. ^ Inwood, Damian (28 April 1992). "Incest on trial: Coquitlam girl carries CBC movie", The Province, p. C3.
  2. ^ McNamara, Lynne (3 January 2001)."Generation next: The teen drama Edgemont took four months to cast – the result is an ensemble of young acting talent that viewers will be seeing for a long time", The Vancouver Sun, p. B6.
  3. ^ a b Strachan, Alex (18 September 2001). "B.C has some big guns vying for Geminis", The Vancouver Sun, p. F9.
  4. ^ a b Barrett, Tom (23 January 1993). "Emotional First Aid: Liar, Liar Starring Art Hindle and Vanessa King", The Vancouver Sun, p. D8.
  5. ^ Inwood, Damian (26 January 1994). "Six vie for awards: Vancouver-made movie Liar, Liar up for best film", The Vancouver Sun, p. B5.
  6. ^ Loynd, Ray (22 June 1993). "TV Review: 'Liar, Liar': A Telling and Suspenseful Molestation Story", Los Angeles Times, p. 8.
  7. ^ Haslett Cuff, John (23 January 1993). "Liar, Liar: Superb cast the saving grace", The Globe and Mail, p. C6.
  8. ^ (22 June 1993). "Shocking 'Liar, Liar' a well-made, suspenseful movie", Austin American-Statesman, p. B4.
  9. ^ Dwyer, Victor (25 January 1993). "Trouble with angels: Liar, Liar / I'll Never Get to Heaven", Maclean's 106 (4): 46.
  10. ^ Quill, Greg (24 January 1993). "Cast, script make incest drama powerful", Toronto Star, p. C6.
  11. ^ "The 1994 Gemini nominees" at playbackonline.ca
  12. ^ Past Nominees & Winners 2002 at www.leoawards.com
  13. ^ Past Nominees & Winners 2003 at www.leoawards.com
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